From Martians to Mom & Pop: Is there a Common Denominator to Entrepreneurs?

by Melissa Crawford

In 2003, when I was a parent at Santa Barbara Montessori School, I was asked to be a driver for an unusual excursion to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a NASA lab established by the California Institute of Technology, in Pasadena. One of the parents (a real rocket scientist) arranged for the school to visit and observe the finishing touches being placed on the Spirit, a Rover that was part of an imminent Mars Exploration Mission. The highlight of the trip was standing on a box to peek through a window and watch the “surgeons” working on the Rover in a clean room. It was an awesome sight, to see the little go-cart being built with such fanfare, and care. It gave the Spirit launch special meaning to all of us a few months later, and as far as I know, the Spirit is still roving around Mars, collecting data.

Who dreams up the Rover concept and what do we have in common? Is a rocket scientist really any different from the restaurateur who invents a new recipe, or the computer repair shop that “makes it work?”

When you boil it down, here are some common traits of entrepreneurs in any sector:

• Entrepreneurs are in touch with the part of their brain that fuels imagination.

• They always question existing ways of doing things, and consider how they can do it better.

• Entrepreneurs are fearless positive thinkers. Failure is just a little bump in the road.

• They have a penchant for staying on the cutting-edge of their industry. They take the initiative to keep abreast of new developments.

• Entrepreneurs keep the big picture in the forefront, and lead teams to take care of the mundane.

• They are driven by intense passion to get up in the morning and push their idea until is works.

• Entrepreneurs are never finished. There is always a new idea on the horizon, or several. They are endless idea machines!

Even if your idea seems small compared to the Rover, you could revolutionize your industry and that’s what entrepreneurship is all about – making “your” world a better place. So don’t let anyone tell you that you’re no rocket scientist – look at all you have in common!