Am I a Business Owner or an Entrepreneur… or Was I Just a Really Ambitious Brownie?
Today, it seems like everyone is an entrepreneur. From the kids on the corner selling lemonade to influencers with Etsy shops and digital nomads coding from coffee shops. Entrepreneurship is in vogue. But I’ve been wondering… have we blurred the line between business owner and entrepreneur?
Growing up, my dad ran a small business, so did my brother. They worked hard, built something from scratch, served their community, and supported their families. But no one ever called them “entrepreneurs.” They were “small business owners.” Respectable. Stable. Proud.
So, if my dad was a business owner, and I’ve started a few small businesses, created products, wrote a book, launched a media brand, test driven 700+ cars, trained teams, and now … does that make me a business owner or an entrepreneur?
And if I’m being honest, was I actually an entrepreneur back when I was a Girl Scout selling Thin Mints door to door by myself with wrinkled price sheets and a script on an index card?
What’s the Difference?
A business owner typically operates a business with a known product or service, often with a goal of long-term stability, profitability, and community connection. They may follow established paths like owning a franchise or launching a consulting firm.
An entrepreneur, however, is usually defined by innovation, risk-taking, and disruption. Entrepreneurs often:
- Start something new or unique
- Take financial and reputational risks
- Scale fast or aim for high growth
- Constantly iterate and evolve
So yes, both business owners and entrepreneurs hustle, sacrifice, and lead. But entrepreneurs are often seen as the visionary risk-takers—while business owners might be the steady builders.
I think you can be both !!! Don’t you?
What Should You Put on Your Business Card? ( Do people still use them?)
Great question. Should you write “President”? “CEO”? “Founder”?
It depends on how you see yourself—and how you want the world to see you.
- President/CEO implies leadership within a structured business, possibly with employees and defined operations.
- Founder gives credit to your origin story—good for credibility.
- Entrepreneur tells the world you’re a creator, innovator, and risk-taker.
Titles are like shoes… loafers, sketchers, flip flops or high heels. Pick what fits… and what makes you feel ready to walk into any room with confidence.
Do You Need a College Degree to Be an Entrepreneur?
I didn’t go to college straight out of high school, I went to New York City, which, in my opinion, offered the equivalent of a Junior College degree… in street smarts.
I learned to think on my feet, watch every dollar, market myself, and pivot fast—because that’s what Manhattan demands. I saw big wins, big failures, and bold dreams in action. That was my classroom. And let me tell you, failure was not theoretical it was playing out in real-time on every block.
College can teach you frameworks, strategies, and business models. But entrepreneurship? That’s learned in the doing.
Yes, a degree might open doors or give you tools—but being an entrepreneur is more about mindset than a diploma. If you’re resourceful, resilient, and relentless… you already have what most textbooks are trying to teach.
So What Makes You an Entrepreneur? At Least it did me !!!!
✅ You spot opportunities others don’t ✅ You take risks with no guarantee of success ✅ You innovate or challenge the status quo ✅ You create something from nothing ✅ You build with scale or impact in mind ✅ You’re fueled by passion, purpose, or solving problems
If you run a thriving business, serve loyal customers, and support your community—guess what? You might be a business owner and an entrepreneur.
Or maybe… you’re just a Girl Scout with a goal, a game plan, and a car trunk full of cookies with a dream.
www.hercertified.com – www.raiseahood.com
Michael Petersen Ajay Singhal Arizona State University Don Groft Eloise Saunders Franco Venegas Heather Monahan Highway 85 Productions Bad Birdie Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council New York, New York City