INNOVATION, CREATIVITY AND SERVICE – How an Entrepreneur Differs From a Traditional Business Man - By Matthew Ujah-Peter

Electricity was not invented, it was discovered by man. That means that ever before man began to walk on planet earth, there was electricity just like other things such as herbs, plants and precious stones that existed before man’s arrival. Electricity lied hidden within nature as a latent force awaiting the development of man’s mind. And suddenly, after thousands of years of man’s sojourn and adventures on earth – it was discovered.

But then it needed to be harnessed and channeled for man’s productive use. It could have been seen as some form of evil since it can kill. But someone thought it would benefit man and beneficial it turned out to be. Over the years the best materials and means by which it can be used are continually been discovered. Today, virtually all instruments and tools man use for his day-to-day work are powered by electricity. Life, as it were, that seemed to be like a black and white photo in the days that pre-existed the discovery and use of electricity, suddenly turned full colour at the advent of electricity.

Before the discovery of electricity there weren’t so many varieties and alternatives as we now have as far as work processes were concerned. Technology used to be crude and cumbersome. Now technology is highly proliferated, simplified and diversified, thus making life over the centuries steadily but surely unfolding in varieties and beauty. Life’s hidden beauties, bounties, treasures and varieties continue to unfold before our very eyes like an old black and white television picture changing into full colour.

You would agree there are so much more THINGS still in existence but yet to be discovered awaiting discovery. And a great deal is lying hidden within you! Yes, you that are reading this. Before we knew it as a people, the west came and discovered the treasure lying hidden beneath our soil called petroleum. For years our ancestors were trekking and trampling on it not knowing that any such things existed.

 Since the discovery of petroleum, other valuables and treasures have been lying hidden from our views. It is a pity that the minds of people in this part of the world are conditioned to only value things that are within the sense realms – things already known or discovered. It is positions and possessions that are more valued rather than information and ideas. We hardly value things that are within the framework of ideas and information, not realizing that it is those who value things in their intangible states in forms of ideas that are the ones leading and ruling over the rest of humanity.

The people who know the “WHAT” in this life usually get the jobs. Those who know the “HOW” get to be their boss.  But those who know the “WHY” lead them all. The “WHAT” people are people with enough information on the worth of things but usually they at the becks and calls of the “HOW” (or know-how) people. It is the know-how people who teach or show know-what people things to do and control what should be done. Then there are the “WHY” or know-why people. They design, create, hold and wield the ladder that all the others climb and work on. The “WHY” people are thinkers; they are questions askers. They seek to know the reason behind things – reasons why things should be or should not be. They are purpose-driven individuals. They therefore design frameworks, structures and systems then recruit the know-how people who in turn teach or recruit know-what people.

Know-what people are skilled and semi-skilled people. They are technicians and handy men - usually people with handiwork or with basic education who are working class people at the lower rungs of the ladder under the know-how people who are better educated or professionals and experienced people - officers or office-holders and managers at the higher rungs of the ladder who work for the know-why people, the innovators, inventors, investors and intentionally creative people that design, create and hold the economic ladders. They are the vision-driven, mission-minded and leadership-oriented class of people. These are the entrepreneurs! An entrepreneur is not in business just for the money. The people with such motives are called businessmen.

Do the entrepreneurs make money? Of course, they do. An entrepreneur is an innovator, an inventor and an investor wrapped up in one body. The innovator part of him/her is the person who seeks always to make life and processes of doing things easy and better for others. Men like Henry Ford, who made automobile accessible and affordable for others, Bill Gates who made computer operation and operative system available and affordable for others are examples. The inventors in them seek ways to bring into existence things that would be beneficial to humanity. Examples are Thomas Edison, John Baird and Graham Bell etc. The investor in them is the businessman in them. Their innovations and inventions, in reality, are investments. They may choose to earn a living for their works. This means business. However, the pure traditional businessman is often not bothered with service to humanity. Gains and profits are his major concerns.

This clearly shows that if one is going into business solely for personal gains and profits, he/she is not an entrepreneur. He/she is a businessman or businesswoman. There is nothing wrong with being a businessman or a businesswoman. Even the entrepreneur, too, is a business person. The difference is the primary motive driving the venture.