Energy, drive, cockeyed optimism, entrepreneurial zeal and overflowing confidence are traits that are attributed to the “American temperament” that yields entrepreneurship. These characteristics could also be linked to a real psychological mania hypomania, says John Gartner of Johns Hopkins Medical School.
Hypomania is a mild form of the psychiatric disorder mania; it is characterised by an elevated mood state that feels highly intoxicating, powerful, productive and desirable to the hypomanic, says Gartner.
While their “flight of ideas” is a typical sign of hypomania, one trait that distinguishes successful entrepreneurs is their motivation, says Gartner.
America has attracted hypomanics like a magnet; one out of 100 people emigrate and tend to be imbued with drive and ambition. America has made good of the high-energy, risk-taking instincts of its citizens by giving them freer rein, more opportunity and greater respect than they have received elsewhere and they account for 31 per cent of the planet’s economic activity, concludes Gartner.
Source: John Gartner, America’s Manic Entrepreneurs, American Enterprise, July/August 2005.
For text: http://www.americanenterprise.org/issues/articleid.18583/article_detail.asp
For more on Entrepreneurs: http://www.ncpa.org/iss/eco/
FMF Policy Bulletins/ 13 September 2005
