Are you cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Entrepreneur When I was younger, I couldn't picture myself as an entrepreneur (as I then understood the word). I was risk averse. We never talked about building a business at our dinner table. I never dreamed of lounging on a yacht (still don't). I never even had a paper route or lemonade stand.

So I do wonder sometimes: How in the world did I end up doing what I'm doing?

I think it's because I love a challenge and I like to create things. Or perhaps it's because -- as Natalie Clifford Barney wrote -- "Entrepreneurship is the last refuge of the trouble making individual."

If you're wondering if you have what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur, I implore you not to waste your time taking personality tests or looking back at your family history for clues. It's really much simpler than that. Just answer these five questions with a sincere Yes or No:

  1. I'm tenacious. I have a resilience to keep on going despite major setbacks.
  2. I have an imaginative mind. I can see alternative scenarios, and I view change as an opportunity.
  3. I have an ego made of Teflon. I'll do whatever it takes to refine my sense of empathy and understanding.
  4. I'm confident in my abilities and I know my weaknesses.
  5. I have an idea in mind that I'm passionate about; an idea that will help improve people's lives. And I can stand up in front of a crowd of strangers and speak confidently about it.

That's it! If you answered "No" to numbers 1,2,3 or 4, stick to working for someone. You'll save yourself a lot of money and heartache. If you answered "Yes" to every question except number 5, don't despair. It's simply a matter of when, not if.

In the meantime, practice! Be an entrepreneur at work. Stretch. Take risks. Be bold. And start now.

As Robert Browning wrote, "The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer."

Posted May 7, 2010
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