Why be an entrepreneur?
I recently decided on a whim to apply to the NYC Founder Institute program.  One of the application questions was “Why do you want to be an entrepreneur?”, and I thought I’d share my essay:
There are three basic reasons why I am motivated to make the transition from being a freelancing mercenary to that of a true entrepreneur. Â I am passionate about solving a particular problem in my field, I am experienced and knowledgeable within my field and already comfortable with the risks of entrepreneurship, and I am temperamentally suited to entrepreneurial ventures. Â Therefore, this is a natural next step for me to take if I want to successfully execute on my goals.
I see a major problem that needs to be solved within the quality assurance web testing world, and I am confident that I have a viable solution that results in a win-win situation for client and company alike. Â I have been passionate about solving this particular issue for many years, and I have spent considerable amounts of time and effort refining and adapting my idea to changing technologies and new information. Â My first experience as a business owner was freelancing under a fictitious business name (DBA), and I have been developing prototypes of technologies to solve this problem ever since.
I have a lot of experience with software test automation and with startup environments. Â I have built a successful career as an automation engineer in New York City and am completely self taught. Â Many of the companies I worked for or contracted with had no existing test automation, and I was able to successfully execute on creating such systems. Â Much of my full time work experience has been with startups ranging from seed funding and onward, and I am again currently working as a contractor having created my own corporation. Â As a result, the risks and challenges faced by entrepreneurs are not foreign concepts to me. Â My first attempt at a solo career did not work out as expected, but I did not interpret that as a deterrent. Â Not only did I learn from the experience, but it made me aware of and comfortable with the risks and rewards inherent to employing oneself without a traditional full time job. Â My failed first attempt at freelancing launched my successful career here in New York, and now I've gone my own way a second time, this time with more success.
I am the daughter of a small business owner, and I was eight years old when I had my first entrepreneurial idea. Â I ventured into my back yard and picked out smooth, attractive rocks on which I drew colorful doodles with markers and sold them as paper weights. Â Other kids tried selling lemonade. Â Great solutions to problems do not typically come from individuals who apply established methods to novel situations, and I am naturally inclined to think of creative solutions to problems. Â Furthermore, I thrive in challenging environments where the expected result is to produce results. Â Being action oriented, I am not predisposed to waiting for others to provide solutions or complete tasks, and I find that startups and small businesses often contain this kind of environment. Â Truthfully, I have not been very fulfilled by traditional nine-to-five jobs, because I need the latitude to solve certain problems in unique ways. Â Lastly, despite my independence, I am aware of my own shortcomings and greatly enjoy working with others to inspire them to share in my vision. Â I know I cannot be an expert in all things and understand the wisdom of hiring people smarter than oneself.
In summation, there is a specific problem that I am very passionate about solving within my field of expertise, and I imagine a future for automated web testing that can be made possible with this product. Â The world of entrepreneurship is not completely new to me, and I have already experienced the challenges that accompany self employment and startups. Â Additionally, I have a proven track record of success arising from my own internal motivation and initiative, not from that of others. Â You asked me why I want to be an entrepreneur, and my question back to you is why wouldn't I?
















