ENTREPRENEURIAL CHARACTERISTICS CHECKLIST
Read the items below and score yourself on the following scale:
1
Strongly Disagree
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
2
Disagree
3
Neutral
4
Agree
5
Strongly Agree
Item
I have relevant knowledge in my field
I understand the legal issues relevant to my work
I present myself in an appropriate manner at work
I set goals for myself
I actively network to promote myself, my projects, and/or my business
I attend conferences, workshops, and/or seminars to learn more about my field
I am able to set boundaries between my life and work
Others comment on my efficiency
I delegate tasks/projects to qualified associates
I believe managing finances is important for business success
I am able to find information
I live an organized life
I am able to sell products/services to people
I am able to effectively communicate with others
I consider myself a leader
I deal effectively with others
I consider concepts from the viewpoints of others
I understand the need for prioritization
People often say I have “business smarts”
I am passionate about work in my field
When facing difficulties, I may be down but I’m not out
I need little supervision to complete my work
I have a high level of self-discipline
I look on the bright side of things
I have a vision for myself and my business
I like to take creative approaches
I am aware of my strong and weak points
I am persistent
I accept that things may take longer than planned
I believe in myself
I am motivated to achieve my goals
I have the support of my family
I feel prepared to handle reasonable business risks
I have the flexibility to handle changes/surprises that arise
Others say I have “common sense”
Score
1
Strongly Disagree
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
2
Disagree
3
Neutral
4
Agree
5
Strongly Agree
Item
Others consider me an expert in my field
I know the ethical standards within my industry
I always keep things professional
I work to achieve goals
I use my personal and professional connections to build my career or grow my
business
I take courses to upgrade my skills
I believe it’s important to establish boundaries between life and work
I strive to complete tasks in the most efficient way possible
I have a support team to whom I can delegate tasks if necessary
I understand money management concepts
I have strong research skills
I am detail-oriented
I have an aptitude for closing a sales
I am clear and concise in my communication
I am comfortable leading groups
I interact appropriately with others
I am good at seeing things in context
I take a systematic approach to setting priorities
I know how to run a business
Others see my passion for my work
I am able to bounce back from setbacks quite quickly
I thrive working independently
I am accountable to myself
I consider myself an optimist
I think about what the future will look like
I use resources in creative ways
I understand my preferences and how they impact (or will impact) my business
I rarely take no for an answer
I know when it’s necessary to wait
I know I can achieve my goals
I am driven to succeed
I have the support of my partner or a close friend
I am willing to take sensible risks
I am able to make adjustments with little disruption to my work
I am very practical and pragmatic
Score
1
Strongly Disagree
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.
93.
94.
95.
96.
97.
98.
99.
100
101
102
103
104
105
2
Disagree
3
Neutral
4
Agree
Item
I know a lot about what I do
I understand how to work ethically
I value professionalism in my work relationships
I believe goal setting is important to succeed in business
I am able to interact with others to build my career or grow my business
I read relevant newsletters and publications in my field
I effectively manage the boundaries between life and work
I consider myself very efficient
I understand the importance of delegation
I manage my money effectively
If I don’t know something, I can find you an answer quickly
I am organized
I know how to be a “salesperson”
I have great communication skills
I am able to take a leadership role
I rarely have issues with other people
I can look at an issue from all sides
I am able to prioritize my actions to maximize success
I have a background in business concepts
I am passionate about self-employment
I have supports to help me deal effectively with challenges
I require little supervision to complete tasks
I am able to monitor my own progress
I have a positive outlook for the future
I consider the “big picture”
Others consider me resourceful
Other say I am self-aware
I believe persistence is a key to success
I have a great deal of patience
I am confident in my abilities
I want to be successful
I have supportive individuals in my life
I use strategies to reduce/mitigate risks
I am open to new ways of doing things
I can usually find solutions to everyday problems
5
Strongly Agree
Score
SCORING KEY
Transfer your scores below:
Characteristic
Question
Score
Question
Score
Question
Content
Legal/Ethical
Professionalism
Goal Setting
Marketing
Current
Boundaries
Efficiency
Delegate
Finance
Research
Organization
Sales
Communicate
Leader
Dealing w/ Others
Perspective Taking
Prioritizing
Business Savvy
Passion
Resiliency
Independence
Self-Discipline
Optimism
Vision
Creativity /
Resourcefulness
Self-Awareness
Persistence
Patience
Self-Confidence
Drive
Support
Risk
Openness / Flexibility
Common Sense
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.
93.
94.
95.
96.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
97.
98.
99.
100.
101.
102.
103.
104.
105.
Score
Total
Total
DECIPHERING YOUR SCORES
Individual
Characteristics
Overall
Description
Low
Average
High
3-6
7-11
12-15
105-209
210-419
420-525
You have identified a few
of the characteristics
which entrepreneurs
need to succeed.
You have identified some
of the characteristics
which entrepreneurs
need to succeed.
You have identified many
of the characteristics
which entrepreneurs
need to succeed.
Looking for alternative
work arrangements (e.g.,
flexible hours), rather
than seeking full selfemployment, may be a
better fit for you.
Seeking partial selfemployment
arrangements may be a
good first step for you.
Self-employment may be
a good option for you to
pursue. Do your research
– Is your business idea
viable? Do you have the
capital for start up costs?
To better prepare
yourself for full selfemployment, focus on
your lower scoring areas;
formulate an action plan
to develop those
knowledge, skills, and/or
abilities.
For continued success,
work to your strengths
and focus on developing
your lower scoring areas.
Alternatively, you may
wish to hire people with
knowledge, skills, and/or
abilities to support your
business.