Are you thinking about starting a business? Maybe you are in the throes of setting up on or maybe even you have been in business for a while. Whatever your situations, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way you can find out whether or not you are a born entrepreneur? Whether or not you have what it takes to succeed in business?
Having the opportunity to work with many successful start-ups and growing businesses, I have noticed traits and qualities that the majority of entrepreneurs share. Do you have them too? Because if you do, you can be assured that you are on the path to success!
You have curiosity
Entrepreneurs are curious and inquisitive at heart. What’s happening in the world? What’s happening in my business area? Is there a new and more efficient way of doing business? Who can I connect with to grow my network and possibly my business?
Good business owners never stop asking questions and trying out new things. Whether it is a new sales techniques, marketing software or tool, you have got to make a point of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and trying out new things In today’s world, knowledge get stagnant fast and unless you have a genuine interest in the subjects that concern you, you will find it very difficult to run a successful business.
You are not afraid to ask for help
When it comes to business, the painful truth is that you can’t do it on your own. As much as you would like to, you will have to ask for help at one point or another. Be it financing or advice, nobody can do it all. Some of us find it harder to ask for help than others, but being able to acknowledge that you need assistance is crucial for business.
So if you want your business to grow, you will have to leave your ego at the door and ask for help when you need it. When it comes to accounting or IT for instance, why struggle and make wrong choices when you can ask for professional advice? Struggling with your workload? Maybe you need someone to explain how marketing automation works, so you can stop manually doing repetitive tasks.
Ask for help when you need it! Work smarter, not harder.
You are a good listener
In the business world nobody is direct and honest. Be it customers, employees, investors or suppliers, more often than not, you will have to spend time listening and reading between the lines.
Famously, Ford said that if he asked people what they wanted at the time, they wouldn’t have said ‘cars’ but ‘faster horses’. Truth is, people didn’t know they need cars until they had them. Ford was a good listener and identified that customers need a faster and more efficient mode of transport.
Similarly, listen carefully to what your customers are saying, what your employees and investors are saying and decode the hidden message. What is it that they really want?
You trust your gut
You trust your gutAs a business owner you will receive many pieces of (sometimes unsolicited) advice. Some of it may be a real eye-opener but other, may not be particularly appealing to you.
At the end of the day, you will have to trust your gut and goo with whatever feels right for you. By no means am I saying that you should ignore all advice or crucial pieces of information when it comes to your decision making process. But when it feels right, go with your gut!
You take action
The difference between someone who runs their own business and someone who wishes they had their own business, is that the first one took the plunge whereas the latter took a step back.
When it comes to business, you have got to feel comfortable taking actions! Be it a new strategy, a complete overhaul of your brand or launching new product, a good business person is never afraid to grab the bull by the horns and take action.
You recover quickly
Failure is part of life and as soon as you get to grips with that fact and learn to recover quickly, the better.
Business is a fast paced entity and you cannot afford time dwelling on failures for too long. Learn from them, but get back on your feet quickly. From Branson or Trump, everybody has failed and made a mistake that cost them. The difference between winners and losers is how fast you can recover.
Every entrepreneur is different but the most successful ones share these qualities. If this sounds like you, maybe you are destined for something big and extraordinary! Will you be the founder of a major corporation?