What's the difference between an intrapreneur and entrepreneur? Who cares?

As soon as some of these startup enthusiasts find out I work in a corporation, they either apologize or look for a way out of the conversation. It's like all of a sudden they think we are on two different sides of the planet. They act like there's no way I could comprehend all the troubles they must encounter working in a startup. Sure, there are differences. This Forbes article attempts to highlight some. The article is very thought-provoking, but I'd like to expand on the four points the original author makes with my own experiences.


To me, entrepreneurship is a mindset, not a position. I've worked in the corporate world and have done some freelance work for a few years now. I've coached startups. I've seen friends encounter failure at a corporation and achieve wonderful things at a startup. Then, I've seen those same people come right back to the corporate world and crush it. You see it more in the startup ecosystem, but there seems to be this belief that being an entrepreneur is so much different from creating your own team in a corporation. Let's think about that, within the context of that Forbes article I mentioned earlier.

1. Risk vs. Reward

Okay, I'll give it to him on this one. Most corporations still operate on a firm fixed price contract with their employees. They give you a salary, some health and insurance and maybe a nice match in your 401k and take as much as they can get from you. You already know my take on "sweat equity." Until more companies have the courage and discipline to function like Valve, this is going to be a huge distinction between the two.

2. Culture

I'm so sick of the "culture" excuse for why people choose not to be entrepreneurs in corporations. Culture is simply behavior over time. My team has implemented several "norms" for how we work. They don't all "align" with everyone else at the company. Our desks face each other and not a cube wall. We turned a conference room into a studio. People in the same building as us don't like having all the lights on. Apparently the lower lighting conditions make for a better programming environment. My point is microcultures are not just for those on the "outside." A company with a robust intranet these days has just as much cultural diversity as the 10 startups at your local coffee shop or co-working space. 

3. Autonomy

Startup founders have bosses just like corporate employees. Startups call them customers. The corporates call them managers or partners. Both kinds can exercise as much autonomy as they want. If they want to get paid, they'll likely need to give their bosses what they want. Surprise! You can't just do whatever you please. Yes, the corporate world does have internal policies that will restrict certain creative decisions an employee wants to make. There are still those same forces for external entrepreneurs as well. Your restaurant sign has to be this color if you want to be located in this shopping mall. Your bar will need to close down by midnight in this zip code. Your new drug has to fill all 87 of these FDA requirements. We all operate in environments with constraints beyond our control. Whether working for a corporation or not, it's best to learn how to work with these external forces. View them as constraints and not obstacles.

4. Resource Attainment

Startup founders can't just cut blank checks to just anyone anytime they want something done. They have to earn it. Same thing goes for corporates. Every asset our team has acquired, every job we've filled and every project we work had to be earned.

Conclusion

The one trait that binds both internal and external entrepreneurs is their belief in how much they can influence a system. Both recognize something is wrong with the current offerings in our world. They want to do something about it. One may be more driven by the immense financial success that can come with that achievement. They may prefer to forego the structures they think may hamper their autonomy and creativity. However, if you want to get paid, how much autonomy do you really have? 

The other may prefer to know their family can live without income volatility. They may tolerate existing power structures and find ways to navigate them to advance their cause. It's still all supply and demand. Find a need. Fill a need.

My hope is that we start to embrace how much we can each grow by working with each other. I want to see more intrapreneurs getting involved in their local startup ecosystem. Go to a 1 Million Cups event. Volunteer at a local university's startup incubator program. I want to see more entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs working side-by-side at local startup facility.

Intrapreneur, entrepreneur, innovator, disruptor, artist, creative, positive deviant...whatever you call yourself. We need you to make your change, wherever that may be.

Scott Weidner