Multiple-choice questions for Entrepreneurs: loyal to ideals or reality

If you are a fresh graduate and are looking for a job, you are often faced with the option of going to a startup company that you like but has a low salary and does not solve the problem; or do you choose a big company that you don't like, but does it offer you a higher salary and solve the problem?

Similarly, if you go to gymnastics for the first time, you have two sports to choose from. One is that you don't like it, but it is easy to take high scores. The other is that, you like it very much, but you know, if you do not work hard, the score will definitely not go up. Which one would you choose?

Many people will choose the one you like and are challenging. Even if you need more training, you need to work harder.

However, if the situation is that you have to get an A in the gymnastics class before you can apply for a better University, how would you choose this time? Do you insist on what you love, or choose the one you love easily?

This is a problem that almost all entrepreneurs need to face when creating a company: Do you want to start a company that you like and have enthusiasm for, or do you want to start a company that is easier to succeed? Entrepreneurs like to talk about their enthusiasm for work, but I feel that they are more inclined to follow the path with the least resistance when facing the selection. Of course, this is actually quite reasonable, and if we look at it from an economic point of view, it is also the right choice. Economists may also say that the enthusiasm given to a thing by humans is irrational. The right approach should be based on the greatest chance of success, make the right choice and judgment.

Back to the original assumption, if half of the people in this gymnastics class chose what they liked, and the other half chose simple. Then, who will work harder? Who will spend more time practicing? Who will actually learn and make some progress in this process? I think the answer is actually very obvious. Those who prefer projects, even though difficult, will pay more and work harder. Naturally, they prefer simple projects, the gains will be even greater.

From this perspective, are those "easy" projects actually easier and easier? In fact, the definition of "easy" is quite debatable. If you think about it, you don't like it, but you choose to swallow your breath for a result, so it's easy to survive this period of time? Or is it easier to choose things that you really like, even though they are more challenging? This comparison is essentially a comparison between external incentives and internal incentives. Do what you like, and do something with wages, rewards, accounts, and other purposes. The results may be very different.

Although there is no clear evidence that the internal stimulus must have a higher chance of success, not to mention that success was originally a joint outcome of many factors, it has been found that, the performance of people who are driven by external sources is significantly different from that of internal drivers. External drivers that seem to have positive effects, such as higher salaries and extra bonuses, actually only make us worse. Similarly, performance driven by external pressure or obligations (such as raising venture capital) is not very good. The other disadvantage of these pressures is that you did what you liked. Because of the existence of pressure, over time, your interests have completely become a simple task.

Unfortunately, our existing ecosystem is more external-driven than asking you to do your job well. Investors are actually playing the role of a PE Instructor. They tell you that if you select a project easily, you can easily take. Incubators, accelerators, and unambitious venture capitalists give entrepreneurs an external encouragement mechanism, which also creates a group of young entrepreneurs with the goal of rapid success.

As I said before, both options are understandable. An external driving mechanism is also an example of maximizing economic benefits. However, under such a mechanism, it is easy to generate a batch of "mercenaries ", this group of people has never worked hard for a great career.

I believe that the external incentives provided by the entrepreneurial ecosystem, just like selecting a project in the gymnastics class, will actually reduce those who really love sports or a career. If the external encouragement mechanism provided by the General Environment is used by those internally motivated to doubt the value of their efforts, or even give up, the result is, we are likely to lose people who truly have outstanding performance. Those who originally had the passion and talent of basketball and had the potential to become a basketball star, just because the basketball ball is easier to take a, they chose the latter ....

Of course, not everyone is facing this kind of choice. In fact, some of the choices you like are easy to get. However, if we encounter such a problem during our startup, we will choose a project that you really like and can inspire your enthusiasm, or choose "A", which is easy to get. Have you thought about it?

Source: 36kr, December January 11, 2013