Culture Shock: Embracing the role of the entrepreneur

What you think you know and what you realize you don't know when you step into entrepreneurship. A transition from academia to small business and the inevitable cultural changes.

There have been several examples of individuals becoming entrepreneurs from academics to big company executives. One reads success stories (and failures) about the world of entrepreneurship with a mix of envy and admiration for those willing to take the big step (or plunge) if you will. For some individuals the attraction to the risk of entrepreneurship is always present, after all, it can’t be that difficult to build a successful small company can it?

Yes, it can be difficult in many ways. For instance, the culture shock of starting up and running a small business is very different from the academic environment. Having been successful and comfortable in an academic research environment is no guarantee that a small business that conducts essentially the same research and development will be successful. Starting a software research and development company is very different from directing the research and development within the protective walls of a University. Within the University environment, the principle investigator is responsible for obtaining the funding to direct research efforts, teach and direct students and publish results. The every day details of overhead, payroll and reporting are all part of the supporting institution. That is not the case for a small business.

Responsibilities such as overhead and payroll would be delegated to a department that focuses on such matters. Entrepreneurs are multidimensional in nature. They have to juggle new business contacts, customer and technical support with payroll, sales, marketing and public relations, not to mention the problems one faces when the small business is courted by the IRS. The amount of time spent on the phone resolving what appears to be a simple misunderstanding with IRS, countless trips to the office supply store or troubleshooting a internal Internet connection problem can amount to hours and may not be resolved for a couple of days. All in a days work even if that day is on average, a 12 hour day.

Overall, the entrepreneurial experience is rewarding. Sure it is a tough road and not for everyone. One must count every penny that comes in and goes out and there are a multitude of unexpected challenges but the learning experience, freedom, especially the freedom to run with an idea and make it a success without the bureaucracy is the ultimate reward. In a small business there are many unknowns and entrepreneurs learn to expect the unexpected.