Can My Entrepreneurial Experience Make Me Better?

Absolutely, and this "good" is all-encompassing, an experience you'd be hard-pressed to gain working for any large company.

Let's put it this way: an engineer who hasn't started a business is more like a "soldier." You're technically strong, can execute precisely, and excel at completing assigned tasks. Your world might revolve around requirement documents, code, and bug lists.

But once you start a business, even with just a small team of two or three people, you immediately shift from the perspective of a "soldier" to that of a "general," or even a "commander."

1. Your world expands: You no longer just care about code implementation. You have to worry about whether the product will sell, if users actually like it, where the money comes from, and how to control costs. You'll be forced to learn about product management, operations, marketing, sales, and even finance and legal matters. Your perspective on problems will shift from "how to technically implement this feature" to "what value does this feature bring to our business." This elevation in thinking is priceless.

2. Your problem-solving ability will skyrocket: Entrepreneurship means resources are always scarce. You don't have endless money, time, or experts. When a problem arises, you can't say, "I don't know how to do this; I need an expert." You just have to grit your teeth and tackle it yourself. You'll use all sorts of "unconventional methods" to solve problems, achieving the most with the fewest resources. This ability to solve complex problems, forged under extreme pressure, will make you incredibly resilient and robust.

3. You'll become better at "speaking human": As engineers, we're used to interacting with machines – clear logic, black and white. But entrepreneurship requires you to interact with all kinds of people: your partners, your employees, your customers, your investors. You'll have to learn how to explain a complex technical solution in the simplest terms to non-technical people, making them understand its value. This communication and empathy skill is a top-tier soft skill, whether you lead a team in the future or return to a corporate role as a senior executive.

4. You'll understand yourself better: Entrepreneurship is an amplifier; it magnifies your strengths and mercilessly exposes all your weaknesses. You'll experience a constant cycle of hope, disappointment, euphoria, and anxiety. This process will give you a profound understanding of your own capabilities, what your personality is suited for, and what it isn't. Even if you ultimately fail, this clear self-awareness will help you navigate your future path more steadily.

Therefore, regardless of whether your entrepreneurial venture ultimately succeeds, this experience will transform you from a mere IT engineer into a versatile talent who understands business, human nature, and commercial logic. You'll no longer be just a "tool-person," but a more complete, multi-dimensional, and compelling individual. This wealth of experience will benefit you for a lifetime.