Andy Swan » Entrepreneurship is an obligation.

Entrepreneurship is an obligation.

October 22, 2009 – 3:13 pm

Entrepreneurship is the recipient of less than 0.1% of investments made. It drives about 17% of economic growth and hiring.

In other words, entrepreneurship CREATES wealth. Where once there was nothing, now sits a business, which makes products/services and employs people.

Entrepreneurship is not simply an option in the list of careers. It transcends career.

It means creating things that could have value. It means making the world work more efficiently, even if just in your little corner.

It means making other people’s lives better (after all, why else would they pay you? work for/with you?)

Entrepreneurship is an obligation for anyone who lists it as an option.

You owe it to whoever dealt you this hand.

Create something.

Win.

Dave Pinsen

"Create something."

Here's something I created that you might find of interest, Andy, based on your background as an entrepreneur in the investing space: Shortscreen.com. Here's a blog post I wrote about it. Let me know what you think.

lvsyadda

Andy, can I tell you I still hate you for stealing peoples money when you shut down daytradeteam. Karma bites.....

andyswan

I'm afraid your anger is misdirected.

I haven't been involved other than 10% owner since Jan of 2007 and didn't
receive a dime out of liquidation or any dividends since then either.

I had no input whatsoever on the decision to shut it down, nor any on the
manner in which it was handled.

Here is my wrap up:
http://andyswan.com/blog/2009/09/08/daytradeteam-update/

I hope that helps clarify my role, or lack thereof.

andyswan

I'm afraid your anger is misdirected.

I haven't been involved other than 10% owner since Jan of 2007 and didn't receive a dime out of liquidation or any dividends since then either.

I had no input whatsoever on the decision to shut it down, nor any on the manner in which it was handled.

Here is my wrap up: http://andyswan.com/blog/2009/09/08/daytradeteam-update/

I hope that helps clarify my role, or lack thereof.

jfredson

Lies. I don't owe anyone the potential of my mind. If I choose to exercise my abilities and create value for those around me I will do so at my own choosing and for my own benefit.

That personal benefit can be the satisfaction of helping others or creating value for others, but never should ability be used to determine obligation. My obligation is to myself, my survival and my values. To claim otherwise is to claim ownership of the content of other men's minds. And that is the second greatest crime of all.

andyswan

I never said you owed it to anyone other than yourself and whomever you
credit for your talents.

jfredson

Hehe, so you didn't. My apologies. It is not a strange conclusion to come to though given how the statement about obligation is preceded by a list of ways in which entrepreneurship benefits collective society.

You are right in that the collective benefits of entrepreneurship (or any translation of ability into value) which you listed are all in fact benefits to the individual creator as well. That is the beauty of a free market, which incentivizes those with ability to create value for the collective, thus channeling natural and rational self-interest in ways that lead to the greatest public good.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here though. That is why I was most surprised to read this post on your blog given my initial understanding of your words. ;)