GoodnightEntrepreneur

“Other directedness”

One way to establish uniqueness and meaning in life is through personal relationships. Within a meaningful relationship, one becomes unique to the other person, and you also become aware of and appreciate the other person’s uniqueness.

“To me you are still only a small boy, just like a hundred thousand other small boys. And I have no need for you. And you in turn have no need for me. To you, I’m just a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes.

But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you shall be unique in the world. To you, I shall be unique in the world” (de Saint-Exupery).

Entrepreneurs often seem to be motivated by their “other directedness“. From my encounters with them they rarely seem to be on a “lone ranger’s” mission. One might misinterpret their independence and need for freedom but the entrepreneurs I have talked to, all have a group of people that they are taking with them. Quotes like the one below from Sandra Africa are not rare:

“The work was coming along fine, but the first year it was terribly hard because there was no money for me. But at that time money was not my first concern, I just wanted to build up a track record that was my first priority. My second priority was I wanted to create jobs for the people of Dysseldorp, and thirdly I would have liked to make a little bit of money.”