Characteristics of an Entrepreneur

How Do You Know If You’re An Entrepreneur-In-The-Making?

You’ve dreamed of starting your own business. Dreams don’t go very far, though. Being an entrepreneur is hard. Really hard. If you don’t have the ability to roll with the inevitable punches, you will get knocked out. Do not become an entrepreneur because it’s cool. That won’t work. The failure rate is high. More than half of start-ups fail in the first five years. That’s worse odds than a coin toss. Become an entrepreneur because it’s your calling and because you possess the traits of an entrepreneur.

How do you know if you, or someone you care about, are an entrepreneur-in-the-making? Let’s explore the characteristics and talents most entrepreneurs possess, to see if these descriptions resonate with you.

The Characteristics of an Entrepreneur

An entrepreneur is an idea generator, a dreamer. You are very creative and great at coming up with solutions and improvements, either by creating something new or improving on something that already exists.

You are a learner. You are more comfortable with the discomfort of stretching than the contentment of the status quo.

You see the big picture. You are able to connect the dots, an ability that’s almost a sixth sense.

You have street smarts and common sense. You make decisions from your gut, and they are usually proven right, or you push hard to make them right.

You are a great strategic thinker and very persuasive. When you lock in on an objective, nothing stops you. You are inspirational to those around you, whether selling them something or getting them to follow you and your thinking.

You are also passionate and obsessive. Once you see an image in your mind, there is no stopping you, regardless of whether what you see is actually possible or not.

You are an optimist. Every cloud has a silver lining.

An entrepreneur has a strong work ethic. You can outwork almost anyone. You are driven, ambitious, and self-motivated.

You are financially motivated and want to make a lot of money. Not because you are greedy, but because you want to provide for your family, yourself, and others. As marketing guru Joe Polish says, “Entrepreneurs solve problems for a profit.”

You have the toughness to stick it out. Grit is the determining factor of success. I’ve never met a true entrepreneur that didn’t have grit. With it comes tenacity, commitment, a strong will, dedication, stubbornness, obstinacy, determination, resiliency, and persistence.”

You tend to be dominant and can be overpowering. You are hungry and want to be the best, so you are goal-oriented and have a clear sense of urgency.

You have a strong business acumen. You may not necessarily understand a financial statement, but you see the big financial picture. Simply put, you know how to make money and have typically demonstrated this ability since a young age.

An entrepreneur is a risk taker. You are not afraid to challenge the status quo and be a change maker and disrupter.

You are a rebel by nature and take great pride in that. You are not a rule follower. While you are not afraid to take the ball and run with it, you are totally accountable for the outcome. You blame no one else if there’s a fumble.

Next Steps:

• Learn once and for all if you possess the characteristics of an entrepreneur by taking the Entrepreneur-In-The-Making Assessment.
• Download your Free Chapter of Entrepreneurial Leap to get a sneak peek into the book that will help you decide if starting your own business is right for you.
• Order your copy of Entrepreneurial Leap to learn if you should take the leap toward entrepreneurship.

You can also read this article on my blog!