Is entrepreneurship about changing the world, or just adding 'Founder' to your resume?

This is an interesting question; it's actually a bit like asking: "Do you run for health, or to post on social media?"

To be honest, both types of people exist, and often, one person harbors both motivations.

Most people start with a burst of passion, seeing a problem and thinking, "I can solve this better," or "This isn't being done right; there has to be a different way." This initial impulse is about wanting to change something. This "world" doesn't necessarily have to be all of humanity; it could be your neighborhood, your industry, or the lives of a small group of people like yourself. For example, if you think takeout packaging is environmentally unfriendly and want to start a business making recyclable meal boxes, that's changing a very specific small world.

However, entrepreneurship is incredibly tough. It's a one-in-a-million shot. When you've finally assembled a team, built a product, met countless clients and investors, and are physically and mentally exhausted, the title "Founder" becomes a kind of spiritual solace. It's like a medal, reminding yourself and others: "Look, I built something significant from scratch." At this point, putting it on your resume is both a personal affirmation and, in case of failure, capital to find your next job or make a comeback. This is very realistic and perfectly normal.

So you see, these two aren't entirely contradictory.

• Wanting to change the world is your engine, the fuel in your tank. Without it, you can't even start, nor can you endure the initial hardships.
• Wanting an extra line on your resume is your spare tire, or your insurance. It gives you a bit more security in the real world.

What's truly dangerous? It's those who only have the second motivation. They treat entrepreneurship as a "gilding" process, a means to network. Such people often don't go far. Because the core of entrepreneurship is "creating value," it's "solving problems." If your eyes are only fixed on the empty title of "Founder," you'll likely not survive the real difficulties of products not selling, employees leaving, or not being able to pay salaries next month. Because an empty title doesn't bring income and doesn't solve practical problems.

In summary, a healthy entrepreneur has "stars and oceans" in their heart (wanting to change the world) but also knows how to be grounded (a good resume matters too). However, their focus must be on the former. The latter is merely a byproduct. If it's the other way around, then the priorities are inverted.