Enough with "entrepreneurs"

Let's retire the term entrepreneur. It's outdated and loaded with baggage. It

smells like a members-only club. Everyone should be encouraged to start his

own business, not just some rare breed that self-identifies as entrepreneurs.

There's a new group of people out there starting businesses. They're turning

profits yet never think of themselves as entrepreneurs. A lot of them don't even

think of themselves as business owners. They are just doing what they love on

their own terms and getting paid for it.

So let's replace the fancy-sounding word with something a bit more down-toearth. Instead of entrepreneurs, let's just call them starters. Anyone who creates a

new business is a starter. You don't need an MBA, a certificate, a fancy suit, a

briefcase, or an above-average tolerance for risk. You just need an idea, a touch

of confidence, and a push to get started.

*Leslie Berlin, "Try, Try Again, or Maybe Not," New York Times, Mar. 21,

2009.