I found an interesting research about a parasite that could turn any regular guy into a driven and ambitious entrepreneur. Agreed, I may have just exaggerated a bit, but I promise, you will be blown away. It is called Toxoplasma Gondii or the “business bug”, and although nobody would like the idea of being infested by a parasite. 

Definitely not after you may have seen the TV Show “The Last of Us”. But don’t worry, the business bug is not nearly as deadly as the Cordyceps or the Zombie-ant fungus, and you may have a change of heart after learning what this particular bug can do. Also, who knows, you could already be infected, since experts say nearly 2 billion people in the world could be infected. 

Here are quick facts about the business bug;

• It is transmitted via the poops of cats (wild and domestic).
• It is passed to humans through contact 
• The parasite has been linked to impulsive behaviors and health outcomes such as increased risk of car accidents, road rage, mental illness, neuroticism, drug abuse, and suicide.
• More than 40 million people in the US may be infected by the parasite. 
• For most people, there is no symptom at all. 

The research that broke the internet

In 2018 researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder made a bold claim that caught the world’s attention. According to the researchers, people who tested positive for T. gondii were,

1.4 times more likely to major in business and 1.7 times more likely to pursue a management and entrepreneurship emphasis, 1.8 times more likely to start their own businesses, and countries with a higher prevalent rate also showed higher entrepreneurial activity.

To come to this conclusion, the researchers tested 1,495 students of the University, and 197 professionals attending entrepreneurship events, and drew inferences from National data of 42 countries spanning a period of 25 years. 

If there is one thing the research proves, it is just how far simple organisms can indeed control our behavior and thought patterns, Once again, this reminds me of the Zombie-ant fungus that literally turns its host (thankfully only insects in this case), into Zombies. 

But instead of turning its host into a zombie, T. gondii tends to increase its risk tolerance. In the wild, there is a theory that T. gondii may be behind the risk appetite of certain animal species like Wolves that would normally live and breed in packs. 

The Lone Wolf, an oddity among its kind, for some reason, has the urge to leave its pack behind and forage out on it, despite being fully aware of the dangers that come with such a decision. T. gondii or the business bug has the same impact on a human host. 

The infected individuals are more likely to take risks and you know what they say, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. 

Entrepreneurship and the Business Bug - Fact or Myth?

Going by the research, there is no doubt that the business bug exists and it can compel its host to start a business by making them less afraid of taking risks. That part is a fact. 

We can see the association in terms of the number of businesses and the intent of participants, _Stefanie K (Lead Author of Research)

Seeing that risk and entrepreneurship are intertwined to each other, there is no doubt that a good risk appetite is an essential trait of any entrepreneur. This is where the business bug comes in. You can say the T. gondii acts as an inhibitor to fear just like alcohol would dull the senses. 

A lower threshold of fear is all most people need to take the leap of faith. This is most likely because new businesses have a high failure rate. However, starting a business is just one side of the coin, the other side is ensuring the business is successful. The business bug can’t help with this. 

We don’t know if the businesses started by T.gondii-positive individuals are more likely to succeed or fail in the long run, _Stefanie K (Lead Author of Research)

So despite a higher risk appetite, success is still not guaranteed. However, to some people, this is more than enough simply because the fear of failure is what has been holding them back, and once the leash is removed, they find that they have what it takes to run a business successfully. 

There is also a theory that the business bug may not have the same effect on an individual with no entrepreneurial drive. Proponents of this theory believe that the parasite simply amplifies what is already within an individual, and if a person is not the business type, then he or she may not have the urge to start a business.  

This is clearly a possibility the reason being that the lack of fear can make one impulsive. For some, this impulse urges them to start a business, but for others, it could manifest in any number of ways such as reckless driving, drug abuse, and other forms of reckless behavior. 

In summary, although there is a correlation between the parasite and the drive to become an entrepreneur, it is not a guarantee for success. So don’t try to get yourself infected on purpose because it just could happen that you’re not the business type, and you really don’t want to know what other dormant trait the parasite might amplify within you.

Here are other less “risky” steps you can take to increase your risk threshold;

Changing your mentality about risk 

Most people consider risk as something bad and this is why they tend to instinctively avoid risky behaviors. The lack of control over the outcome is also a possible contributor to risk aversion. However, risk also presents genuine opportunity and nothing worthwhile would ever be accomplished without the willingness to take risks. 

Any entrepreneur who has achieved something great knows this, and here’s what Steve Jobs had to say concerning risk, “if you are afraid of failing, you won’t go very far.” In essence, you have to be willing to fail, if you ever want to succeed. 

Always Assess the situation and figure out the risk involved. 

Here is one of my favorite quotes;

If you know your enemy and yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle _Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Business is war, so before venturing into any business, take your time to assess the risk involved. You can talk to veterans in the industry to find out what challenges they have faced and how they overcame them. 

Knowing what risk lies ahead takes away the element of surprise and also allows you to come up with a plan that improves your chances of victory. Risk assessment will also help you know your risk tolerance, which is good. Because like Sun Tzu quipped (paraphrased), if you don’t know the risks involved nor your risk potential, then you will fail.  

Acquire relevant skills

Skills and experience go hand-in-hand. Planning and changing your mindset alone can only take you so far. You need to build your skills as well. There are a number of free resources available online for entrepreneurs. From learning how to become excellent at negotiations to understanding the role of emotions and how to better manage them. The more knowledge and skills you acquire, the more confident you become and the higher your risk appetite. 

Diversify your portfolio

A business is an investment and one of the cardinal rules of investing is to diversify your portfolio. As the old adage says, never put all your eggs in one basket. Imagine starting a business with all of your retirement savings. No matter how certain you are of success, this is a bad idea. The slightest difficulty you encounter will likely rock your world. You would become emotionally destabilized out of fear of losing everything. But if you have a plan B, then you can face any challenges with a level head knowing that you will give your best to ensure you succeed, but if things don’t go as planned, it is not the end of the world. 

Have a nest egg

Save for the rainy days. Don’t assume things will always go as smoothly as it is. Having a nest egg can be the difference between success and failure. Aside from being a good money habit generally, savings can also boost your risk appetite, because you are less likely to worry about the financial blowback. For instance, you are about to take on a risky venture that could cost a hundred thousand dollars if you fail but gain substantially if you succeed. Knowing that you have about five hundred thousand in savings, you are more likely to take the risk compared to if you had little or no savings. As you can see, the more money you have saved, the higher the risk you can take. 

In the end, you don’t need the business bug to become a successful businessman. You can follow these five steps to achieve a similar result without the risk of being infected. So before you consider getting a cat, perhaps you should try out these ideas first.

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