First off, thank you for being among the first subscribers to Everyday Intrapreneurs!
It means more than you can imagine and I appreciate it.
In this very first issue of the newsletter, I’m going to provide an overview of what it means to be an intrapreneur. Plus, we'll review 3 variables that affect the ability to become an intrapreneur.
And be sure to read through till the end - I’ve included some companies hiring intrapreneurs right now.
This issue takes about 5 minutes to read.
Let’s get to it!
What is an Intrapreneur?
Here are a few definitions I pulled from the all-powerful Google:
“A manager within a company who promotes innovative product development and marketing.” - Oxford
“An employee who is tasked with developing an innovative idea or project within a company.” - Investopedia
“Acting like an innovative entrepreneur, but within the ecosystem of a larger, more traditional, organization.” - Harvard Business Review
My personal favorite is that last one. It’s a person who embodies an entrepreneur inside of an organization.
So, why do I love intrapreneurship?
Because it’s a breath of fresh air for people like me who have been inspired by entrepreneurs but can’t make the leap to full-time entrepreneurship.
Guess what?
You don’t have to make the leap 😊
You can have all of the skill development and experiences that an entrepreneur might go through, but with the guard rails of an established company.
However, you have to find the right environment to thrive as an intrapreneur. Hence the following variables that play into creating the right environment.
3 Variables to Becoming an Intrapreneur
Now, it’s not as simple as telling yourself, “I’m an intrapreneur now!”
There are some variables that come into play when talking about intrapreneurship.
These variables allow you to take a step back and look at your current situation to see if you can be the best intrapreneur you can be.
Let’s have a look:
Variable #1: The Company You Work At
To be put bluntly: not every company cares about innovative ideas, not every company allows side hustles, and not every company cares about your career development.
So how do you ensure the company you work at will be a good place to become an intrapreneur?
Ask!
As you learn skills, abilities, and actions from Everyday Intrapreneurs, ask your coworkers, your HR department, and your manager for the ability to implement the things you learn.
If the answer is no, then it’s time to practice outside of work and begin your search for a place that will promote intrapreneurship.
(Read to the end of this email for companies that are hiring!)
Variable #2: Your Manager
Very closely tied to variable 1, your manager will have the largest impact on your journey as an intrapreneur.
Your manager can be your best support for your intrapreneurship journey.
Your manager can also be your worst nightmare by making that journey come to a screeching halt.
The primary way to figure out if your manager will be a support or a nightmare for you is to ask yourself this question:
“Does my manager support my personal progress?”
The answer to that question will tell you if you need a new manager.
Variable #3: Your Home Life
Whether you like it or not, some aspects of intrapreneurship will need to be done outside of work. This might include learning a new skill, managing a side hustle, or posting content about your journey.
Take a moment to assess how much time outside of work you can dedicate to becoming an intrapreneur.
In my experience, you can get away with 30 minutes during the week and an hour on the weekends.
If your home life can’t accommodate that time commitment, that’s okay! I’ll review some things on future newsletters you can do that can make up for it.
One key point here if you have a family: your family comes first.
Intrapreneurship is a worthy pursuit, but not at the cost of your home life.
TL;DR
An intrapreneur is a person who embodies an entrepreneur inside of an organization.
In order to create a good environment to become an intrapreneur, make sure your company, manager, and home life are supportive of the journey.
Companies Hiring Intrapreneurs Now
The following companies have great environments for intrapreneurs and are hiring now!
The Grounded Company
Positions: Account Manager/Brand Strategist, Videographer/Editor
How to apply: Email Peyton@TheGroundedCompany.com with your LinkedIn profile, a quick message about who you are, and tell her Caleb from Everyday Intrapreneurs sent you.
GuideCX
Positions: Enterprise Account Executive, Product Analyst/Strategist, Product Manager, Product UX Researcher, Product Marketing Manager
How to apply: Head to guidecx.com/careers and apply! Be sure to mention your approach to intrapreneurship in the email.
Neighbor.com
Positions: Graphic Designer, Lifecycle Marketing Manager, Activation Operations Manager, Sales Development Representative, Senior PPC Specialist
How to apply: Head to neighbor.com/careers and apply!
That’s all for the very first newsletter! I hope you enjoyed it.
If not- go ahead and hit unsubscribe below. No hard feelings.
If you did- please consider sharing it with one person you consider an intrapreneur.
Until next week,
Caleb