During my time at Infusionsoft I had the opportunity to work with literally hundreds of entrepreneurs one-on-one, and interact with thousands more through Infusionsoft University. During this time, my knowledge of small business and of entrepreneurs skyrocketed.You see, when I came to Infusionsoft, I had already run my own business. So I knew what being an entrepreneur meant, but I didn't know that it meant something different to everyone. I didn't know that running a small business and the impact it could have on your life was such a broad spectrum.

I did discover that there were some commonalities in the way it affected people. And I came across one specific consistency that seemed to be a recurring theme, and I've been referring to it as The Entrepreneur's Paradox.

You see, entrepreneurs are a rare breed. Even since starting my own company I’ve had more than a dozen people say things like “Wow, I’m jealous, I could never do that” or “Congrats, that’s really brave. You have a great beard.” It’s one thing to talk about your vision for a company, or ideas that you think would be a sound foundation for future success, but it’s another thing to roll the dice and actually venture out on your own in pursuit of that dream. So, back to the paradox that I described. To be an entrepreneur you have to have the ability to let your mind wander. You have to not only be creative, but also afford yourself the time to explore the ideas you have. Let's call this the entrepreneur's gene. Some people have had it their whole lives. They were the enterprising kid in the neighborhood running lemonade stands and carwashes, pimping out their friends as babysitters and dog-walkers.

No. He wouldn't.

It is that anger and that aggression that got him into football. It's that same anger and aggression that helped him excel in high school, in college, and during his time thus far in the NFL. If you remove those things you're taking away a core component that has been a defining characteristic his whole life. In a sense, he's no longer him. Who knows where he'd be without that "edge" to him.And who knows where an entrepreneur would be without that mental wanderlust that got you into business in the first place.So instead of asking "How do I turn it off?", which I think is the wrong question to begin with, let's ask "What can we do with it?" Then we open up a whole gambit of opportunities.1. Accept that this is how you're wired, and that turning it off isn't the solution. 2. Find a creative outlet for it. If you see business ideas everywhere you turn, try joining a small business networking group, mastermind or incubator. If you're really motivated, try taking a fledgling entrepreneur under your wing. Of course you'll still need to be judicious about how you allocate your time. 3. Participate in the online small business community. Another way to get your fix is by helping other small businesses. There are countless active Facebook and Linkedin groups for entrepreneurs (and of course groups for entrepreneurs who also use Infusionsoft).I want to acknowledge the potential holes in my position here. Yes, entrepreneurs are short on time. So, if you don't have enough time anyway, when are you supposed to be able to pursue a creative channel to scratch your entrepreneurial itch? It's going to be a personal judgment call, and some people certainly might not see the value.For me, I equate it to chopping wood. Occasionally the right thing to do is to stop chopping so that you can sharpen the ax.

Who you are is also what got you where you are.

Instead, look for active channels where you can exercise this energy productively so it doesn't distract from your immediate focus. While it may not be ideal it's a reality, and the entrepreneur's paradox isn't something we should be avoiding, but rather something we should be embracing.Can you imagine if the Lions had put Ndamukong Suh in Karate classes as an outlet?