584. Expert Interview: How to Think More Like an Entrepreneur

“Even if you work inside a company, or are just toying with the idea of entrepreneurship, it might seem like it’s this big undertaking that means quitting your job, getting venture capital, and starting a huge enterprise.  But I’m especially fascinated with people who were able to start in small ways, starting something on the side, to create portfolio careers for themselves, and side income streams can grow to become something exceptionally lucrative. I tell their stories in my book.”

“The caricature of business is people who are taking huge, risky bets. People often think that’s the definition of entrepreneurship, being willing to take  a big risk.  In actuality, it is very much the opposite. It’s about mitigating risk. Instead of having a big bet, where you can potentially lose everything, I discovered again and again that it’s about taking small risks. Only later, when you see momentum, do you double down. It’s about being able to be encouraged by seeing small victories that tell you that you’re making progress on the entrepreneurial path.”