While there are extensive lists of qualities and attributes of a successful entrepreneur, here are 10 important characteristics that are shared by many successful businesspeople. As you review this list consider how many of the descriptions fit your strengths and abilities. This can serve you well as a guide in determining whether this type of career direction is right for you.
Personal Initiative with an Action Orientation
Entrepreneurs are doers, not dreamers. It is only through initiative and dedicated hard work will your efforts succeed. As the famous Nike’s tagline wonderfully states, “Just Do It.”
Perseverance
An entrepreneur’s single biggest success trait is perseverance accompanied by a total commitment towards their efforts. There are numerous examples of people who have been successful against all odds. Their success is greatly due to their absolute determination to succeed. Success is the only option.
Being able to Set and Achieve Goals
Entrepreneurs have the ability to establish achievable goals and then be able to remain focused on their goals. Goals must be realistic, attainable, and measurable. Your ability to create a vision of success is also paramount. Without a clear vision failure is all but guaranteed. Failure is not an option.
Ability to Recognize and Solve Problems
You can not be intimidated by the number or the severity of problems that will come your way. Entrepreneurs recognize, attack, and solve problems based on their need to achieve while remaining energized by their vision for success.
Asking for Help and Using Feedback
Entrepreneurs are not foolhardy in their relentless pursuit of a problem or goal. You must realize that your time is not unlimited and by purposely avoiding making a decision you are still making a decision although a passive one. There will be times where you will need to ask others for their assistance or feedback. Not asking for help limits the number of resources available to you. Ask for help when you need it.
Successes and Failures are Learning Opportunities
Entrepreneurs learn from both their successes and failures. Do not hide from your mistakes. Take the opportunity to analyze and learn from them. These experiences can become some of your most valuable learning moments. You also cannot dwell on any one success or failure. It is very tempting to bask in the glory of a great success or sulk into the depths of failure. Both reactions are dangerous and will derail your efforts to succeed. You must always look forward while taking the lessons you have learned along with you.
Self-Reliant and Self-Confidence
Entrepreneurs trust the efforts to their own abilities and feel confident that they can achieve their objectives. They almost never consider failure a real possibility. The difference between confident and cocky is not great, but confidence can lead to success; cockiness can cause failure.
Moderate Risk Taking and Risk Sharing
Effective entrepreneurs generally prefer to take moderate and calculated risks. They are not keen on taking such large risk where there is a potential to lose everything or so small a risk that the outcome is pretty much a sure thing. As in many aspects of life moderation is often the rule of thumb.
Tolerating Uncertainty and Ambiguity
Entrepreneurs often make decisions under conditions of uncertainty. It is human nature to desire certainly in anything we attempt. This gives us the illusion of control. In reality, life is often uncertain and we have limited control over outcomes. Entrepreneurs take uncertainty in stride and view it as a challenge. They seemingly appear to thrive in this type of environment. The successful entrepreneur makes the right decisions most of the time, but not all of the time.
Team Builder
It is important to recognize that you cannot build a successful business by yourself. Effective entrepreneurs share the credit for their success with others. Often times you must recruit others to help share in the risk, responsibility and credit of your business’ efforts.
These are just a few of the characteristics that go hand in hand with becoming a successful entrepreneur. In fact, these characteristics can serve you well in many endeavors you embark on.
Lastly, strive to be Completely Psyched and successful. It is more than a state of mind. It is a state of being.
I’m still working on the self-confidence part, but I think I have a good grip on the other qualities.
Comment by Diamond — May 1, 2011 @ 6:41 PM |