The One Trait Most Entrepreneurs Need...But Lack!

Originally published on medium.com/@aaronsansoni

Ask any entrepreneur to describe themselves using only characteristic traits, and odds are you will hear a wide variety of answers. Driven. Passionate. Responsible. Adaptable.

All of these are excellent descriptive terms, worthy of successful entrepreneurs across all facets of the business world. And yet, something is missing. There is one word you probably won’t hear, but should. A single, key trait that can mean the difference between immense success and imminent failure. That key trait is naivete, and it can often be found in first-stage stories of entrepreneurs everywhere.

Naivete, in the case of the entrepreneur, does not refer to a “lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment,” as Google Dictionary is quick to define, but merely a tendency to see slightly less than the entire picture.

It is this blatant naivete that helps release entrepreneurs from their real world shackles and chains, giving them the time and ability to dwell a little longer in their own headspace where anything is possible. No obstacle is insurmountable. No detail too minuscule. In a naive mind, each and every aspect of a business venture is, at the very least, achievable, as long as you put in the effort.

“The true entrepreneur (or the true intrapreneur, for that matter) is almost always characterized by an inability to see negatives, a certain blindness to obstacles, a disregard for barriers,” says Forbes Contributor Henry Doss.

Sometimes it means neglecting to ascertain the full scope of sheer work required to accomplish a particular goal. Other times it might mean operating without acknowledging the negative voices whose only purpose is to create and embellish insecurities. In both cases, naivete suppresses a few small parts of an otherwise overwhelming picture, thus making it seem more attainable.

It is important to note that naivete does not necessarily require unrealistic expectations or disconcerting amounts of optimism. In fact, many entrepreneurs are acutely aware that their journey will not be easy. Some even experience work-related meltdowns once they fully comprehend the epicness of their inevitable to-do lists. But, it is blissful naivete that coaxes them to persist. It is the reason they can keep on going.

A naive entrepreneur cannot quit for the simple reason that, in their mind, they cannot fail.

Aaron Sansoni, the new breed of selling superstar, is an international speaker, best-selling author and recent nominee for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2016 & Australian of the Year 2017