The benefits of becoming an entrepreneur are numerous. They include more creative freedom at work, significant financial opportunities and the ability to be your own boss. It is no wonder that so many people are interested in choosing this path. But how do you know if you are meant to be an entrepreneur?
There are certain characteristics of entrepreneurs which help them to succeed. If you have those characteristics, you may do very well by starting your own business. To help you understand what it takes to be an entrepreneur and start your own business this article shares some of the more interesting and unusual characteristics of entrepreneurs!
Characteristic #1 – Entrepreneurs don’t like tradition and conformity
An entrepreneur doesn’t like performing tasks in a specific way just because it is the “traditional” way of doing things. They like to challenge the status quo and create innovative solutions to old problems.
Characteristic #2 – They struggle to hold down a normal job
Strangely enough, this is a sure sign that you are meant to be an entrepreneur! If you struggle to perform mundane tasks in a 9 to 5 job, it is a sign that you need a more challenging and interesting occupation. You may be craving the diversity, risk and excitement of an entrepreneurial enterprise.
Characteristic #3 – You are curious about the world
Curious people enjoy learning more about the world and how it works. Their interests are varied and they love to absorb new information. Curiosity helps an entrepreneur discover new opportunities and develop new ideas. It also helps you to see the “big picture” because you have taken an interest in so many topics – essential for being a successful entrepreneur.
Characteristic #4 – You are very competitive!
One of the most common characteristics of entrepreneurs is their competitive nature. They will work very hard to beat their competitors and offer a better service or product. Many entrepreneurs start companies because they believe they can do a better job than their competitors and they are eager to fight them for market share.
Characteristic #5 – You have many unusual and original ideas
If you tend to have many unusual and unique ideas, you have developed an important characteristic for entrepreneurship. Steve Jobs had a constant stream of ideas which were completely different to his competitors. He was an expert at “thinking out of the box”.
When PC manufacturers were releasing their computers in beige boxes, he released brightly coloured, see-through iMacs. At the time, it was a strange idea given what his competitors were doing. It was also an incredibly innovative change and helped Apple make a huge comeback in the desktop computer market.
Characteristic #6 – You are an introvert
Most people tend to think of confident and extroverted people when you mention entrepreneurship. However, many successful entrepreneurs are introverts, including Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, Larry Page, Marissa Mayer, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffett, Steve Wozniak and Elon Musk. Introverts are often better at formulating original and innovative ideas. They are extremely creative and great listeners, which helps in team environments.
Characteristic #7 – You like to accomplish things
You can have all of the ideas in the world, but if you don’t put them into action you will get nowhere. To be a successful entrepreneur, you will have the drive to make things happen and achieve concrete goals. You will take that fantastic idea and turn it into a real product.
Characteristic #8 – You take risks
Starting a business involves many kinds of risks – obtaining business loans, deciding on how to spend your capital, hiring the right employees and so on. If you are a natural born risk-taker, this will help you take action and avoid stagnation.
Characteristic #9 – You are obsessive about details
Successful entrepreneurs tend to be very obsessive about their work. If you spend long hours on projects that you are passionate about in an attempt to make them “perfect” then you have this characteristic. Steve Jobs was famously obsessive about small details. He would notice if a single pixel was out of alignment on software applications or if a font was the wrong size.
Characteristic #10 – You find it difficult to relax
If you are one of those people who stays awake at night, thinking about their latest project, you may have what it takes to be an entrepreneur! Successful entrepreneurs tend to be consumed by their projects. They are constantly thinking of ways to improve their business at all hours of the day and night.
Characteristic #11 – You are unpredictable
Entrepreneurs must be willing to change at the drop of a hat. When market conditions change or an opportunity arises they must quickly adapt to that change. If you have been told that you make unpredictable decisions it is because your mind is highly flexible and considering all of the available possibilities – a sure sign that you are meant to be an entrepreneur.
Characteristic #12 – You are resilient and tenacious
Entrepreneurs regularly encounter road blocks that halt the progress of their projects. Those roadblocks may be technological challenges, legal problems or funding issues. If you have a resilient and tenacious character, you will fight until those challenges are resolved.
Characteristic #13 – Passion
Passion is one characteristic that all successful entrepreneurs share. They love what they do, they love to talk about it, and they love to work on their projects. Having a passion for what you want to achieve will help you persevere through tough times when your business is struggling to make money or investors are turning you down.
Characteristic #14 – You enjoy being the boss!
Being your own boss is one of the many benefits of becoming an entrepreneur. If you enjoy being in charge of yourself and other people, becoming an entrepreneur is a natural fit.
We hope you found the 14 surprising characteristics of entrepreneurs interesting! If you would like to learn learn how our virtual assistant services can help your entrepreneurial goals, contact us on 0800 994 9016 or use our contact form in the menu above.