A few weeks ago, I did something pretty gutsy. I stood up and identified myself as an entrepreneur. Read about it here. It's boldness lies not in the promise of making cool things happen around here, but in me stepping outside of a self-identity created over a lifetime of being a serial employee. I now assume responsibility for my destiny.


It's not to say that I'm not still a good employee--because I do still get a paycheck at this point in my life. I'm a great employee. I'm just different now. And my responsibilities with my employer are changing because there is benefit to my employer to let me pursue building an innovation ecosystem.


I am an entrepreneur and am actively charting my own course. I want to build an ecosystem in Baton Rouge that supports people like me. To the extent this journey tracks with my employer's goals, I am loyal and diligent. Sure, someday these paths will diverge. Most paths do. But for now we have a strange symbiosis, which is working for now.


I challenge you to take the Entrepreneur's Pledge, too. Doesn't matter if you are still getting a paycheck--it's about you taking responsibility for making things happen, boldly envisioning a future and stepping forth to turn it into reality.