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Hero’s Journey EntrepreneurshipWeek Lecture

Posted: Feb 23, 2007 12:25 PM CDT
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Author: eWeek Faculty Blogger

In honor of Entrepreneurship Week, here's a lecture from Dr. E delivered at Pepperdine University's Macgill Business Symposium, titled "Hero's Journey Entrepreneurship: Buffett, Bogle, Cuban, Campbell, Smith, Einstein, Shakespeare, Frodo, Neo, and Skywalker. " We hope you can all join us at Pepperdine's Hero's Journey Entrepreneurship Festival on March 31st.

The fifty-minute lecture focuses on the philosophy of "hero's journey entrepreneurship," and how opportunity surrounds us all. From Sara Blakely's Spanx Footless Pantyhose , to John Bogle's Vanguard, to Randall Wallace's Braveheart, so many entrepreneurs embark on a Campbellian journey after some seemingly whimsical occurrence. Sara Blakely cut the feet off her pantyhose one night while wearing open-toed shoes to her stand-up performance, John Bogle happened upon a Fortune Magazine article at Princeton in 1949, and Randall Wallace saw a statue of William Wallace while visiting Scotland, and wondered just who this William was who shared his last name. The above events became Spanx by Sara Blakely, The Vanguard Group, and the academy-award-winning movie Braveheart. Because they "followed their bliss" in capitalizing on seemingly small events, while seeking to serve higher ideals and their peers, they found themselves embarking on great journeys, complete with mentors; the road of trials; tests, allies, and enemies; showdowns; and the return with the elixir that enriches us all.

Thomas Jefferson sounded America's original call to adventure, while eloquently expressing the entrepreneurial premise:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. --The Declaration of Independence

Neo received a "call to adventure" at work. While working in his cubicle, he received a package with a cell phone--it was Morpheus.

Luke Skywalker, the Outlaw Jose Wales, and William Wallace all just wanted to farm. Frodo would have preferred to stay on the Shire. But life has a way of "calling us to adventure," and sometimes "forcing us across the threshold." Both Bogle and Wallace had been fired just before they launched their greater ventures--Vanguard and Braveheart. So it is that "the belly of the whale" is so often where opportunity abounds.

Vast opportunity surrounds us all, and "calls to adventure," are constantly beckoning us. The greatest risk is often to take no risk, and the magic of entrepreneurship is that it takes the risk inherent in all life, and transforms it into an asset, instead of a liability. To let someone else manage one's risk is to often let them own the reward, and as Franklin said, "those who would trade freedom for security often end up with neither." Own the risk of your renaissance.

For think about "risk" for a moment. Think about all the people you met by chance--perhaps your boyfriend or girlfriend; or significant other. Think about the books you happened upon, and how some of your favorite bands, or movies, were introduced to you via a seemingly whimsical occurrence. Think about the class you stumbled upon by "chance" that opened up door after door, and how the "risk of taking the road less traveled made all the difference." And suddenly risk starts seeming like an asset. What would life be without chance? Without wandering into a bookstore or library and having a title catch your eye? Well, that is how an entrepreneur learns to view life--to look forward to chance as a surfer looks forward to waves. To capitalize on chance--by following their bliss and having the confidence that they can shape their own destiny--that with their set of ideals and character, they can ride any wave that comes their way--and better serve the higher ideals and their peers.

While Dr. E's semester-long class focuses on the tools for incorporating, patenting, trademarking, and setting up websites, this lecture provides an introduction to the philosophies underlying Hero's Journey Entrepreneurship.

At the very end of the lecture, just before the tape runs out, a student asks about the other "stages of the hero's journey." They can be seen here, along with some online resources for registering domains, incorporating, patenting, and trademarking.

Follow your ideals and you will become them. So often it is that when we seek to serve by ideals, not only do we return on home with better businesses, deeper films, and novel inventions, but we also return on home with the invaluable inspiration of our own humble hero's journey and " battle for the soul of capitalism," reminding everyone that life is a great adventure to be lived as an Epic Story.

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Comments:

Think about the class you stumbled upon by "chance" that opened up door after door, and how the "risk of taking the road less traveled made all the difference."
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Story is your most valuable entity on this journey. Never forget it. Always keep it by your side.
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