Do you have what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur?
Lots of people think about starting their own business. They envision what it would be like to have a lot of money, to live doing something they enjoy. To feel as if they aren’t going to work, even! But most people don’t do it. Why? They either haven’t got what it takes, or they let fear hold them back. Nobody should let fear stop them from doing something they feel passionately about. A little fear should be good, right? Read on to find out if you have what it takes to become an entrepreneur!
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Courage
We all have courage, but you need to be able to find it to be an entrepreneur. You can’t let fear hold you back. You can’t even think about it too much. If you over think things, eventually you’ll put yourself off doing something completely. You should definitely take a few risks. And courage goes much beyond taking risks, it matters a great deal to retrace your steps if you think something is not going right. the courage to take risks, to overcome fear and admit mistakes. Do you have it in you?
“There is a certain degree of satisfaction in having the courage to admit one’s errors. It not only clears up the air of guilt and defensiveness, but often helps solve the problem created by the error.” ~Dale Carnegie
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Initiative
Entrepreneurs have initiative. They don’t sit around twiddling their thumbs; they take action. They do the things that need to be done. They’re on the go and on the ball all the time. While you are on taking initiatives don’t miss out on another important step on the rungs to success – delegation. You can only do as much, when work needs completion and your reputation is at stake, seek help, delegate, that’s an important initiative step as well, knowing when to let go control and just get it done!
“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them.”
~George Bernard Shaw
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Decision Making Abilities
If you’re indecisive, you can still be an entrepreneur. You just need to be able to look at the facts and come up with the most suitable decision for the situation. You must feel confident in the decision you’ve made. Bear in mind that many entrepreneurs failed several times before they hit the big time; they didn’t just make it. They made wrong decisions, and right ones.
“On an important decision one rarely has 100% of the information needed for a good decision no matter how much one spends or how long one waits. And, if one waits too long, he has a different problem and has to start all over. This is the terrible dilemma of the hesitant decision maker.”
~ Robert K. Greenleaf
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Money Management
Entrepreneurs accept that they’ll have to go without money for a while. They accept that they need to keep money in the business. They don’t get greedy and go out buying sports cars the second they get a big job. A good accountant, companies like Baydonhill for moving money and self control is a must.
“Money, like emotions, is something you must control to keep your life on the right track.”
~ Natasha Munson
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Networking Skills
Networking is a must in business. After all, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Go and meet more people, the more you meet and make a connection the better ideas flow through the process. It’s just not about telling what you do but seek advice and listen as you network. During your conversations keep an open mind to criticism as well. People might not like your idea but that’s not the big deal, what matters is you learn from what could work and what doesn’t and improvise accordingly.
“To be successful, you have to be able to relate to people; they have to be satisfied with your personality to be able to do business with you and to build a relationship with mutual trust.” ~ George Ross
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Passion
Passion is the most important thing as an entrepreneur. If you haven’t got that, you’ll soon run out of steam. You must work in an industry you love with something you feel passionate about, and there are no two ways about it. When there is passion, there is drive and happiness to go through success or failure with enthusiasm and with a positive approach. In the long run that’s what all that matters! Don’t know what you’re passionate about? Find out, don’t go on without it!
“The size of your success is measured by the strength of your desire, the size of your dream and how you handle disappointment along the way.”
~ Robert Kiyosaki
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Determination
Being an entrepreneur takes sheer determination to succeed. Don’t let others tell you that you won’t make it or something can’t be done if you truly believe it can. With that being said, be sensible. If a Dragon from Dragon’s Den gives you some advice, take it. Just don’t give up. Adapt, be flexible. Do everything in your power to make this dream work for you.
“You are essentially who you create yourself to be and all that occurs in your life is the result of your own making.”
~ Stephen Richards
So, do you have what it takes to become an entrepreneur? If not, perhaps work on your skills. If you’re happy working for somebody else, that’s fine. If not, do something about it!