Shutterstock I speak to many entrepreneurs who express frustration when other people give them grief about working so hard and forgoing vacations to help their companies thrive. They enjoy what they do despite the sacrifices they make. And other people don’t always seem to appreciate their hustle.
New research explains why so many entrepreneurs put their heart and soul into their companies. And it brings new meaning to the idea that a business really is an entrepreneur’s baby.
Birthing a Business A study published in March 2017 edition of the journal Human Brain Mapping, found that entrepreneurs’ emotional and brain responses toward their businesses resemble the responses parents have toward their children.
The researchers discovered similar brain activity when entrepreneurs looked at their business and when fathers looked at their children. They concluded that both entrepreneurial love and parental love affect regions of the brain associated with reward, emotional processing, and social understanding.
Love Is What Keeps Entrepreneurs Invested It’s no secrets that launching a business venture is a huge commitment. It can take a toll on your finances, deplete your time, and strain your relationships. Many entrepreneurs even pay a psychological price for their effort.
So it’s clear that they must love what they do. Otherwise, they wouldn’t keep up their efforts in the face of consequences.
The study explains why so many entrepreneurs keep going despite the consequences they may experience. It also explains why so many of them struggle to sell their companies—they’re emotionally attached to their work.
On a societal level, it’s helpful that many innovators and job-creators are so committed to their work. Whether they’re creating things that help us live happier and healthier lives, or they’re solving environmental problems, the sacrifices they make improve the world.
Love Is Also Blind So even though love can be the key to keeping entrepreneurs motivated, the downside is that love can also be blind. When fathers viewed pictures of their own child and when entrepreneurs viewed pictures of their own companies, areas of the brain associated with critical social assessment and negative emotions are suppressed.
That’s why both parents and entrepreneurs may only see the best in their babies. Just like fathers may not recognize their children’s faults, entrepreneurs may overestimate their chances of success and underestimate their competition.
The illusion created by feelings of love may create a blind spot for an entrepreneur. He may become overconfident in his company’s ability to persevere.
Insights Into the Mind of an EntrepreneurWhether you’re an entrepreneur who felt a little crazy for being so passionate, or you’re someone who has been perplexed by an entrepreneur’s zealous behavior, this research sheds light on why entrepreneurs work so hard.
The study examined male entrepreneurs and fathers only, so it’s not clear if women have the same response. But hopefully, this study will lead to more research into the entrepreneurial brains of both sexes.
Gaining insight into the mind of an entrepreneur can help all of us develop a better understanding of business in general. It’s clear that many entrepreneurs’ efforts aren’t about the money or the prestige. It’s for the love of their business.
Study Concludes Entrepreneurs Love Their Businesses The Same Way Parents Love Their Kids
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