Teaching2014-06-09·16 min

The Definition Of Being An Entrepreneur

The Definition Of Being An Entrepreneur

Eben Pagan delivers his definitive definition of entrepreneurship as 'creating profitable businesses' and breaks down what this means in today's economy. He explains why traditional job security is disappearing and positions entrepreneurs as the superheroes of the future who create value, security, and opportunity for themselves and others.

The Definition Of Being An Entrepreneur

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Key Moments

Job Economy Is Crumbling — Entrepreneurs Create Security

The job economy and manual labor economy is crumbling because large companies are no longer stable and predictable. Job security is becoming extinct while entrepreneurs create more security through value creation.

5:27

What a Business Actually Is by Definition

A business is an entity that offers products and services meeting others' needs successfully

1:58

The Future Belongs to Entrepreneurs — This Is Their Age

We live in the age of the entrepreneur where the future belongs to entrepreneurs

7:19

You can't make money in the past - you must do what's going to work in the future

13:57

Creative Destruction: Entrepreneurs Topple Stable Markets

Creative destruction is when entrepreneurial, creative thinking people jump into niches and take away market share from what used to be stable businesses, causing large bureaucracies to crumble.

8:22

Job Economy Crumbling While Entrepreneurs Gain Security

The job economy and manual labor economy is crumbling while entrepreneurs become more secure

5:20

Relevant Clips23

  • Teaching3:38

    Profitable as a Perpetual Motion Machine of Value

    Profitable means generating more value than you consume. Unlike physical laws, businesses can create a perpetual motion machine effect by throwing off more money or value than they use, including financial, social, emotional, and intellectual profit.

  • Teaching10:26

    Cambrian Explosion of Dynamic Niches and Specialization

    We're experiencing a Cambrian explosion of dynamic change creating new niches and specializations. Like the biological Cambrian explosion, this creates rapid evolution pressure and massive new opportunities for entrepreneurs.

  • Teaching13:20

    Why Entrepreneurs Win When Old Strategies Fail

    You can't make money in the past because what used to work no longer works. The winning strategy for the future is becoming an entrepreneur as they become the superheroes getting fame, fortune, and creating opportunities.

  • Teaching5:27

    Job Economy Is Crumbling — Entrepreneurs Create Security

    The job economy and manual labor economy is crumbling because large companies are no longer stable and predictable. Job security is becoming extinct while entrepreneurs create more security through value creation.

  • Teaching4:20

    Eben Pagan's Definition of an Entrepreneur

    An entrepreneur is someone who creates profitable businesses. This means they innovate rather than copy, build entities that meet others' needs successfully, and generate more value than they consume.

  • Teaching8:22

    Creative Destruction: Entrepreneurs Topple Stable Markets

    Creative destruction is when entrepreneurial, creative thinking people jump into niches and take away market share from what used to be stable businesses, causing large bureaucracies to crumble.

  • Teaching10:18

    Light Switch Theory and Rapid Business Evolution

    The light switch theory explains rapid evolution when vision emerged, paralleling today's business evolution

  • Teaching4:17

    Profitable Means Generating More Value Than You Consume

    Profitable means generating more value than you consume, creating a perpetual motion machine effect

  • Teaching12:39

    Business Ecosystems Like Coral Reefs With Micro-Niches

    Business ecosystems are becoming like coral reefs with unimaginable micro-niches all connected

  • Teaching1:58

    What a Business Actually Is by Definition

    A business is an entity that offers products and services meeting others' needs successfully

  • Teaching5:20

    Job Economy Crumbling While Entrepreneurs Gain Security

    The job economy and manual labor economy is crumbling while entrepreneurs become more secure

  • Teaching8:22

    Entrepreneurial Thinkers Dismantling Large Bureaucracies

    Large bureaucracies are crumbling due to creative destruction by entrepreneurial thinkers

Show 11 more
  • Teaching10:07

    The Cambrian Explosion of Business Opportunity

    We're experiencing a Cambrian explosion of business opportunity and ultra-specialization

  • Teaching0:14

    Entrepreneur Defined — Creating Profitable Businesses

    The essential definition of an entrepreneur is someone who creates profitable businesses

  • Teaching4:46

    Entrepreneurs Must Create and Innovate, Not Just Imitate

    Entrepreneurs must create and innovate, not just copy or imitate existing solutions

  • Teaching14:48

    Social Entrepreneurs Combine Profit With Impact

    Social entrepreneurs combine business success with making a difference in the world

  • Teaching13:57

    You can't make money in the past - you must do what's going to work in the future

  • Teaching7:19

    The Future Belongs to Entrepreneurs — This Is Their Age

    We live in the age of the entrepreneur where the future belongs to entrepreneurs

  • Quotable11:09

    Cambrian Explosion of Business Niches

    we're entering what I think right now is a Cambrian explosion of change, of new niches, of new specializations

  • Quotable13:57

    You Can't Make Money in the Past

    You can't make money in the past. You have to do what's going to work in the future

  • Quotable4:20

    Profitable Means Generating More Value Than It Consumes

    profitable means that it generates more value than it consumes

  • Quotable13:57

    Entrepreneur as the New Superhero

    the entrepreneur is now becoming the superhero of the future

  • Quotable0:51

    The Entrepreneur Creates Profitable Businesses

    The entrepreneur creates profitable businesses

Entities Touched

Canonical Teachings

Income in the future is about results and value creation, not manual work and labor like in the pastA business is an entity that offers products and services meeting others' needs successfullyOpportunity is changing and increasing for entrepreneurs, requiring new mindsets and methods to harness it effectivelyYou can't make money in the past - you must do what's going to work in the futureCreative destruction is when entrepreneurial, creative thinking people jump into niches and take away market share from what used to be stable businesses, causing large bureaucracies to crumbleThe job economy and manual labor economy is crumbling while entrepreneurs become more secureProfitable means generating more value than you consume, creating a perpetual motion machine effectEntrepreneurs must create and innovate, not just copy or imitate existing solutionsThe light switch theory explains rapid evolution when vision emerged, paralleling today's business evolutionBusiness ecosystems are becoming like coral reefs with unimaginable micro-niches all connectedWe're experiencing a Cambrian explosion of business opportunity and ultra-specializationThe essential definition of an entrepreneur is someone who creates profitable businessesAn entrepreneur is someone who creates profitable businesses — they innovate rather than copy, build entities meeting others' needs, and generate more value than they consumeSocial entrepreneurs combine business success with making a meaningful difference in the worldLarge bureaucracies are crumbling due to creative destruction by entrepreneurial thinkers

The Core Definition of Entrepreneurship

Eben breaks down entrepreneurship into three essential components: creating (not copying), profitable (generating more value than consumed), and businesses (entities meeting others' needs). This foundational definition separates true entrepreneurs from imitators.

The Collapse of Traditional Job Security

The job economy is crumbling as large bureaucracies become unstable and unpredictable. Job security is becoming extinct while entrepreneurs create lasting security through value creation and innovation.

The Cambrian Explosion of Business Opportunity

We're experiencing unprecedented business evolution with ultra-specialization and micro-niches emerging rapidly. Like coral reefs or rainforests, business ecosystems now offer countless connected opportunities for entrepreneurs to explore and develop.

Entrepreneurs as Future Superheroes

Entrepreneurs are becoming the celebrated leaders of the future, gaining fame and fortune while creating opportunities for others. The rise of social entrepreneurship shows how business success can combine with making meaningful world impact.

Counterpoint 3

Claim:Job security and working for good companies with pensions provides financial security

Reframe: The job economy is crumbling and entrepreneurs create more security by developing value creation skills

Claim:Success comes from learning a trade and working for stable, predictable companies

Reframe: Large companies are no longer stable due to entrepreneurial creative destruction

Claim:Making money requires following proven strategies from the past

Reframe: You can't make money in the past - you must focus on what will work in the future

Topics

Business Frameworks

profitable business creationvalue generation modelcreative destructionspecialization modellight switch theoryecosystem modelsocial entrepreneurship

Common Mistakes

copying existing solutionsrelying on job securityfollowing outdated career modelsusing past strategies