As someone with an insatiable entrepreneurial spirit and drive, you dream of one day creating your own business and working for yourself. You want to become an entrepreneur, and you look up to the greats like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg — and you’re certainly not alone in your level of adoration.
According to Amway, 84 percent of Americans have a positive attitude toward entrepreneurship — and would potentially pursue a self-made business venture — compared to 77 percent of their international counterparts. While this statistic may be attributed to our free and independent values, being an entrepreneur requires a certain skill set.
Set on starting your own company? First, read this article to discover why being an entrepreneur is better than employment. Then you should learn how to develop — if you haven’t already — the following characteristics:
Creativity
Entrepreneurship starts with ideas — a lot of ideas. As someone with enterprising ambition, you can anticipate where industries are heading in the future, see holes in the market, and think of innovative ways to make your life — and of those around you — better. You never stop thinking of ideas for your future business, and your mind holds hundreds of business plans. You think creatively and aren’t afraid to try something new.
Of course, not many people are born with or can develop these skills overnight. If entrepreneurship — and having the mindset to institute change — doesn’t come naturally to you, there are a host of ways to spark new ideas.
In particular, Hubspot suggests asking friends or family what annoys them. Do they hate waiting in line or sitting in idling traffic? Does that one little thing on the latest app drive them crazy? Ask them for ideas, and see if you can brainstorm ways to solve these issues. You can also research other business models and plans to see if they spark any ideas, too.
Related: 10 Smart Skills You Will Need Now as an Entrepreneur
Problem-Solving
At your current job, you’re always finding ways to improve processes and make things better. You see the big picture and know how to get there. You’re the master of project management, keeper of spreadsheets, and a brainstorming genius — and everyone knows it.
Furthermore, you know how to present a problem and solution — and understand people’s inherent likes and dislikes — all of which allows you to convince others to believe in your plan. Your energy and ambition aren’t about finding and pointing out people’s flaws to make yourself feel smarter; rather, you truly believe you can help others reach their potential.
Persistence
Having a great idea is just the beginning of being an entrepreneur. Instead of merely floating ideas to solve real-world issues, you have to actually be willing to not take “no” for an answer in order to make your ideas become reality. In other words, you can’t be afraid of getting your hands dirty and putting in the extra hours.
Whether the company succeeds or fails is, in many ways, determined by you. But one tell-tale sign of a great entrepreneur is that they don’t let opportunities pass them by. If you meet the right business associate or potential investor and perhaps come into a small fortune, you know what it will take to follow through and achieve your goals.
Moreover, you don’t procrastinate or have meandering thoughts about tomorrow or next week. You’re a go-getter and know when to seize opportunities and follow them up with hard work.
Self-Belief
Ultimately, the most important characteristic an entrepreneur need is self-belief. That means believing in your idea, your effort, your fellow employees, and, most importantly, yourself. Without that sense of conviction to execute your ideas and see things through, you’ll have a hard time getting others to buy in and invest in you.
Related: 9 Self-Management Skills and How to Improve Them
Self-belief can be difficult to attain, especially when you hit some rocky patches, but it’s essential. That’s why it’s so important to acquire a heightened sense of self-belief before you start working on your business venture. Additionally, it’s important to better yourself in the following areas:
- Recite daily affirmations to yourself.
- Go back to school to earn a master’s degree or MBA.
- Develop other pertinent skills and knowledge.
- Surround yourself with people who can help you and boost your confidence.
In the end, the more you do to continuously improve yourself and increase your self-worth, the more belief you’ll have in accomplishing your goals.
