# Are you an entrepreneur or a Superpreneur? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 6, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242 "2005-07-06T03:56:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/1 "2005-07-06T03:56:15Z")
It’s seems like only yesterday that James Cates Bailey was telling us, “Entrepreneurs are doers; employees are doees.” But 1999 is now six years and 2,500 double espressos ago. Bailey’s bestseller, _The Art of the Entrepreneur_, so hot and _now_ for its time, is mostly forgotten. But in many ways entrepreneurs and what they do are more important now than in '99. Many people were pushed into the deep end of entrepreneurship during the last recession, finding that the only ones who would hire them were themselves. J. Michael Thorn’s new book is a shot in the arm of a ho-hum economy/job market and those who wish to succeed in it. Simply entitled _The Superpreneur_, it takes the concept of the American entrepreneur to a whole new level. Thorn starts off his book with a joke: > [@](#): > > Let’s not forget that _entrepreneur_ is a French word. The Superpreneur is to an entrepreneur what freedom fries are to French fries—except that he or she is still a “preneur.” It’s admirable that Thorn can eschew some of the self-seriousness to which today’s business books are prone. But beneath the jovial surface he makes a serious—and valuable—distinction between the two types of preneur, using Zen-like contra-couplets to drive home his points: > [@](#): > > An entrepreneur works for herself. > The Superpreneur never views success steps as “work.” > > An entrepreneur aims for success. > The Superpreneur, because of his super-planning, succeeds before he begins. > > An entrepreneur may or may not have employees. > The Superpreneur views all people—whether she pays them or is paid by them—as super-facilitators of her vision. > > An entrepreneur manages assets. > The Superpreneur guides cash-flows. > > An entrepreneur has gone his own way; no one can “boss” him any more. > The Superpreneur has found _the_ way; in harmony with all, he neither controls nor is controlled. > > An entrepreneur looks at her financials. > The Superpreneur absorbs financial data with all of her five senses—and more. And so on. About 1/3 of the book is in the couplet form; the latter two thirds carefully and lucidly explains the Superpreneur Philosophy in a more standard format. So, which are you? An entrepreneur or a Superpreneur? ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/2 "2005-07-06T05:59:40Z")
> [@](#): > > So, which are you? An entrepreneur or a Superpreneur? Is there some sort of online quiz I can take? ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/3 "2005-07-06T06:05:25Z")
> [@Happy Lendervedder](#): > > Is there some sort of online quiz I can take? Unfortunately, not yet. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/4 "2005-07-06T06:23:26Z")
Pity. I’ve become unable to define myself without the aid of online quizzes. ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/5 "2005-07-06T06:48:28Z")
Bravo, **Aeschines**. That’s the funniest thing I’ve read on the SDMB in a while. It’s so stupid I wish it were real. “Hey, this P/E ratio tastes _just like chicken_!” ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/6 "2005-07-06T12:35:50Z")
I’m probably still in the entrepreneur phase, though like a moth in a coccoon I shall break free of this strangle hold and enter **uber** preneur mode before level 20! I actually am an entrepreneur right now though, I just am stuck in a holding pattern until finances pick up and I can move forward. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/7 "2005-07-06T13:28:45Z")
> [@The King of Soup](#): > > Bravo, **Aeschines**. That’s the funniest thing I’ve read on the SDMB in a while. It’s so stupid I wish it were real. > > “Hey, this P/E ratio tastes _just like chicken_!” All five senses, yes! TY for your comment. You are on your way to Superpreneurship. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/8 "2005-07-06T13:30:19Z")
> [@ronincyberpunk](#): > > I actually am an entrepreneur right now though, I just am stuck in a holding pattern until finances pick up and I can move forward. An entreprenuer stays in a holding pattern until finances pick up. The Superpreneur holds the pattern to picks up his own finances. ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/9 "2005-07-06T15:10:39Z")
I think I’m a Superpreneur. Mostly because I wear a cape, and have an ultra-secret identity. Susan ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/10 "2005-07-06T15:17:44Z")
An entrepreneur has _accounts receivable_ and _accounts payable_. A superpreneur has trascended that type of dochotomous thinking and just has. . ._accounts_. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/11 "2005-07-06T15:20:01Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > An entreprenuer stays in a holding pattern until finances pick up. > The Superpreneur holds the pattern to picks up his own finances. No, I think you’ve got that last part backward. It should read, (IMO at least): **The _Superpreneur_ picks up the pattern, to hold his own finances!** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/12 "2005-07-06T15:20:50Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > An entreprenuer stays in a holding pattern until finances pick up. > The Superpreneur holds the pattern to picks up his own finances. Touche. I have no repartee, I’ll just accept it as truth. However being a college student I don’t feel totally pressured yet. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/13 "2005-07-06T21:26:13Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > An entrepreneur has _accounts receivable_ and _accounts payable_. > A superpreneur has trascended that type of dochotomous thinking and just has. . ._accounts_. Yes, you’ve got the Superpreneur Spirit! ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2005, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/14 "2005-07-06T21:29:43Z")
> [@chrisk](#): > > No, I think you’ve got that last part backward. It should read, (IMO at least): > > **The _Superpreneur_ picks up the pattern, to hold his own finances!** > > 😃 Excellent revision! ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/15 "2005-07-07T01:17:29Z")
I think I’m clearly a Subpreneur. An entrepreneur works for herself. The Subpreneur has trouble calling it “work” when she’s so underpaid for what she does. An entrepreneur aims for success. The Subpreneur, because of his sub-planning, stops before he succeeds. An entrepreneur may or may not have employees. The Subpreneur views all people—whether she pays them or is paid by them—as potential small-claims-court cases. An entrepreneur manages assets. The Subpreneur manages to get by without any assets. An entrepreneur has gone his own way; no one can “boss” him any more. The Subpreneur has found the way; in harmony with all, he neither controls nor is controlled. He is also never paid. An entrepreneur looks at her financials. The Superpreneur absorbs financial data with all of her five senses—and more. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/16 "2005-07-07T01:20:05Z")
> [@toadspittle](#): > > An entrepreneur looks at her financials. > The Superpreneur absorbs financial data with all of her five senses—and more. Crap! Didn’t scroll all the way to the bottom of my quote. (See? Subpreneur.) An entrepreneur looks at her financials. The Subpreneur looks at the wall. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/17 "2005-07-07T01:41:44Z")
An entrepreneur spends his time behind a desk. A Superpreneur spends his time furtively masturbating in a bathroom stall. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/18 "2005-07-07T02:30:51Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > An entrepreneur spends his time behind a desk. > A Superpreneur spends his time furtively masturbating in a bathroom stall. A _Parapreneur_ spends his time masturbating behind a desk. ---
**Author:** ![Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Can\_Handle\_the\_Truth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Can_Handle_the_Truth)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/19 "2005-07-07T02:56:12Z")
Well, according to this, I’m not even an entrepreneur, much less a Superpreneur: An entrepreneur works for herself. Yeah, that’s what I thought at the beginning… An entrepreneur aims for success. I just hope I can balance my checkbook at the end of the month. An entrepreneur may or may not have employees. I can’t afford even one employee. An entrepreneur manages assets. I don’t even know what an asset is. An entrepreneur has gone his own way; no one can “boss” him any more. Today I had 5 phone calls from people demanding to know when their stuff will be delivered. An entrepreneur looks at her financials. I dread looking at my financials. I do it as infrequently as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2005, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242/20 "2005-07-07T06:01:13Z")
For those too busy to read the book: [The Quiz.](http://www.allthetests.com/quiz14/quizpu.php?testid=1120715011) Happy [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-an-entrepreneur-or-a-superpreneur/311242.md?page=2)