Lessons From The Dragon’s Den’s Robert Herjavec Part 22

December 27, 2010

Here are some more insights from Herjvac’s Driven book for real estate brokers looking to hire new sales reps.  Here he sheds light on understanding what traits entrepreneurs have vs. the traits good employees have who probably won’t be successful entrepreneurs:

“Some business observers preach that successful companies resemble victorious armies, treating markets as battlefields, staff as soldiers, products as armaments and strategies as battle plans.  It’s a colorful analogy, but not one that I entirely accept … For example, military training teaches discipline and sacrifice, two admirable qualities for anyone who chooses a business career.

So why don’t many former soldiers become extraordinary business successes?  I suspect it’s a matter of pursuing your self-interest versus sacrificing yourself for the greater good.  The latter is essential on the battlefield.  The former is vital when encouraging exceptional performance from employees.” – from Driven

I believe this is a key point to understand.  There are many people who are very giving to those around them, whether it be their family, friends, volunteer work or in their profession (eg. school teachers).  They’re team players and you can usually rely on them to work hard and excel at their job.

What employee types lack is the self-interest that entrepreneurs have.  I certainly don’t mean you must be selfish and arrogant to be a successful entrepreneur, but it really helps some people (I’ll get into this idea further later on with the idea of the ‘productive narcissist’).  Entrepreneurs want to give as much as employee types in terms of customer service, but in return entrepreneurs want more than employees.  Much more.

Entrepreneurs are not satisfied just with helping people for the good in itself of helping others and the personal satisfaction of a job well done.  Entrepreneurs want to be financially rewarded much more than employees.  They want much more out of life than a paycheck and middle class niceties.  They want to live their dreams and they’re very determined to do so.

Filed under: Inspiration

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