When you think of somewhere that breeds the entrepreneurial spirit, is Connecticut the first place that comes to mind? Get past the fact that it has become the backyard to NYC executives and finance superstars. Instead, dig into Greenwich and Fairfield County: home to founders and authors like Bob Dorf, Austin Mccord, Ian and Shep Murray, the Winklevoss twins, what has made them flourish here?
We’ve all read plenty of articles about the “characteristics of entrepreneurs,” the things that make them tick, the habits they have and their morning routines. It makes for great headlines, but what actually creates leaders? What actually contributes to their success as an entrepreneur? And if you aren't born with the traits of an entrepreneur, are you doomed?
Thankfully,
But know this: if you don’t have these traits, all is not lost. First, not all entrepreneurs need them. And second, you can build these traits. It takes some work and effort, but it’s possible. Here's what makes a founder win:
1. Confidence
One of the most well-known entrepreneurial traits is confidence.
Entrepreneurs are people who exude confidence in the way that they talk, walk, speak and communicate.
Part of this is mere myth. I know plenty of entrepreneurs who aren’t dripping with the level of confidence that they’re said to have. Not every entrepreneur has the bravado of a Steve Jobs or the breezy knowledge of a Richard Branson.
There are different kinds of confidence. The confidence that entrepreneurs share is a confidence in a specific set of abilities.
You may not be confident that you can code a website, but maybe you are confident in your ability to market a product or company online.
To build confidence, learn one thing really well. If you can answer questions on a subject, write on that subject and teach
Another confidence hack is dressing the part. Psychologists have discovered that the way we dress affects the way we think and act, making us more or less confident.
2. Never Quitting
Entrepreneurs know when to quit and start on a new idea. They quit smart, fail fast and recover quickly.
But entrepreneurs also have the gritty trait of never quitting. Sure, they may pull the plug on a specific venture, but they don’t stop their pursuit of being an entrepreneur.
How do they do it? Part of this is ingrained, but part is learned by persisting through other tasks. Here are some methods:
Finish your education. For all the entrepreneurial rock stars who dropped out of school and now lead
multi -billion dollar companies, there are at least ten who stuck it out and finished their degree. Unless you’re sure you’re onto a world-changing idea, finish your education. The simple determination it requires will pay in spades.Start a project and finish it. Pick one project -- anything -- and complete it to the bitter end. It could be a book you’re reading, a closet you’re reorganizing or a car you’re restoring.
Finishing one thing will unlock the possibilities of finishing a lot of other things. Push yourself to do it, and you’ll keep on doing it.
3. Saying Yes
Many entrepreneurs simply say “yes” to opportunities, and then learn how to do what they need to do.
There is true power in saying “no,” but when you’re early in your game, getting your feet wet and trying to learn all you can, saying yes is a great advantage.
You’ll push yourself to new heights, learn things you never dreamed of and accomplish things you never thought you could -- all by saying yes.
Commit yourself to
4. Trying New Things
How can you cultivate this trait? Start small. Do you have a favorite restaurant? Try something different on the menu -- something that’s totally “not you.”
Really want to get yourself out there? Try quitting your current company and get to work remotely, travel and experience the world, and once your perspective has expanded, kick off your first venture.
5. Reading Books
Entrepreneurs are readers, devouring as many books as they can. They read books, some of them write books and most of them recommend books.
There’s an obvious reason for this. You can develop your entrepreneurial skills by constantly learning. It is speculated that Elon Musk
I get it. It can be hard to read books. How many of us have time to just sit down and read a book?
You’re good to go. Download a free book from LibriVox or another source. Try out Audible, where you can get virtually any business book in audio form. You’re all set. I know people who read more than 100 books a year just by listening to
6. Taking Risks
Entrepreneurs are known for their risk-taking appetites. It’s part of the definition of an entrepreneur: “taking on greater than normal
Merriam-Webster: “one who organizes, manages and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise.”
Dictionary.com: “a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.”
Risk-taking is scary. Risk involves the potential of danger or loss. How can you learn to do something that is so paralyzing and frightening?
Discover your purpose: When you’re fueled by purpose, you have the motivation for taking on the risk. A deep purpose will make any risk easy to take.
Mentally commit: Before you take the practical step of taking a risk, make up your mind to do so. The mental part of risk-taking is half the battle. Once you’ve committed in your mind, you’re ready to embrace it.
Acknowledge that you’re afraid: If you deny your fear, you’re deluding yourself. Deluding yourself leads to doubting yourself. Own up to your fears, but then take the risk anyway.
Don’t overthink it: The more you think about taking a risk, the less likely you are to do it. Your mind will muster up all kinds of reasons why it’s wrong, unwise, foolish, etc. Stop giving yourself time to make excuses, and just act.
Make a plan: Instead of jumping into the risk with no plan, develop a step-by-step guide for how you will achieve your goal. This gives you something to look forward to as you’re in the middle of the activity.
Conclusion
You can’t make a mold for entrepreneurs. There are entrepreneurs of every kind, every personality, every attitude, every characteristic and everything in between.
The important thing is to simply be you, but constantly work to be a better you.
These traits, common to many entrepreneurs, might not feel like you at first. But with a little bit of practice and determination, you’ll find that they might improve your abilities as an entrepreneur.