public function getEntity()
    {
        //if there is no entity
        if ($this->entity === null) {
            //we try to get one from the proxy
            $entityProxy = $this->getEntityProxy();

            //if there is a proxy
            if ($entityProxy !== null && $this->getBusinessEntityId()) {
                $entity = $entityProxy->getEntity($this->getBusinessEntityId());
                $this->entity = $entity;
            }
        }

        return $this->entity;
    }