Are American entrepreneurs better than Danish ones?

American entrepreneurs are not automatically better than Danish ones. That is my clear impression after a year and a half in the US. I think many Danish entrepreneurs have an uncritical admiration for Americans that is not warranted. You do not need to walk around with an inferiority complex because you run a business in Denmark.

I am in Miami for Growth 2.0 in January 2010. The conference is organised by Entrepreneur, which I compare to Amino, except that they have been around much longer, also have a print magazine and are much bigger. Entrepreneurs can attend for free and hear a range of speakers.

Entertaining talks with basic points

The first speaker I have heard is the man I describe as the father of the term guerrilla marketing. I cannot remember his name in the video. I estimate that he is around 75–80 and he forgets his microphone several times. A very entertaining man.

I think what he says is incredibly true, but also remarkably basic. Afterwards, I hear a talk on networking. Again, a good presentation and an interesting speaker. But again, the points are very basic.

It makes me think of something I have also experienced when talking to American entrepreneurs and following quite a few of them closely during my time here.

American entrepreneurs also have ordinary weaknesses

There is almost an aura around American entrepreneurs, as if they were something very special. I simply cannot see that special intelligence in the ordinary American entrepreneur I meet.

I put it rather harshly in the video: My experience is that many are happy-go-lucky, unfocused and throw themselves into one silly idea after another. Preferably five or six at once. And all too often, some of those ideas have the character of multilevel marketing or something resembling a pyramid scheme.

I know that is harsh. It is my blunt assessment of the people and ideas I have encountered, not a measurement of an entire population. But I think the picture in Denmark is skewed when we only hear about the big successes.

It is a numbers game

My explanation is very simple: The US is an enormously large country. In the video, I compare around 300 million people in the US with around five million in Denmark. Those are the rounded figures I use at that time.

Of course, among so many people, there are some really capable entrepreneurs. Some who can focus, create something worthwhile and retain both integrity and honesty. That goes without saying.

They are the ones we hear about in Denmark. And if you do not think about it more closely, you can start believing all American entrepreneurs are like that. I simply do not think that is the case.

The ordinary American entrepreneur is an ordinary person. They may have a lot of education or not very much. I do not think they have an automatic head start or something you have no opportunity to achieve yourself.

Drop the inferiority complex and get moving

Do not think we are less intelligent or that you have worse opportunities just because you are in Denmark. On the contrary, I would venture to say that the Danish entrepreneurs I know through Amino who have something about them are significantly better equipped and more intelligent than many of the ordinary American entrepreneurs I meet.

So that is my message this time: Do not have an inferiority complex. Get out there and get moving.

I am staying at the conference and may return if there are some nuggets you can use. Of course there may also be something to learn. But admiration should not make you underestimate yourself. Also read Skab din egen succes about finding your own way.

A few reflections on the difference between Danish and American entrepreneurship.

Location:Washington Ave,Miami Beach,USA