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Entrepreneurial motivation: a non-entrepreneur’s journey to become an entrepreneur

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  • Raj V. Mahto

    (The University of New Mexico)

  • William C. McDowell

    (Bradley University)

Abstract

In entrepreneurship literature, much research effort is focused on differentiating entrepreneurs, recognizing or exploiting opportunities, resources available or required, or a combination of the three entrepreneurship-defining factors. There is, however, very little research on understanding a non-entrepreneur’s motivation to become an entrepreneur. This greatly limits our knowledge of the entrepreneurial process. It has hindered our understanding of how non-entrepreneurs are motivated to pursue entrepreneurial career options and has led to misinformed decisions by scholars and policy makers. In this paper, our goal is to develop a theory of entrepreneurial motivation that explains how non-entrepreneurs develop the motivation to pursue entrepreneurship. We argue that an individual’s self-assessment of their identity is the primary factor in individuals developing entrepreneurial motivation. The identity self-assessment leads individuals either to seek enhancement of their identity or establish a new identity that opens them to the influence of entrepreneurial motivation reinforcing entrepreneurial exposure in their social environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Raj V. Mahto & William C. McDowell, 2018. "Entrepreneurial motivation: a non-entrepreneur’s journey to become an entrepreneur," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 513-526, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:intemj:v:14:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s11365-018-0513-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11365-018-0513-8
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    5. Wang, Wei & Liang, Qiaozhuan & Mahto, Raj V. & Deng, Wei & Zhang, Stephen X., 2020. "Entrepreneurial entry: The role of social media," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
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    11. Solomon, Shelby J. & Bendickson, Joshua S. & Marvel, Matt R. & McDowell, William C. & Mahto, Raj, 2021. "Agency theory and entrepreneurship: A cross-country analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 466-476.
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