Entrepreneurs As Leaders: Ludwig Von Mises on the Economy

I ran across this quote from Ludwig von Mises, an Austrian economist. It essentially describes entrepreneurs as leaders because they realize the uncertainty of the future, the fact that nothing remains the same, and yet make plans to make an impact in the future through their activities. It applies to social entrepreneurs and business ventures as well. Are you such a leader?

All socialists overlook the fact that even in a socialist community every economic operation must be based on an uncertain future, and that its economic consequence remains uncertain even if it is technically successful. They see in the uncertainty which leads to speculation a consequence of the anarchy of production, whilst in fact it is a necessary result of changing economic conditions.

The great mass of people are incapable of realizing that in economic life nothing is permanent except change. They regard the existing state of affairs as eternal; as it has been so shall it always be. . . . To see and to act in advance, to follow new ways, is always the concern only of the few, the leaders.

Socialism is the economic policy of the crowd, of the masses, remote from insight into the nature of economic activity.