False Prophets Promote “Intrapreneurship”

I had the pleasure of attending CMU’s New Venture Competition on Friday. It was exciting to hear some bold new ideas especially from young people. What was not exciting to hear was the use of the word “intrapreneur.” For anyone who doesn’t know, an “intrapreneur” is a person who innovates and improves things within an existing company. If I’m not mistaken, I believe that sounds familiar to the definition of a good employee. Entrepreneurs create jobs they don’t have them. Entrepreneurs create wealth for themselves through the products and services they create. Entrepreneurs do not create wealth for CEOs and Board Members, where their only benefit is a $5,000 increase in their salary.

This post may make me sound bitter, which it should. The reason this word shouldn’t be used is because it doesn’t promote innovation. It promotes becoming a good employee for big business. I spent some time talking with these young entrepreneurs throughout and after the event and I was disheartened. They experienced a whole day of excitement where they competed for a $30,000 prize and a chance to follow their dreams, but in the end they were all talking about getting jobs in the next month. Even the winner of the competition was worried about getting a job after college. Innovation only comes from thinking outside the box and I hardly believe people start thinking outside the box when they are already in it. These young entrepreneurs need to be encouraged to follow their dreams, not the dreams of non-entrepreneurs.

"To get what you want, you must do things you've never done."