The Ultimate Entrepreneur - Favourable Traits
Starting off a business on your own is exciting and challenging. It seems like an adventure or a journey that everyone must take upon themselves at some point to be self-sufficient and independent - but it really is not. Becoming an entrepreneur involves strategic planning and decision taking, that can either take you higher (step by step) or leave you falling and crashing onto the ground, shattering your life apart - for at-least a while. Making the right decisions, involves having a few favourable traits that are innate or developed with learning and time. Here are nine traits that every entrepreneur must have.
1) Decisiveness - An entrepreneur literally, cannot afford to be indecisive. The ability to make quick decisions is imperative, as this would determine how many opportunities one can make use of efficiently and save time- a precious resource.
2) Being flexible and open-minded - An entrepreneur must know how to work with unexpected happenings. They must be ready to bring changes to their initial plans and strategies when they come across sudden difficulties or even when they are proposed with creative solutions and better ideas.
3) Patience and motivation - Many who set out to be entrepreneurs back out of their plans as they get impatient. The motivation they had set out with dies down when they do not get what they aim for immediately. To be a successful entrepreneur, one has to be patient and maintain their motivation throughout this long and possibly ardrous journey.
4) Persuasive and creative - Entrepreneurs need to be persistent and persuasive. They need to able to convince and that too tirelessly, in order to promote their business. Creativeness is also an important asset. Having the ability to recognize and pursue opportunities creatively is a trait that sets you and your company a step above the rest.
5) Versatility - Can you be versatile and assume different roles, when your company needs it? Initially, when you start your own company you may not have the funds to hire people. You may have to be your own accountant, secretary, security etc. Are you up for it?
6) Business skills - This trait is an obvious one. You can’t run a business without having superb business skills. You need to have the experience, contacts, social skills and constant focus on sales and revenue.
7) Ready to take risks - Any business venture will involve taking risks. Do you have the will to thoroughly research any business venture you undertake? Are you ready to face any losses incurred due to the risks you have had to take?
8) Drive - Being proactive and controlling the direction your business is taking is essential for any entrepreneur.
9) Vision - ‘Have an end in mind’. This is necessary to achieve any goal, no matter how big or small. A vision helps you see the big picture, where you want to be heading - the destination - and helps you take your team there with focus and determination.
These qualities are necessary for the success of any business, and thus the success of any entrepreneur.