An Entrepreneur at Heart

Laurie Neumann — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:30:00 -0400

Is an entrepreneur born with the skills needed to be successful? That could happen, but more than likely, the characteristics are developed over a period of time. Some people really want to own something and be the boss. Others are happy working for someone else. Neither is better - we are all different and need to follow who God made us to be.

As I look at my family line, I see many entrepreneurs. My grandfather started his own company, which later was taken over by my dad and uncles. My brother moved to California to pursue his dream of becoming a golf pro. He has been quite successful, although didn't quite make it to the big leagues. He runs his own business giving golf lessons now. My other brother has done various things, many of them falling into the entrepreneurial category. Then there is me. I run my own online business. And it is still being passed down, as my son runs his own internet business. So, in a way, I guess entrepreneurship was kind of "inbred" in me.

I don't believe that has to be the case. It has to start somewhere, so even if you are not from a long line of entrepreneurs, you can start the chain and become a successful one. I think more important than heredity is possessing some essential traits that are typical to entrepreneurs. Let's take a look at some of them.

The desire to become an entrepreneur. Do you long to run your own business?
Self-motivation - you won't have a boss telling you what to do so it is imperative that you are able to work on your own and keep yourself motivated. You will need to decide when to work and how to go about accomplishing your goals. Mentors and coaches can be a great help in this.
Willing to take "some" risk, as not everything will be laid out for you. You will need to take steps even you are unsure of what the outcome will be. You will need to try some things without guaranteed results.
Willing to invest some money - it does not have to be a huge amount, but there will be some initial investment to make.
Desire to keep learning. It is important to keep learning and growing with the current times. I think it is a good idea to set a goal of learning something new each month or quarter.
Integrity - it is imperative to act with integrity if you want your business to succeed. Entrepreneurs must go out of their way to make their customers happy, and in order to do this, you will always need to take the high road. If you receive complaints, you need to handle them with respect and integrity.
Perseverance - there will be times when you are tempted to become discouraged because your business is not going as you would like. You have to be able to persevere through those times and stay on target with your goal.
Good communication skills are important (written and verbal) as you will need to communicate with customers and others.
Don't take it personally! If there was ever a sensitive person, I am it. But over time, I have developed a little thicker skin. You have to brush off rude comments and try to keep your customers happy.
Ability to learn from mistakes and not let them hinder you from continuing on.

Don't worry if you don't have all these traits fully developed yet. These are things that can be learned and refined as you go along.

Probably the biggest factor is the desire to be an entrepreneur. If you don't really care one way or the other, and are mainly just looking for a way to make some money, the entrepreneurial role may not be for you. But if you have that burning desire, that is the first step.

Many years ago, my husband and I wanted to own our own business. We thought about owning a Christian bookstore or a bed and breakfast, but they were too financially demanding, and we had to give up the idea. However, the desire to own my own business never really left.

I homeschooled my kids and I can remember many conversations I had with another homeschooling mom while our kids were taking some weekly classes together. We talked of wanting to start a business, but didn't know what type of business to do. Later on, that become the basis for my business - researching legitimate businesses for people that they could do from home. Later, I added coaching to help them walk through the process of starting a business. It's funny how God works sometimes!

My point is that I had the desire to be an entrepreneur for many years, and it never left me. Now, here I am, having run my own home based business for five years. I have considered getting a job from time to time, but cannot imagine giving up my lifestyle now.

How about you? Do you have a strong desire to be your own boss and run a business? As you look over the list of character traits I have talked about, do you feel you have the basics and can develop them further? If you can answer yes, you just might be a great entrepreneurial candidate!

Laurie Neumann teaches others how to make their journey of working from home an easier one. Laurie has worked from home for over five years and savors the freedom and flexibility, plus the purpose it has added to her life.

Take Root and Write Encouragement for Our Lifestyle

An Entrepreneur at Heart