A highly debated topic or question that I hear about often is whether entrepreneurs are born or bred. My answer to the topic is that I believe it is a combination of the two. Some people are born with various skills, traits and attributes that enable them to be entrepreneurs, but they must be bred in the proper environment to venture out on their own.
From working with many entrepreneurs and speaking to many, I’ve learned many indicators of good entrepreneurs. In this post, I share 5 signs you were born to be an entrepreneur & start your own company:
1. You’re Competitive About Everything
From a young age, people knew one thing about me. I was extremely competitive about anything and everything. In fact, I used to love basketball as a kid and enjoyed playing the game quite a bit. I would make my father go out to our driveway and play me 1 on 1 while I asked him to put his full effort in. He was bigger and stronger than me so he was able to win handily most of the time. However, I wouldn’t let him get back inside until I got his best and I was able to beat him.
Some people have this competitive nature that is undeniable. They want to win and be the best at everything that they try. I was definitely one of those individuals and these types of people make great entrepreneurs. The reason why they are so successful as entrepreneurs is because they’re constantly motivated and pushing themselves to do whatever it takes to make it.
2. You Tackle Problems With Solutions
One of the best ways that I have identified the entrepreneurial mindset is by how different people approach various problems. Many times, I’ll be walking with someone and he/she will come across a problem. Majority of the people I know tend to complain about the problem or make excuses before moving on. A small few select group of people will actually question the problem, wonder if there’s a solution to it and try to create something to solve that problem.
If your mind is constantly working in a way where you embrace the challenge of solving problems, you have what it takes to be an entrepreneurs. Good entrepreneurs take big problems and create easy solutions for them. If you are very open minded and are willing to create change instead of complain about it, you’ve got what it takes to be an entrepreneur.
3. You’re Confident With Yourself And What You Do
Confidence is one of the most important qualities any successful entrepreneur needs. If you don’t believe in yourself or your ideas, it’s going to be nearly impossible to get others to believe in them too. Successful entrepreneurs are individuals who are confident and don’t let criticism or other things bring them down.
Confident individuals will thrive and succeed as entrepreneurs. That type of charisma and personality resonates through your employees, partners and customers allowing your business to grow and flourish. If you always have that edge that is rare to find in most people, you definitely have what it takes to be an entrepreneur.
4. Risky Is Your Middle Name
Let’s be honest, entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint at heart. It’s a big risk to drop everything and chase a dream that nobody but only you can see. You give up comfort, stability and a paycheck for the hope that one day your business will be successful. Most of the time, it’s not successful and that’s an honest possibility that you may have to deal with.
If you’ve always been a risk-taker or the type of kid who was willing to take a big risk for the reward, entrepreneurship might be for you. You’re basically gambling or taking a big risk with hopes that your entrepreneurial ventures can be successful.
5. You Aren’t Afraid of Hard Work
It’s not a matter of talent when it comes to launching a successful business but rather all about how hard you’re willing to work. If from a young age you’ve always been willing to work hard because of the end goal, entrepreneurship might just be for you. I’ve always valued working hard and done what it takes to get things I’m passionate about since I was a toddler.
To launch a successful business, you have to work your ass off. This isn’t like playing the lottery where you can get lucky and expect to make millions of dollars. It takes a ton of hard work and persistent to see your dreams out. If you have those qualities and the capability to put in a ton of work without any guaranteed return, entrepreneurship is the right career path for you.
Conclusion
The topic of whether entrepreneurs are born or bred will still be discussed for many years to come. In this post, I shared 5 signs you were born to be an entrepreneur & start your own company. What are some other signs you’ve seen from your own experiences?
