CASOS Working PAPER

"Entrepreneurial Culture and Narratives of Self-Experience (tentative title)"       (PDF file)
Authors: Eleanor T. Lewis, Kathleen M. Carley

Abstract
Entrepreneurs use a finite set of distinct ?stories? to talk about themselves and their lives and to describe how they led their company to success. We describe in detail how entrepreneurs evoke different types of themes when telling their personal story and the story of their companies. This paper presents preliminary analyses of self-profiles provided by a set of entrepreneurs in applications for an entrepreneurship award. Analysis of the cooccurrence of different themes demonstrates considerable overlap and repetition within each entrepreneur?s narrative, but distinct combinations of universal and specific themes. In addition, entrepreneurs from all industries and backgrounds rely on members of their social networks, particularly in the early stages of their business. Actual family members and the imagery of the family is important in many of the entrepreneurs? narratives, but results may vary with industry.