I'll explain in a second, I'm a long-time admirer of Mark Bittman, the food journalist who recently left The New York Times. So when Bittman announced he was leaving journalism to work for a meal kit startup, I was sad. I would miss him. But the other day when I read the "first installment" of his entrepreneurial journey in Fast Company, my sadness turned to anger.
開始前,請(qǐng)容許筆者解釋一下,筆者是Mark Bittman的骨灰級(jí)粉絲,但Bittman最近已經(jīng)離職了紐約時(shí)報(bào)的美食記者職位了。所以當(dāng)筆者聽到他將從記者生涯轉(zhuǎn)而投入餐具自創(chuàng)公司的消息時(shí),著實(shí)讓我沮喪了一陣子,我很懷念他寫的美食專欄。但后來(lái)當(dāng)我讀到他在Fast Company開啟企業(yè)家之旅的“首次上任”文章時(shí),我的情緒從惋惜轉(zhuǎn)而憤怒。
It's true that Bittman admitted that starting a company is "harder than I thought." (No kidding.) But, even though his new venture has a wonderful mission ("encouraging part-time veganism, supporting sustainable agriculture and, in general, helping build the good food movement"), Bittman is ambivalent about entrepreneurship.
Bittman所認(rèn)為的“開創(chuàng)新公司比想象中困難”這個(gè)說(shuō)法是對(duì)的。(并不是玩笑話。)但是即使他的新企業(yè)肩負(fù)著多么意義非凡的使命(鼓勵(lì)部分時(shí)間素食主義,支持可持續(xù)性農(nóng)業(yè)以及廣泛的幫助建立健康食品運(yùn)動(dòng)),Bittman的創(chuàng)業(yè)精神還是有點(diǎn)自相矛盾的。
As a long-time entrepreneur, I get very cranky when someone suggests that creating and building a business is anything less than a noble endeavor. Even if you're making widgets, you're still adding economic and social value. And if you've got higher aspirations (my firm helps our clients reach, engage and motivate employees), all the better.
作為一名資深企業(yè)家,當(dāng)我聽到有人發(fā)表類似“創(chuàng)立企業(yè)只不過(guò)是一件高尚的嘗試”這種言論時(shí),我都會(huì)非常抓狂。即使你所生產(chǎn)的產(chǎn)品再小,你仍然在為其增添著經(jīng)濟(jì)和社會(huì)利用價(jià)值。并且如果你有更高的追求(筆者的公司致力于擴(kuò)大客戶群體,關(guān)注且激勵(lì)員工等),那么各個(gè)方面都能隨之提升一個(gè)高度。
Here are the 7 reasons entrepreneurs are awesome. We:
企業(yè)家之所以能夠傲視群雄,是因?yàn)槲覀儯?/p>
1.Dream big.
1. 有偉大的理想。
We aspire to solve problems, make people's lives better, make a difference.
我們努力解決問(wèn)題,為人民生活謀利益,創(chuàng)造不平凡。
2.Fail hard.
2. 經(jīng)常失敗。
Failing is so painful while you're going through it and so valuable later. And it may sound cheesy, but it's the circle of life--somebody loses and someone else goes on to change the world.
當(dāng)你正經(jīng)歷著失敗,這種感覺(jué)確實(shí)不好受,但事后你會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)這是多么的珍貴。也許失敗根本不值一提,但這正是生活的規(guī)律——有人倒下,就有人站起來(lái)改變世界。
3.Claw back from adversity.
3. 及時(shí)從逆境中戰(zhàn)勝困難。
We fight our way out of economic downturns, natural disasters, acts of violence--and, by doing so, demonstrate courage and perseverance.
我們從經(jīng)濟(jì)倒退、自然災(zāi)害,暴力事件等事件中突破重重困難,通過(guò)這些磨練,我們?cè)黾恿擞職夂鸵懔Α?/p>
4.Build something meaningful.
4. 干點(diǎn)有意義的事。
For most of us, we're not just creating a company. We're contributing to society. Making an economic difference. Helping the community.
大多數(shù)企業(yè)家,創(chuàng)建公司并不只是為了創(chuàng)建公司。我們?cè)跒樯鐣?huì)做貢獻(xiàn)。在經(jīng)濟(jì)上創(chuàng)造價(jià)值。幫助社會(huì)大眾。
5.Create good jobs.
5. 創(chuàng)建有意義的職位。
Even if this were the only good thing entrepreneurs do, it would be a big one.
即使這是企業(yè)家只會(huì)做的一件事,但造成的影響卻不小。
6.Nurture people.
6. 培養(yǎng)人才。
A majority of us are committed to growing our employees along with our companies. I hate it when an employee leaves my firm, but I understand that people have to leave the nest.
大多數(shù)的企業(yè)家都在公司發(fā)展的同時(shí)培養(yǎng)員工的素質(zhì)技能。我很討厭看到有員工離開我的公司的場(chǎng)景,但我能理解他確實(shí)要離巢了。
7.Live free.
7. 自在地生活。
Every entrepreneur knows that we're not in complete control of our lives. In fact, we acutely feel the pressure of employees, clients, suppliers and everyone else we're dependent on. But we know that the buck stops with us and we can shape our own destiny. (How cool is that?) By the way, in addition to all of the above, entrepreneurs also make money. And we're proud of that, too.
每位企業(yè)家都深刻理解到我們不能完全控制自己的生活。十幾次,我們對(duì)員工,客戶,供應(yīng)商以及任何我們所依賴的人的壓力都有非常敏感。但我們很清楚金錢會(huì)為我們而停下腳步,我們也能塑造自己的人生。(多么酷炫的事呀!另外,除了上述提到的這幾點(diǎn)之外,企業(yè)家確實(shí)會(huì)賺錢,并且,我們非常引以為榮。