How about entrepreneurship? A new year means many of us are looking to get realigned with our deepest selves, change course in a more authentic direction, and perhaps shake things up a bit (or a lot!). If you are wondering whether working as an entrepreneur could be for you, or you are this close (*pinches two fingers almost together*) to starting a firm of your own, you have come to the right place. In this blog post, I will reflect on some characteristics I have seen successful entrepreneurs display over and over, so let’s jump right in!
Entrepreneurial Characteristic 1: Self-Validation
There is a special type of calm that you see in entrepreneurs, who have been in business long enough that they know it is for them, they are in the right place, and it brings them joy to show up on working days to do the required things.
My main conclusion is that this stems in self-validation. Sure, it is wonderful to get positive feedback from customers and others around us, but a key component has to be to seek one’s own approval mainly.
Asking for others to continuously validate us and the decisions we make is a recipe for mediocrity in business. And we certainly don’t want that, but a firm that flourishes in our care!
Entrepreneurial Characteristic 2: Life-Long Learning
Due to the sheer volume of constant changes in website platforms, social-media platforms, marketing tactics, laws and regulations, and much more, typically a successful entrepreneur spends at least some of their working hours on life-long learning.
It is in the interest of both firm and owner for new skills to be acquired whenever the need arises, and old ones to be freshened up the same way.
Sometimes what holds a potentially very successful entrepreneur back is their unwillingness to learn new things, or rephrased, change.
It is normal for us humans to want to stay in the comfort zone, but if you ask anyone who ever created something big whether they felt comfortable at all times during the whole process, I can guarantee that almost 100% say they faced various challenges and felt discomfort at some point along their journeys.
Arming ourselves with knowledge is the best way to move forward in business.
Entrepreneurial Characteristic 3: Patience
A successful firm isn’t built overnight. Another truth that may suck to hear is there are no quick fixes. We may slap on a quick fix resembling a bandaid, but if the arm is broken, a surgeon’s help is needed to mend the fracture. Always be prepared to dig deeper.
What is an appropriate timespan then? Usually it isn’t months or even a year, but longer than that.
It also depends on factors like industry, location, market size, product and/or service, and whether you are willing to build a website in more than one language.
These things take time to not only figure out but implement as well, and then we found ourselves amidst a pandemic, which was the mother of all curveballs. A pro tip for that is to engage in risk management aka “expect the unexpected”. If it isn’t a virus, it can be the imperialists or fascists that refuse to play nice like normal, well-rounded and mature individuals, who invest time and energy is continuous personal growth.
I am no fan of doomsday scenarios, but I am also suspicious enough about immature fellow human beings that I can’t in good conscience leave unmentioned the simple tool that risk management is for a business owner. Just do it, you never know how the geopolitical scene can change over night.
In fact I contemplated whether to call this third and final major characteristic, typical in successful entrepreneurs, patience or perseverance. In my opinion, this whole section is as much about being patient as it is about choosing to persevere month after month and year after year.
Wrapping Up
I always say that entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart, but on the other hand it can be one of the most exciting and rewarding career choices we make. What you want from it and how you choose to shape it is totally up to you, which at the same time is both daunting and wholesome.
I wish you many successes in business in this new year 2025 and hope you will want to share your journey with us in some way!
Photo credit: Steve Johnson.
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