There are many characteristics of successful entrepreneurs. If you’re thinking about starting a small business, answer this true/false questionnaire to see if you have the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs.
- Also read: Entrepreneur Definition
Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
True or false:
At my current job…
- I am usually the one who takes initiative to complete tasks
- I often come up with ideas about what we should be doing
- My organizational skills help keep me and others on task
- If I don’t know how to do something, I quickly find resources to get it done
- I always deliver projects on time
- I take responsibility when things don’t work out rather than look for someone to blame [be honest, think really hard about this one]
About me…
- My friends would say I am very responsible
- I don’t mind working long hours, evenings and weekends
- In my spare time, I enjoy learning something new (i.e., reading, watching instructional videos, writing, tinkering)
- I have 6 months of savings in the bank
Do You Have the Characteristics of an Entrepreneur?
If you answered false to any one of the statements above, there’s a chance that you might not be ready to start your own business.
These aren’t hard and fast rules, but I can tell you from experience that these criteria and characteristics greatly contribute to your entrepreneurial success.
Do you have the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs? Are you ready to start your business? Use MoreBusiness.com’s free resources to get started:
- Starting a Small Business – A Complete Guide with Tips and Templates
- Marketing Plan Example – Download our free template to create your own plan
- Sample Business Plans – See our library of free business plans that you can copy
- Start Up Costs – Understand what your initial investment will look like
Not Ready Yet? Here’s What to To Next
Just because you may not have answered “true” to all of the statements above doesn’t mean you won’t be ready to start your business soon. One of the most important characteristics of successful entrepreneurs is the ability to adapt. They also find resources to fill the voids in their knowledge and make up for the skills they lack.
When I started my first company, I had no idea how to build a business. So, I went to my public library and checked out a few books on marketing.
After 3 weeks, the library books were due back. I returned the ones I had read (or not found useful), renewed the ones I wanted to finish, and checked out a few more on other business topics. I took notes on what I learned and created a folder of things I wanted to remember.
All of that reading made a big difference. Soon, I was able to create a business plan and start getting clients.
During the next 12 months, I went to the library every 3 weeks and checked out numerous books to learn about management, hiring, sales – all sorts of business topics. Today, 25 years later, I continue to read regularly to stay on top of trends. I’ve also written a bestseller on how to find clients.
If there is one piece of advice that is most valuable to a first time entrepreneur to be successful, it’s this:
- Always keep learning.
Second piece of advice:
- Be relentless.
