Commerce has always attracted attention, like any area where a lot of money is spinning. Logically, we can assume that businessmen are people who are engaged in business. However, there are some difficulties and conventions on this issue, so it’s worthwhile to understand in more detail.
Kommersant: meaning of the word and history
The rich Russian language is rich in synonyms, and each of them has its own emotional connotation. They speak with respectful emphasis on businessmen, entrepreneurs and businessmen, but such terms as a merchant and a merchant are already outdated, although all these are absolute synonyms. If you change the emotional tonality, it turns out that businessmen are speculators, young ladies and traders.
Historically, in our country, entrepreneurs have been in a difficult position. Tsarist Russia extolled noble blood, but merchants belonged to the merchant class, and the contemptuous nickname "merchant woman" was commonplace. Peter I gave respect to the merchants, raised to a new level, however, the Soviet Union again brought them into the pit even more bottomless. Under the USSR, private property was censured so fiercely that there was only one entrepreneur - the state. A new definition has appeared, according to which a businessman is a greedy and dishonest person by default, a huckster and a speculator. Now commerce has returned to its proper place and is respected.
Talent or profession?
What does it take to become a businessman - a special flair or can you learn this? Theoretically, it can be argued that the businessman is a profession, and rather difficult. You need to have a breadth of views and innovative thinking, to be able to combine several different specialties, to be both a financier, trader and diplomat.
However, why are there so many middle-aged entrepreneurs around, who from year to year are interrupted by modest profits, who are barely enough to cover everyday expenses? At the same time, there are amazing people who are said that money literally sticks to their hands. It turns out that the real merchants are the descendants of the legendary king Midas, who turned everything he touched into gold. Of course, commerce can be learned, just as you can learn musical literacy. However, if there is no natural flair, then the ideal can not be achieved.
The challenges of modern commerce
At the moment, merchants are more diplomats who try to slip jewelry in rather imperfect legislation in order to manage not to go broke at the same time and to comply with all laws. Not everyone succeeds because, besides the errors of the law, there will always be envious and greedy people who want to get an undeserved piece of someone else’s pie. In the "dashing nineties" a businessman was automatically considered a gangster, because his business acumen was parallel to his criminal talent, otherwise it was simply impossible to survive. It is surprising that in such conditions, entrepreneurs generally managed to do something.
Now the borders have opened wide, but not wide open, world markets are beckoning with wide opportunities, but at the same time you have to carefully study the mentality of world business, which in each country has its own unique national flavor. If you ask the question now: “Who are the merchants: criminals or merchants?” - then the answer may be discouraging, because the modern term “oligarch” is most often perceived as a “mega-merchant”. An entrepreneur who does not want to lag behind the ever-accelerating rhythm of life is forced to constantly study and stay on the crest of the wave. New technologies have to be adopted faster, so that competitors do not have time to drown the business of a too conservative merchant.
How to become a merchant
Despite the fact that a talent for entrepreneurial activity is a welcome trait, it is also true that a hardworking craftsman will achieve more success than a lazy talent. Active people are widely suited to their abilities in the path of entrepreneurship, first of all they subject their own talents to critical analysis, look for their strengths and work on shortcomings.
So, the merchants - who is this: merchants gifted with trading talents or still persistent amateurs? Anyone can become a businessman, because by and large, even a grandmother who sells seeds is also engaged in commerce, and very successfully. Such a grandmother and seeds are delicious, and the place is chosen wisely, and the image meets the expectations of customers. Over serious harmony in serious firms, whole analytic departments beat. Becoming a merchant is simple - you need to get up and take action, and the degree of success of an enterprise depends only on your determination.