This is a guest post from Joel who is a Certified Financial Planner™, the owner of 4 different companies, a self professed Internet nerd, and currently working on many different web projects that range from a site for comparing health insurance to a site that helps people backup websites online.
Do you think that you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Do you sometimes get the urge to launch out on your own and be your own boss? In fact, do you not just “get the urge” every once in a while to become an entrepreneur but do you find yourself constantly wishing that you were out on your own as your current job just is not fulfilling?
As the owner of 4 different companies and a serial entrepreneur myself it seems that I am only satisfied when I am acting as my own boss and constantly creating any number of new projects that recently include a website for comparing car insurance companies to a website for reading credit card reviews to any other number of web related projects that strike up my interest (and even a BMI calculator website that I am somewhat ashamed to say told me that I am overweight – yes, my own website told me that I need to lose weight!).
Here are 10 statements that you can ask yourself as a true/false question as part of my 100% unscientific officially unofficial “Entrepreneur’s Test”. Let’s see how you do:
10 Statements: Are They True for You?
#1 I believe that I am firmly in control of my own future success or failure (TRUE/FALSE).
#2 I enjoy tackling projects where there is a high level of ambiguity as to the exact methods for successful accomplishment and I do well even if I do not receive clear direction from someone else (TRUE/FALSE).
#3 I have no qualms about breaking from the established pattern or traditional way of doing things (TRUE/FALSE).
#4 When I am interested in something I am 100% focused on whatever that “thing” is (TRUE/FALSE).
#5 I consider myself someone who can “get things done” even if it requires a high level of creative problem solving ability (TRUE/FALSE).
#6 I love to learn new things. I am constantly reading new books, asking questions, and trying to further my knowledge in certain areas that I am interested in (TRUE/FALSE).
#7 I tend to be aggressive about certain things (not physically). I am very competitive about certain things that hold my interest (TRUE/FALSE).
#8 I like to push myself and do new things even if it means that I have to step out of my comfort zone and even go through a somewhat scary/uncertain/pressure filled situation (TRUE/FALSE).
#9 I could be considered a risk taker and maybe even impulsive to a certain degree. I am willing to jump right in to an opportunity that I see without letting the fear of the unknown hold me back (TRUE/FALSE).
#10 I love to be considered and expert, a problem solver, the “go to” person, someone who can do what others can’t, someone who can meet a certain need, etc. (TRUE/FALSE).
How Most Entrepreneurs Would Answer
If you answered “TRUE” to the 10 statements above then you are almost certainly cut out to be a natural entrepreneur. Yes, everyone is different and people of all types of personalities can be successful entrepreneurs but for the most part those people who answer “TRUE” to most or all of the statements above fit well into the mold of entrepreneur.
What Do YOU Think?
How did you do on the quick, down and dirty “Entrepreneur Test” above?
Do you think that the above test is an accurate barometer of the characteristics of most entrepreneurs?
Do you think that entrepreneurs in different life stages or in different industries require different personality traits or differing degrees of personality traits to become successful?
Note from Austin: I’ve mentioned my interest in entrepreneurship a couple times on this blog, and in detail with my post about my textbook side hustle in college. I still find myself answering FALSE to a couple of the T/F questions, so don’t be discouraged if you didn’t get the answers you wanted. It may just be that you need to find your right niche that propels you to do something entrepreneurial in your life. Explore the world around you, and see what peaks your interest.
Photo: Photos8.com
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It’s one thing to answer yes to the questions, it is another to take action.
If you really do have a passion, at some point you have to pull a Nike!
.-= LeanLifeCoach´s last blog ..5 Ways People Waste Money =-.
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Austin Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 8:25 pm
No doubt LLC, but everyone needs a little inspiration sometimes!
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I passed the test with flying colors, but unfortunately I’m in no position personally or financially to make the leap. Blogging is about as close as I’m going to get for a while.
.-= David @ MBA briefs´s last blog ..Not-so-bad news is the new good news =-.
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Austin Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
Hey, nothing wrong with that. No one said being an entrepreneur was the pinnacle of life but at least you’re considering your options.
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Austin-
This is REALLY well done.
I found myself nodding and appreciating every one of these. More importantly, something I try to do EVERY day.
-David
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Austin Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Thanks for the kind words, David! You have some awesome videos over at your site, keep up the solid work, my friend!
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I love reading a list like this that has me nodding vigorously and cheering by the end~! A resounding, TRUE to each…and I’ma likein’ where I’ma gonin’~!
BUT…I’ve been this way always. New day, new adventure. Suits me.
This will be a fun list to share with others also…see different reactions, like you say…we’re all different. I’m going to link this in my FB notes…see where it takes us…
Thanks~!
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Austin Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Awesome, Eureka! Such a great comment, thanks for sharing.
I love this post and think it suits the undiscovered entrepreneur best. A lot of people don’t even realize that working for yourself is an option, but if this post can cause a mental stir, then perfect!
Thanks again for stopping by; LOVE your enthusiasm!
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Good post, entrepreneurs certainly have a lot of the above in common. The main thing is ‘getting things done’. All the right attitude is great, without action it is just talk.
.-= Entrepreneurs Blog´s last blog ..The Entrepreneur and Choosing a Team =-.
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Austin Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Definitely. I find with my blog it’s sometimes difficult to get the fire started on certain days. Entrepreneurs have to be able to GO every day w/ no exceptions.
I’m glad an Entrepreneur Blog signed off on this post. I guess I picked a good one!
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Eureka Janet Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 12:41 am
May I add to your statement that ‘entrepreneurs have to be able to Go every day w/no exceptions’?
I absolutely agree. and I equate this with being an artist. As an artist you must constantly be creating. If you find you are struggling to create…change directions for a bit. Don’t change tracks…just point yourself in a new direction to kick up your juices.
For instance, I was struggling to write a White Paper concerning an aspect of my latest business. I was painfully stuck. Couldn’t get through a point. I stalled for several days. Seriously ugly. Then I had the idea to make a video explaining the subject. I turned it from a solely written act to a physical one. It worked perfectly.
The fact is I may never use that video. But it got my brain switched into a different space where I was able to ‘see’ what I needed to define in the paper.
Thanks again…and *cheers~!
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Austin Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 8:29 am
Sometimes a change of scenery or looking at a problem in a different light is the best solution.
Thanks for sharing, Eureka.
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I wavered on question #1. Rarely is everything we build up solely from our blood, sweat and tears. Instead, we often stand on the shoulders of others without realizing it. Luck — that’s a topic by itself.
What we do have control over is how we react to success and failure. If you fail, do you pick yourself off the floor and try again? If you succeed, do you keep your ego in check and keep doing all the little things necessary to maintain success?
.-= MossySF´s last blog ..Tour group vacations =-.
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Thanks! This test gave me the confirmation I needed. I have always been a bit different and this test confirmed that I am who I am. The true me. I guess I am a secret entrepreneurial dreamer. I so want to start new business’ and new types of non-profits. I have just started to follow my ‘sparkles’ to write business-books (the first step in my plan) and it is so scary to step into the business-world,( somehow it just feels like the ‘business-people’ have a secret society of some sort; ). Anyway, I am rambling here, sorry.
Thanks, again. I needed this. Oh, and have just started to learn Japanese, so funny language.
Best wishes and all good luck, Everine
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