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Entrepreneurial Characteristics
Goal Oriented and Forward-thinking
If you’re goal oriented, you aren’t content to merely wish. You make concrete plans for what you want
to achieve, and work toward them. Forward thinkers look ahead, focusing on what can be improved,
rather than spending time resisting change. Your ability to set goals and achieve them gets better with
practice, so check out the Goal Setting activity for your level in the Member Supplement.
Performance Under Pressure
The difference between those who succeed at reaching their goals and those who don’t often comes
down to a kind of mental toughness. How well can you focus your mind and manage your emotions
under stress? We all have the capacity to develop our ability to handle pressure effectively. Visit the
Under Pressure section of the Resources Area for ideas.
Creativity
Your level of creativity is linked to your ability to come up with new ideas and insights. Also known
as innovative thinking, this includes your capacity to make do with whatever is at hand, and adapt in
situations (Think: You went camping, it starts to rain. You have a tarp, but you forgot rope! What do you
do next? Think creatively!)
Passion
What are your interests? What do you like to do? What gets you so excited you can’t wait to begin
working on it? Finding your passion—the things that get you most energized—is a key ingredient
for being a successful entrepreneur. When you identify your passion, work becomes joyous and
pleasurable. Hours fly by, unnoticed, and tiredness and fatigue take the backseat.
Motivation and Energy
Your motivation is your desire to do something. Our motivation increases when we feel a personal
connection to an action or we see the positive consequence for doing that action, whether the action
is a pleasant one or not. (You may not like scooping out the cat litter. But if you do, your beloved kitty
has a clean place to do her business—that’s motivation.) Your energy rises and falls in relation to your
motivation, and your overall health. Stay healthy, and when it comes to your project—make sure you
can see the positive consequences of your actions, and keep those in mind!
Helpfulness
When you’re helpful, you want to make life easier for other people. A good way to become more helpful
is to make a practice of paying attention to other people, and notice when they are struggling. How can
you make the situation better? You can extend service to individuals, but also to whole communities.
Entrepreneurs look for opportunities that make a better reality—which may mean innovating a service
that provides for the needs of their community.
Entrepreneurial Characteristics
Risk-taking
Sometimes “risk” has a negative connotation. We think of danger when we hear the word. But not all
risks are dangerous. It’s a bad idea to take a risk when you expect a negative outcome and the potential
for something good is limited. But when the potential good to come out of taking a risk is unlimited, and
the potential downside is limited? Those are good risks to take! Entrepreneurs know that they stand to
lose a lot more by not taking these kinds of risks than they would from making a mistake. To boost your
comfort with good risk-taking, and to develop your ability to discern a good risk from a bad one, check
out the Risk-taking section of the Resources Area.
Determination and Tenacity
When you are determined, you pursue your goals with a strong commitment, regardless of any fear or
doubts about your eventual success. When roadblocks appear (as they will!) you need to rely on your
tenacity, or your ability to hold fast to your intentions and follow through. Many successful entrepreneurs
say this characteristic is worth more than your knowledge, or many other characteristics when you
begin a venture.
Initiative
This is an introductory, or leading step. Do you take the first step in making friends? How about with an
idea you have? Initiative can be developed by stopping yourself when you dismiss an idea or an urge to
connect with someone. Tell yourself it’s okay to feel the resistance to taking initiative—we’re all a bit shy
of things not working out! Then, do it anyway. Ask that new person to hang out. Or go to your teacher
with your new idea for a project. If you take the initiative, you’re on your way to pursuing opportunities
like an entrepreneur.
Hardworking
If you’re hardworking, you’re giving your tasks all your energy. You are industrious—which means
you’re working steadily and regularly at your tasks. You can develop your hardworking nature a little
at a time. Start setting yourself small goals—to work at a task without interruption for ten minutes,
for example. Then, set yourself a slightly higher goal—try to work for fifteen minutes without a break.
Keep increasing the amount of time to stick to your task until you can focus for a longer period. Your
endurance can build up with this approach, just like with exercise!