Does Startup Innovation Have a Place in Corporate America?

Risks are taken by startups and small enterprises. They change with the times, the environment, and the industries, and they are adaptable. They are quick and bring creativity and an alternative viewpoint. These businesspeople frequently stake everything on the line, jeopardizing their future financial security in the process of trying to save or transform the world. These victories promise a market upheaval and huge payout. That is not the case with insider entrepreneurs.

An innovative business professional is what is referred to as an entrepreneur. Through risk and initiative, they build capital, leveraging their financial future in exchange for significant financial reward. Black jack and entrepreneurship are very similar. All of these game changers and innovators are competing against the dealer, who wins every tie.

I see a new trend among workplaces developing to help drive that innovation in the stagnate and safe corporate workplace.  It’s called the intrapreneur.  This person innovates without the risk often in the safe confines of the corporate throws and hierarchal and political environment that is the world of work. Except that I believe they don’t.  An intraprenuer is more a pipe dream really.  The myth of the intraprenuer is like a modern day version of Animal Farm.  It’s filled with corruption, greed, and indifference.

The corporate model is broken.  Fifty percent of employees are unhappy at work.  And 1 in 4 professionals believe they are living up to their creative potential.  And yet the startup community is booming.  Entreprenuerial is at its highest point as people take the greatest risk of their professional lives working like dogs but because they have the control they are happier, more creative, and engaged than ever.  My friend Perri Gorman feels that way.  She moved from New York to San Francisco to launch her start up leaving her cushy finance headhunting job to live the dream, and she believes she’s a better person for it.  I think she is too.

Intrapreneur or Internal Entrepreneur?

I understand and support the idea of an intrapreneur. In particular in current global business environment, established organizations are trying to innovate and searching for methods to boost their game. Except that intrapreneurs tend to be reclusive and frequently play the game risk-free. They have no financial stake in the outcome, therefore. They do not operate on an internal basis. They are receiving their weekly payment in the same manner as every other red-blooded corporate employee. There is no direct route to failure, danger, or reward.

I believe that sometimes fear is the greatest motivator.  Fear of being homeless.  Fear of being broke.  The fear of being laughed at and the fear of failure.  In corporate intrarpreneur programs, they don’t have this risk.  And they sure as hell aren’t leveraging their soul to make their dreams the reality.  There have no real vested skin in the game.

Intrapreneurial Programs Conflict with the Corporate Conference Call Marathon

The real failure of corporate innovation isn’t a formal intrapreneurial program.  These organizations and its leaders wouldn’t know if innovation slapped them in the face.  The real innovation is happening in the field by middle manager and front line employees.  They see a problem and offer a solution.  Except no one is listening because they’re too busy on their corporate conference call marathon.  Or if they are listening, they spend weeks and months debating, discussing, and evaluating risk.  Where real innovation happens in on the fly.  Following your gut and making a change.  This is the reason that corporate intrapreneurial programs will never be successful at least in mainstream corporate America.

Do you know a company who innovates and supports a intrapreneur mindset?  I’d love to hear about it by leaving a comment below.