Starting a Business: Top Attributes of Successful Entrepreneurs

When you hear the word entrepreneur, what do you picture? You may have a distinct personality type in mind. The reality is that the most successful business owners have several important attributes. Learning these qualities can help you determine if starting a business is right for you.

Confident

Confidence will take you far in any industry. It can make you appear assertive, intelligent, and engaging. If you begin to doubt yourself, others will question you too. You must believe in your process, products, and business plan to present them to consumers and investors.

Confidence is something that can be grown over time. Techniques include reflecting on your accomplishments, setting achievable goals, and talking yourself up. If you need assistance building more confidence, a mentor such as Patrick James of Trico Group can provide tips.

Communicative

Good communication is key for entrepreneurs. You may not have a boss to communicate with, but you will regularly talk to others such as staff, designers, lawyers, consumers, and investors. Clear and concise wording will make all the difference.

It’s not just what you say, but it is also how you say it. The best business owners employ active listening, appropriate body language, and strong presentation. You may need to vary your communication style depending on your goal and audience.

Driven

Starting a business is far from easy. Many entrepreneurs face a time when they consider giving up, and there is not always someone around to push them. Without any upper management to lead, you are accountable for everything.

By definition, drive means hard-working and ambitious. A high level of drive will help you keep momentum during challenges. When you set goals, use your self-motivation to reach them.

Creative

A new company needs creativity at every level. To make it, you must present a new product or an innovative approach to an existing product. From design to manufacturing and marketing to sales, never miss a chance to put a creative spin into your process.

The more creative you are, the more memorable you can be. Consumers and investors are more likely to support a business that resonates with them.

Flexible

An entrepreneur must maintain flexibility. No matter how organized and detailed your business plan is, changes will be necessary. With so many moving pieces in a new company, unpredictable scenarios occur. Success is accomplished by adjusting to the unknown.

You may also need flexibility in your daily schedule. As demands change, so do work hours. A new business owner rarely keeps a 9 am to 5 pm schedule.

Self-Aware

The benefits of self-awareness are easy to overlook. Knowing yourself can help you honestly identify your strengths and weaknesses. Once you understand your strengths, you can use them to your advantage.

Recognizing weaknesses is just as important. Those are areas you can work to improve. If improvement is not possible, outside parties may need to assist.

Do you think you have what it takes to begin a business start-up? Balancing these qualities will give you an incredible base.