To Be or Not To Be an Entrepreneur

Alvin Tjitrowirjo on Paska Daksa’s Panel Discussion

For the past few decades, society globally has been in the middle of start-up booms. The start-up boom was mainly triggered in the United States and took shores in third-world countries such as Indonesia. Since then, building a start-up has been an idea that appears as easy as planning for lunch. Well, at least seemingly so.

Countless companies have risen and died since the start of these booms. Perhaps, only 1% can achieve the dream of reaching the ultimate status of unicorn that goes public after, like Uber, Grab, and a few others. Countless ideas and products were launched, tested, and went to the trash bin. So do time, energy, and soul.

AlvinT at Mozaik, March 2016 Image by Sevfal Mogalana

Vast amounts of capital are channeled to these start-ups and the potential ideas that may be successful—the whole ecosystem races to test as many ideas (or products) in the shortest time possible. In doing so, entrepreneurship and start-ups have been so glorified lately. Founders and would-be founders have entered reality-distortion-field with the dreams of having a start-up hanging over their heads, and often, they lose the sense of direction and awareness of being. They are chasing growth without urgency, with their personal soul at stake. The size of the team is used to measure success rather than satisfaction and sufficiency. We keep wanting more than what we need.

“From an evolutionary point of view, it is explainable why we wanted to gather more and more: with more food, water, and protection against predators, we may be less likely to die. But today, growth feeds our ego and social standing,” says Paul Jarvis in his book Company of One.

AlvinT at Mozaik, March 2016 Image by Sevfal Mogalana

While in different parts of the world, we’re chased by the inevitable death of our natural world. Then it begs the question, whether racing for more products or wanting more all the time is the kind of attitude and activity we need as a modern society? Is our race to invest time and energy in a successful business venture until we lose our soul on the righteous path of being an entrepreneur worth it? 

Amidst the blindingly bright and long tunnels of those “glorious and holy” path lies footpaths with various shapes and settings. These footpaths are the kind of entrepreneurship that is paced with awareness of beings and awareness of alternatives. 

For example, the awareness that there is an option of a company of one and scaling up or that growth is unnecessary when it’s not needed. That being small is the plan for going forward in the long term, not just a phase at the beginning. 

There should also be aware of the mental challenges in the glorious path if you choose to take it, as it may store challenges that the promise and euphoria of success at the end of the path blind you. These challenges are not to be taken lightly. A UC Berkeley study found 72% of entrepreneurs reported mental health problems, and creativity—central to business ventures—is linked to mental issues such as psychosis and bipolar disorder.

In truth, however, everyone wants to be an entrepreneur; only some have the cut of being one. But all those who became one, however skillful they are, may not escape the mental toll of their ventures.

AlvinT at Mozaik, March 2016 Image by Sevfal Mogalana

Lastly, an awareness to know the difference between the needs of society (related to our ventures) versus our need to scale. Sometimes we confuse one for the other and distort our reality further to meet the success we’re dreaming of. 

Our thoughts in this piece of writing are not about undermining our dreams of being gloriously successful entrepreneurs, but it’s about being able to identify the choices we make along with their impacts. It’s about knowing different meanings of success exist, but we must be aware of it to find the success that fits our features.

Starting within ourselves will create a healthier environment for everyone to choose their living preference and bring value to the world. Whether through glorious paths or a somewhat slightly sloping one.