Not all who play the guitar are musicians, and not all who cook are chefs. Likewise, not everyone who runs a business is an entrepreneur. In recent years, the term “entrepreneur” has become one of the most overused buzzwords in Nagaland. From government programs to organizational initiatives, everyone seems to be championing entrepreneurship as the magic solution to unemployment and economic growth. While the intent is commendable, the casual use of the term risks distorting its true meaning.
Entrepreneurship is not merely about running a small shop, offering a service, or selling homemade products whether online or offline. These are valuable forms of self-employment and must indeed be encouraged, but they do not necessarily constitute entrepreneurship. A true entrepreneur is a problem-solver and an innovator. They identify gaps in society or the market and create solutions that generate value, wealth, and employment. Entrepreneurs are builders of ecosystems, not just participants in them.
In Nagaland, much of what is labeled as entrepreneurship is, in reality, micro or small-scale business activity. There is dignity and importance in that, but when every form of business is branded as entrepreneurship, the concept loses its essence. This misunderstanding can mislead young people and policymakers alike. If everyone who starts a business is considered an entrepreneur, then the focus shifts from innovation and scalability to mere survival and subsistence.
The government’s efforts to promote entrepreneurship should therefore be guided by clarity. Training, funding, and recognition should be aligned with the real objectives of entrepreneurship, which are innovation, job creation, and economic transformation. Simultaneously, self-employment and small business initiatives must continue to receive encouragement under their own rightful categories.
Words matter because they shape aspirations. When entrepreneurship is romanticized without substance, it risks becoming a fashionable label rather than a meaningful pursuit. Nagaland’s growing generation of dreamers and doers deserves a more accurate and inspiring understanding of what it means to be an entrepreneur. Only then can the state truly cultivate an environment where innovation thrives and economic growth becomes sustainable.
