Entrepreneurial Factors
Yesterday I wrote about my belief that there are universal factors to waken entrepreneurs much like Sleeping Beauty was waken with a kiss. I suspect the degree of intensity for each factor is unique to each potential entrepreneur.
Today I’d like to discuss what these factors may include. Be assured, I don’t assert that this list is complete. In fact, I’m very curious about what key factors I’ve forgotten – or which factors you don’t believe should be included on the list.
In no particular order, here are the factors I think contribute to Sleeping Beauties waking up and becoming entrepreneurs.
- A willingness to take risks (personal, financial, professional…). This isn’t just big risks, but also a lowering of your internal threshold for taking small risks.
- Believing so strongly in something (an idea, product, service, business model) that you’re willing to look silly or be belittled by others
- A dissatisfaction with the status quo in your current organization, situation, environment. This dissatisfaction needs to rise to the level where you’re willing to take risks and venture out on your own.
- An openness to and active interest in creativity and new thoughts, processes, ideas, strategies, etc.
- Resolve to see the business through to its end - whatever that may be. Entrepreneurs aren’t easy quitters, but they are smart quitters.
- Flexibility to shift gears or change direction as needed. This might be rephrased as an ability to roll with the punches – and the successes.
Is the man below a sleeping businessman or an entrepreneur waiting to be waken? I suspect he’s an entrepreneur if his external environment and internal thought processes have increased the above factors to a level where he’s ready to take action. Watch out world, the entrepreneurs are awakening!
