There is a huge, huge, huge, huge, difference between a 9-5 and entrepreneurship. Both have their pros and cons and both can look so different even within themselves.
That’s not a big deal.
What is a big deal is when people who should have a good job try to become entrepreneurs when it’s not who they really are. We need to be a people that are self aware enough to not only see the difference, but to discover what’s the best for us.
You’re not doing yourself a service by forcing a 9-5 when you should be building your own empire. Equally, you’re not doing yourself a service by forcing the creation of a business when you should be a great employee or executive.
Know who you are, know what you need, and then know what you want.
Because they are all different things.
Just in case you wanted to know if you’re a true entrepreneur or not (or maybe someone else) here are 10 ways you can spot a fake entrepreneur.
1. They Aren’t Using Their True Talents
Man, oh man…
There are so many talented people out there. So many gifted people out there. Just because you have a gift or a talent doesn’t mean you are using it, let alone if you should be using it in entrepreneurship.
Fake entrepreneurs try to use gifts and talents they don’t have because they heard or saw someone else become successful doing it that way.

It’s almost as if they are afraid to be who they truly are.
The corporate lawyer who wants to be an artist. The executive who wants to teach entrepreneurs. The accountant who wants to be an architect. Or what about the kid in high school or college who doesn’t want the path they are on, but they are pleasing their parents?
That’s how it all starts.
We are ill-informed but heavily influenced into our adulthood and then wonder why ten years later things look nothing like we thought they would.
Your goals, your talents and your gifts are meant to be used. Not just thought about.
How to spot a fake: If you see someone who is gifted at something but they are trying to build a business that has nothing to do with those gifts, they’re a fake.
2. They Lack the WANT to Win
Winning entrepreneurs were first great people who wanted to win. Winning is a byproduct of greatness.
Winning is fun, winning opens doors, winning is a great goal to have in life. But at the end of the day, no one can teach you the desire to want to win.
For example, when Lebron James brought the Cavs back to win the 2016 NBA Finals after being down 3 games to 1. You can’t teach that type of desire, that deep want to win.
In all reality, few of us like to admit that once we get comfortable we coast.

I think that’s why so many entrepreneurs don’t make it. They don’t try to win, they don’t truly want to win. They just want to do good enough to get by, because why be the best when you can be good enough? Why push your limits and be uncomfortable when you can do good enough to have the “entrepreneur name tag”?
It’s sad to say but it’s true.
Look around you, in your city, your town, heck, your country. How many hundreds of thousands of businesses have been around for years (some decades) and are still at the same place they were when they started.
There’s a huge difference between winning and wanting to win. A true entrepreneur finds that want to get to the next level.
How to spot a fake: If you see someone in massive debt, living paycheck to paycheck, hardly surviving, but talking about hustle and grind all the time while they still are indulging in things they WANT to outside of their business…they’re a fake.
3. They Think They Need Things to Start
There are very few situations where a true entrepreneur actually needs something (other than what they already have) to get started. If they have a brain and time, a true entrepreneur uses that to get started.

If you are feeling stuck or defeated in life and business, remember that there isn’t anything you don’t have right now that you need to chase your dreams and grow into the best version of yourself.
Point blank: Change your perspective and you can change your outcome.
There are hundreds of thousands of stories in the world of people who had nothing, were nothing, knew nothing, but became everything they dreamed of.
How to spot a fake: If you see an entrepreneur who justifies their lack of growth by always needing something else to get to the next level, they’re a fake.
4. They Don’t Know How to React to Situations
What’s your reaction to life? Every time life and business throws a curve ball, true entrepreneurs respond with vision and purpose.
Don’t be so easily shaken with what happens to you. Some of you are so quick to forget who you truly are when things get tough. Nope! You need to pull up your big boy/girl pants and respond with your purpose.
That’s how you win the war when you just lost a battle.

How to spot a fake: If someone is constantly responding to situations in negativity, they’re a fake. A true entrepreneur recognizes hardship and challenging situations but always settles for a solution.
5. They Easily Become Stagnant
Movement is necessary in every season of business. Sometimes it’s slow and steady and other times it’s a sprint.
But none the less, it’s movement.
I encourage you to move now.
Move every day towards what you said you were going to do—execute on that one idea, business opportunity, or that relationship. Move towards it and move it forward.
Even if you’re on the right track, standing still will get you run over by the entrepreneur train.

How to spot a fake: If someone has entire seasons of business where they aren’t growing at all or even declining (in their effort) they’re a fake. A true entrepreneur’s effort is never stagnant. A stagnant business is the result of stagnant effort.
6. They Hold onto Their Fears
Do you respect your fears? You might think that is a weird question but check this out.
The definition of respect is ‘a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.’
You need not give that respect to your fears.
Giving attention to your fears is a sign of respect. Dwelling on what should or could happen is respecting your fears.
I am not saying to become blind to your fears (because they are real) but just don’t respect them.

How to spot a fake: Someone who is always afraid to make decisions is a fake entrepreneur, period. True entrepreneurs either find a way to conquer their fears or seek counsel from someone wiser than they are to help them get past their fears.
7. They Refuse to Show Up Every Day
On the exact day that you are reading this, did you show up with force? Did you?
Because if you chose not to show up on a day that you could have, you chose to waste one more day of life that you could have used to work towards your visions and dreams.
- Had a good week last week? Good, show up today.
- Had an argument right before you started work? Good, show up today.
- Little low on cash flow? Good, show up today.
- Not sure how you’re going to get over this hump? Good, show up today.
- Just hired the best employee you’ve ever had? Good, show up today.
You see? It doesn’t matter whether the circumstance is good or bad, the only thing that matters is that you show up.

How to spot a fake: You can’t, because they refuse to show up. Lol.
8. They Believe The Journey Is Luxurious
Despite what 99% of the general population thinks, building a business is not luxurious.
Sure, the end result may allow you to have luxury things or live a nice life. But you can’t forget about the journey, which is most of the process. The journey is long, tedious, and brutal.
There are ups and downs, ebbs and flows. But it’s so worth it if your mind is in the right place.

How to spot a fake: If someone is trying to build a business but they have brand new EVERYTHING, they’re a fake. True entrepreneurs sacrifice what they want today so they can have everything they want tomorrow.
9. They Want Massive Influence Without Starting Small
A lot of people reach out to Palizay Media and The Modern Marketer talking about all of this influence they want to have in life and business. “I/We want tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of followers. I/We want to write, speak, lead, build…”
Then when I ask them “what’s holding you back from starting that or pursuing that right now…immediately?” Most of them make a justification about their circumstances, friends, family, school, or responsibilities, getting in the way of them influencing their surroundings right now.

So, my encouragement to those of you out there who want massive influence is to start influencing in a small way. Start with your immediate circles of influence. Figure out how you can inspire those people, help sharpen those people, and help those people grow.
How to spot a fake: They talk about influencing and leading but aren’t making a positive impact in their immediate circles of influence. A true entrepreneur understands that if you can’t influence in a small way now you can’t do it in a big way later.
10. They only Lift Themselves Up
Fake entrepreneurs don’t care about those around them. They would rather cut someone down than build them up, especially if it means they can climb higher.
Enough said.
Lifting people up always gets you a return on your investment. That ROI is:
- fulfillment
- purpose
- experience
- knowledge
- wisdom
- character
- growth

If you want to lift yourself up, first surround yourself with good people and then focus on them. It’s amazing what happens when leaders act as servants…act in compassion.
How to spot a fake: They are busy self indulging while refusing to impact those around them.