There are several definitions of entrepreneurship, but the one we'll use for our article is fairly exhaustive:
'' Entrepreneurship refers to the action of undertaking, of bringing a project to fruition. Often used in the business sector, the term ''undertake'' means to create an (economic) activity to achieve a goal, meet a need. The creator represents the entrepreneur, i.e. the bearer of the project''.
Based on this definition, how can we determine the entrepreneur's motivation: passion or necessity? Can one succeed in entrepreneurship out of a love of entrepreneurship, or out of a compelling need to avoid poverty?
One of the keys to success in entrepreneurship is customer satisfaction. So how do you satisfy a customer?
By first selling him either the service or the product whose use satisfies his need. In simpler terms: selling the customer what he needs. So it goes without saying that the entrepreneur who does business out of necessity is more likely to succeed in his or her entrepreneurial career, because for him or her, the only way to make a profit is to satisfy the customer. But does this mean that the entrepreneur who is passionate about his or her work cannot succeed in an entrepreneurial career? Let's see. Let me give you an example: let's take a certain Mr X, whom I'll call Tartempion. Tartempion is passionate about computers, and his passion has led him to acquire a wealth of skills in this field, which finally gave him the idea of opening his own small business, to offer computer services to his customers. However, despite his skills and know-how, his business didn't take off. On the other hand, his neighbor, who is less competent than he is, and who only makes photocopies and prints for his customers, is seeing his business grow. The question is: why isn't Tartempion's business growing, despite his skills, passion and know-how?
Well, the answer is simple: Tartempion's passion, skills and know-how don't meet the needs of the market.
Ultimately, whether by passion or necessity, the best way to succeed in business is above all to satisfy the customer, and why: the answer is obvious. Nobody uses their money to buy what they don't need.
I'll conclude by saying: in entrepreneurship, it's good to live your passion, but it's better to satisfy your customers. This article highlights one of the reasons why many entrepreneurs fail, despite the support, subsidies and funding they receive. The problem with the passionate entrepreneur is that he sees the world through his passion. Hegel said, and I quote: "Nothing great has been accomplished in the world without passion". In entrepreneurship, the entrepreneur must have the lucidity to ensure that his or her passion satisfies the need for a substantial number of customers to hope to make a living from it, in which case bankruptcy would risk taking him or her out of his or her passion through the reality of numbers. As a coach, I always determine the motivation of the entrepreneur to be coached. This is the first step towards success: motivation.
David NGABA, Business coach in Marketing and Communication
