Hustler Vs Entrepreneur – Which one are you?

To hurry or not to hurry?

Currently, the use of the word “con artist” is used as a positive way to describe oneself as someone who is on an entrepreneurial streak or is starting a new business.

Since the 1800s, hustler meant “thief” and, in particular, someone who was aggressive towards his victims. Today, the dictionary still holds true to this definition, describing a con man in a negative light: a thief or criminal; a gold digger or a prostitute; an overly pushy salesperson (OED, 2015). In modern music (mainly ghetto rap), “to hustle” refers to a way of making money and doing it against all odds. Perhaps the latter is where startups are drawing inspiration from?

Scammers work for immediate gratification to get cash flow, without a long-term view. It’s about a foot in the door, a constant drive to keep making money, it’s about making the next sale.


As an entrepreneur, I would NEVER want to be called a “scammer.”

Why rush when you can “run the business”?

Being an entrepreneur may involve overcoming obstacles and making money, but it is definitely NOT rushing. Startup entrepreneurs find ways to make money, but they do it ethically and in terms of a defined growth strategy. Entrepreneurs build a business, own the business, delegate, strategize, and think about the future. They link things, they are connectors: companies, ideas and people. Entrepreneurs create systems, contingency plans, develop others, and (probably most notably) entrepreneurs consider exit planning.

The true meaning of entrepreneur?

It comes from the old French, “undertake company”. What is the company? Well, that’s work. The characteristics of an entrepreneur were added in the 15th century: a person with an “adventurous disposition, willingness to undertake challenges, and a spirit of daring” (Harper, 2015). In recent definitions, “One who undertakes a company; one who owns and manages a business; a person who bears the risk of profit or loss” (OED, 2015).


Which side of the coin are you on?

Scammer vs Entrepreneur…

semantics matter

Words change meaning over time, that’s a common thing. But going from a negative use to a positive one (deterioration to improvement) is very rare. Between entrepreneur and go-getter, you have to reflect. From a linguistic perspective, something to watch here. From a new business perspective, you have to decide which side of the coin you are on.

I guess the choice is on this:

Are you starting an ethical business as an owner and manager, with an adventurous disposition, a willingness to take on challenges, a spirit of daring taking risks of profit and loss?

Yeah?

So you are an entrepreneur NOT a go-getter.

~A.

Direct references:

-Harper, D. (2015). Dictionary of etymology Via http://www.etymonline.com/

-OED-Oxford English Dictionary (2015). Via http://www.oed.com/

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