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Entrepreneurship Through a Developmental Lens: Embracing Growth at Every Stage

  • Writer: Dr. MJ Yang
    Dr. MJ Yang
  • 6 days ago
  • 4 min read

Updated: 2 days ago


In my current practice, I have the privilege of working with individuals who, after years in renowned companies, have chosen to carve out their own paths as entrepreneurs.


This journey resonates deeply with me, as I have navigated a similar transition—from working as a psychologist in a prestigious teaching hospital in Taiwan to becoming an entrepreneur in the United States. It is my passion to support those who are consciously seeking freedom and independence in their lives.


For the first decade of my career, I was a child psychologist who worked with over thousands of infants, toddlers, and children. While I no longer work with children and now focus solely on adults and adolescents, my early experiences profoundly shaped how I conceptualize development.


A developmental lens helps us understand that growth occurs in stages, each building upon the last.



The Developmental Stages of Entrepreneurship


Human development happens in stages, each phase laying the groundwork for the next. Growth is not instantaneous but unfolds progressively, with each milestone achieved serving as a foundation for future development.


From infancy to adulthood, individuals evolve physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially, adapting to new challenges at each stage. Just as children must first develop motor skills before they can explore language and cognition, every stage of growth has its time and purpose.


In infancy, the priority is physical development—gross motor skills first, then fine motor skills. Once a baby masters movement, they can start exploring the world, which sets the stage for language development—understanding words before expressing them. This process unfolds naturally; as physical and language skills strengthen, cognitive and social abilities also emerge. A child learns through interaction, curiosity, and trial and error, building a foundation for more complex skills later in life.


Entrepreneurship follows a similar developmental trajectory. 


In the early stages, a business, much like a child, needs a solid foundation before it can grow and thrive. This means setting up the legal and accounting structures, securing financial systems, and ensuring a stable operational base—akin to an infant first developing basic motor and sensory skills before exploring the world.


Just as no two people develop in exactly the same way, each business will have its own unique journey, shaped by its environment, resources, and vision.



The Unique Path of Every Business


In Jungian psychology, the concept of individuation refers to the process of becoming one's true self—integrating different aspects of the psyche to achieve wholeness.


Similarly, every business has its own journey of growth and self-definition.


A business is not just an entity that follows a prescribed formula for success; rather, it has its own unique character, challenges, and evolutionary path. Just as individuation requires deep self-awareness and adaptation, entrepreneurship demands a continuous process of learning, refining, and aligning the business with its core purpose.


Just as every person follows their own path in life, every business has its own trajectory.


Some businesses may remain solo ventures indefinitely, thriving in their independence, much like an individual who finds fulfillment in a quiet, self-sufficient life. Others may scale, requiring leadership development, recruitment, and structured management systems—similar to someone stepping into a leadership role and guiding a team toward a shared vision.


There is no single "correct" way for a business to evolve.


Some entrepreneurs prefer to keep things small and personal, maintaining full control over their work and lifestyle. Others are drawn to expansion, embracing the challenge of building teams and structuring operations. The key is recognizing that, just like personal growth, business development is shaped by unique goals, circumstances, and opportunities.



Entrepreneurship Is Not Linear


Entrepreneurship, much like personal development, does not follow a straight, predictable path.


Many people who transition from employment to business ownership expect it to be structured—like climbing the corporate ladder, where each step leads predictably to the next. However, running a business is inherently different. It’s an ongoing cycle of risk-taking, adaptation, and growth, much like navigating life’s unexpected twists and turns.


Instead of a predefined roadmap, entrepreneurship is about creating your own map, navigating uncharted territories, and adapting along the way. Entrepreneurship requires resilience, creativity, and the ability to pivot when circumstances change.



Transitioning from Employment to Entrepreneurship


Moving from a stable job to running your own business is a significant shift, and setting realistic expectations is essential.


As an employee, your paycheck arrives consistently, regardless of business fluctuations. Slow seasons might mean a lighter workload or more time for personal projects. But as an entrepreneur, your income is directly tied to your business’s performance. During a downturn, rather than taking a break, you may need to secure financial support, adjust your strategy, or even take on side projects to sustain yourself. This shift in responsibility can feel overwhelming, but with the right mindset, it can also be incredibly empowering.



The Mindset Shift: Embracing Uncertainty


Entrepreneurship is not just about having a great idea or a solid plan—it’s about being able to navigate uncertainty with resilience and adaptability.


Much like personal growth, which involves setbacks and breakthroughs, business growth is an ongoing learning process.


There will be moments of success, but also challenges that test your patience and determination.


The key is to stay flexible, embrace change, and see obstacles as opportunities to refine your vision and skills. When approached with the right mindset, uncertainty becomes not just a challenge, but a catalyst for growth.


By viewing entrepreneurship through a developmental lens, we can approach it with more clarity, compassion, and a deep understanding that growth is an evolving and transforming process, not a fixed and linear path.



In my current practice, I have the privilege of working with individuals who, after years in renowned companies, have chosen to carve out their own paths as entrepreneurs. This journey resonates deeply with me, as I have navigated a similar transition—from working as a psychologist in a prestigious teaching hospital in Taiwan to becoming an entrepreneur in the United States. It is my passion to support those who are consciously seeking freedom and independence in their lives. For the first decade of my career, I was a child psychologist who worked with over thousands of infants, toddlers, and children. While I no longer work with children and now focus solely on adults and adolescents, my early experiences profoundly shaped how I conceptualize development. A developmental lens helps us understand that growth occurs in stages, each building upon the last. The Developmental Stages of Entrepreneurship Human development happens in stages, each phase laying the groundwork for the next. Growth is not instantaneous but unfolds progressively, with each milestone achieved serving as a foundation for future development. From infancy to adulthood, individuals evolve physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially, adapting to new challenges at each stage. Just as children must first develop motor skills before they can explore language and cognition, every stage of growth has its time and purpose. In infancy, the priority is physical development—gross motor skills first, then fine motor skills. Once a baby masters movement, they can start exploring the world, which sets the stage for language development—understanding words before expressing them. This process unfolds naturally; as physical and language skills strengthen, cognitive and social abilities also emerge. A child learns through interaction, curiosity, and trial and error, building a foundation for more complex skills later in life. Entrepreneurship follows a similar developmental trajectory.  In the early stages, a business, much like a child, needs a solid foundation before it can grow and thrive. This means setting up the legal and accounting structures, securing financial systems, and ensuring a stable operational base—akin to an infant first developing basic motor and sensory skills before exploring the world. Just as no two people develop in exactly the same way, each business will have its own unique journey, shaped by its environment, resources, and vision. The Unique Path of Every Business In Jungian psychology, the concept of individuation refers to the process of becoming one's true self—integrating different aspects of the psyche to achieve wholeness. Similarly, every business has its own journey of growth and self-definition. A business is not just an entity that follows a prescribed formula for success; rather, it has its own unique character, challenges, and evolutionary path. Just as individuation requires deep self-awareness and adaptation, entrepreneurship demands a continuous process of learning, refining, and aligning the business with its core purpose. Just as every person follows their own path in life, every business has its own trajectory. Some businesses may remain solo ventures indefinitely, thriving in their independence, much like an individual who finds fulfillment in a quiet, self-sufficient life. Others may scale, requiring leadership development, recruitment, and structured management systems—similar to someone stepping into a leadership role and guiding a team toward a shared vision. There is no single "correct" way for a business to evolve. Some entrepreneurs prefer to keep things small and personal, maintaining full control over their work and lifestyle. Others are drawn to expansion, embracing the challenge of building teams and structuring operations. The key is recognizing that, just like personal growth, business development is shaped by unique goals, circumstances, and opportunities. Entrepreneurship Is Not Linear Entrepreneurship, much like personal development, does not follow a straight, predictable path. Many people who transition from employment to business ownership expect it to be structured—like climbing the corporate ladder, where each step leads predictably to the next. However, running a business is inherently different. It’s an ongoing cycle of risk-taking, adaptation, and growth, much like navigating life’s unexpected twists and turns. Instead of a predefined roadmap, entrepreneurship is about creating your own map, navigating uncharted territories, and adapting along the way. Entrepreneurship requires resilience, creativity, and the ability to pivot when circumstances change. Transitioning from Employment to Entrepreneurship Moving from a stable job to running your own business is a significant shift, and setting realistic expectations is essential. As an employee, your paycheck arrives consistently, regardless of business fluctuations. Slow seasons might mean a lighter workload or more time for personal projects. But as an entrepreneur, your income is directly tied to your business’s performance. During a downturn, rather than taking a break, you may need to secure financial support, adjust your strategy, or even take on side projects to sustain yourself. This shift in responsibility can feel overwhelming, but with the right mindset, it can also be incredibly empowering. The Mindset Shift: Embracing Uncertainty Entrepreneurship is not just about having a great idea or a solid plan—it’s about being able to navigate uncertainty with resilience and adaptability. Much like personal growth, which involves setbacks and breakthroughs, business growth is an ongoing learning process. There will be moments of success, but also challenges that test your patience and determination. The key is to stay flexible, embrace change, and see obstacles as opportunities to refine your vision and skills. When approached with the right mindset, uncertainty becomes not just a challenge, but a catalyst for growth. By viewing entrepreneurship through a developmental lens, we can approach it with more clarity, compassion, and a deep understanding that growth is an evolving process, not a fixed path. Like a caterpillar evolving into a butterfly, entrepreneurship is a process of growth, challenges, and ultimately, transformation. Every stage has its purpose, shaping the foundation for what comes next.
Like a caterpillar evolving into a butterfly, entrepreneurship is a process of growth, challenges, and ultimately, transformation. Every stage has its purpose, shaping the foundation for what comes next.

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