The career reasons of nascent entrepreneurs

Abstract

This paper explores the reasons that nascent entrepreneurs offered for their work and career choices and compares those responses to the reasons given by a group of nonentrepreneurs. Six separate factors accounted for 68% of the variance: self-realization, financial success, roles, innovation, recognition, and independence. The factor scores of nascent entrepreneurs and nonentrepreneurs were not significantly different on self-realization, financial success, innovation, and independence. Nascent entrepreneurs rated reasons concerning roles and recognition significantly lower than nonentrepreneurs. Finally, gender differences in reasons also emerged; male nascent entrepreneurs and nonentrepreneurs rated financial success and innovation higher than did females, regardless of their group of origin.