A/B testing at it's best. The exact wording of your introduction also makes a difference depending on what part of the country you live in. In silicon valley, "startup" will perk up most people's attention. "entrepreneur" in the midwest will get a "what ?"
I think you are totally wrong about the reaction in the midwest. Have you actually had this experience?
I live in Nashville, TN. We just had a launch of an "entrepreneur center", the local business schools teach "entrepreneurism", job postings ask for employees who are "entrepreneurial" and there is a real caché attached to being an entrepreneur.
"Entrepreneur" is an incredibly trendy word right now. So trendy that I think it is loosing it's meaning.
Small business owner on the other hand seems to imply that there is a business that is actually running, bringing in revenue, and maybe even turning a profit.
I'm actually in Vancouver, B.C. which I think is somewhere in between those two. I've been calling mainly real estate agents all week, and am really surprised that they are the ones who perk up at hearing the word entrepreneur.
Real estate agents are in business for themselves (the companies they work for are really providing a federation-like environment, with shared services). I suspect many of them see themselves as entrepreneurs too.
