Entrepreneurship is a term often used in a generic way to designate all those who take risks to create, direct and prosper companies. However, behind this term hides a diversity of approaches, profiles and temperaments. Not all entrepreneurs are the same, and above all, some will focus mainly on business creation, while others will position themselves more in the development and optimization of the structures they have created. These two categories do not exclude, but they mark distinct approaches to entrepreneurship.
Business creators: visionaries and builders
Business creators, or “creative” entrepreneurs, are those who find an idea, a product or a service they want to put on the market. They are animated by innovation, passion and the desire to do something new. This type of entrepreneur is often distinguished by his ability to see opportunities where others see only obstacles. The main objective for them is to build something from scratch or to launch a new initiative to transform an idea into reality.
The creation process is, for these entrepreneurs, almost a personal quest. They are often motivated by the resolution of specific problems or the improvement of a particular sector. This can go through technological innovations, unpublished services or the creation of products that upset existing standards. Their main challenge is to succeed in concretizing their ideas and going from the design phase to that of launch, often with few resources at the start.
Creators are often seen as visionaries. Their talent lies in their ability to innovate, to think off the beaten track and to build a project that did not exist before. However, their strength can also become a weakness, because they can sometimes neglect aspects of business management beyond the launch phase.
Business developers: strategists and managers
In contrast to creators, business developers are more oriented entrepreneurs towards expansion and long -term management. They are often those who take an existing business – whether their own creation or not – and seek to make it grow, optimize it and maximize its income. Their objective is more focused on accelerating growth and scalability of the company.
Developers are generally more focused on operations and strategic management than on the creation of new products or services. They will exceed in the implementation of effective systems, in market expansion, in the diversification of offers or in the improvement of internal processes. Their approach is more pragmatic and oriented towards the exploitation of existing resources to maximize the potential of a company.
A classic example of corporate developer would be that of an entrepreneur who bought a small business, often in difficulty, and who restructures it to make it more profitable, often by marketing strategies, better organization or geographic expansion. This type of entrepreneur has solid management, finance, human resources and long -term strategy skills. Unlike creators, who can have a more idealistic vision of entrepreneurship, developers are often more anchored in the reality of the market and daily management.
Why are these profile differences?
The differences between creators and business developers are not due to a simple distinction of skills, but to psychological features and different expectations. Each type of entrepreneur is motivated by separate objectives.
The creators are pushed by the desire to carry out a personal project, to shake up standards or to innovate. They like the creative aspect, the freedom to act without constraint and the idea of leaving a single imprint. Their dynamism is often fueled by the possibility of giving birth to something new in a sometimes uncertain environment.
Developers, on the other hand, are often more motivated by efficiency, profitability and long -term impact. They like the management of complex projects and have a more systematic approach. For them, succeeding in business is not only to have a brilliant idea, but also knowing how to perpetuate the company and adapting it to multiple challenges. These entrepreneurs are often animated by the desire to build a solid structure and ensure continuous and controlled growth.
Can we be both creator and developer?
It is quite possible to juggle between these two roles, but this requires a certain mental flexibility and the ability to adapt to different phases of the company’s life cycle. An entrepreneur who begins as a creator can, over time, evolve towards a more focused role on the development of the company. Conversely, an entrepreneur who begins as a developer can also decide to return to the creation stage to diversify his business portfolio.
However, it is rare that a single entrepreneur is both “brilliant creator” and an “exceptional manager”. Often, those who excel in creation will find more difficult to focus on long -term management and growth, while those who are strong in development will often prefer to work on existing projects rather than creative initiatives. It is for this reason that many growing companies need partners or partners: a business creator for innovation and a manager for optimization.
The importance of knowing how to recognize your profile and that of others
Knowing where we are as an entrepreneur can be an excellent starting point to make informed decisions on the management of your business. If you are a creator, it may be wise to surround yourself with people capable of managing the operational aspect of your business while you continue to innovate. Conversely, if you are a developer, seek to hire or associate with more creative profiles could be essential to guarantee a constant renewal of your products or services.
The complementarity between creators and developers is also a key success factor in the world of entrepreneurship. One is not going without the other, and the most prosperous companies often know how to associate the skills of the two types of entrepreneurs.
