Title: Entrepreneurs' time perspective: attitude to adversities, opportunities and self-confidence

Authors: Ekaterina Zabelina; Diana Tsiring; Veronika Artemeva

Addresses: Chelyabinsk State University, 129, Bratiev Kashirinykh, Chelyabinsk, 454001, Russia ' Chelyabinsk State University, 129, Bratiev Kashirinykh, Chelyabinsk, 454001, Russia ' Baltic Academy of Education, 7A Lermontovsky Ave., St-Petersburg, 190121, Russia

Abstract: In the age of information technologies and expansion of data flows, a notable increase in the speed of subjectively perceived time is evident. It is obvious that entrepreneurs, as a group that is most sensitive to social changes, can experience these changes in a special way. The present research aims to identify whether there are peculiarities of entrepreneurs' time perspective and what these peculiarities are. Using the Zimbardo time perspective inventory, indicators of entrepreneurs' and employees' time perspective were measured (N = 399). Contrary to the expectations, entrepreneurs are not significantly future-oriented, while also being less 'fixated' on negative things from the past and reflecting on previous mistakes. They are more confident in their abilities than hired employees; they tend to rely on themselves rather than on external circumstances or people, reference groups, the state, etc. Understanding the differences in time perspective of entrepreneurs vs. hired employees (civil servants, school teachers, and IT specialists) broadens the concept of personal resources and psychological mechanisms of entrepreneurial behaviour.

Keywords: time perspective; past negative; present hedonistic; present fatalistic; entrepreneurship; entrepreneur; hired employee; career choice.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2021.115317

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2021 Vol.43 No.1, pp.84 - 99

Received: 20 Sep 2019
Accepted: 19 Nov 2019
Published online: 28 May 2021 *

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