Are you an Entrepreneur?
Entrepreneurship can be defined in many ways and though ultimately the phrase relates to the design, launch and running of a new or collection of businesses, the qualities and actions of a natural entrepreneur tend to follow a certain pattern of similarities, which carry that person through not just in business, but in their life as a whole...
Are you an Entrepreneur?
Take The Test...
(tick as appropriate)
1. You have always been driven, self motivated and hardworking.
2. You’ve worked for employers in jobs that you have excelled at and climbed the ladder fast, never happy sitting in the same position and if a job didn't offer the chance to climb the ladder, you have moved on.
3. Whilst employed you've chuntered to yourself on numerous occasions , that you could do a much better job at running the company than your current boss.
4. You are always looking at ways to ‘monetise’ EVERYTHING!
5. Day to day imperfect matters irritate you - for example- spelling mistakes on restaurant menus, weak hand- shakes, non satisfactory customer service etc...you spend the next half an hour ranting to whoever will listen (or yourself) about how unacceptable it is and how you would do it differently.
6. You don’t mind working long, unsociable hours and powering on working just to get this last task tied up, even when your mates are off to the pub.
7. Although your mind set lends you to have the motivation to work hard to create the life for you and what's important to you (e.g your family/children/future etc- tick where appropriate), you are fully aware that those aspects are your priority, therefore you take time out for those over and above any business related task and are ultimately aware of your priorities.
8. You get a kick out of watching television shows like Dragons Den and The Apprentice, if only to confirm that you indeed have more potential than all of the candidates put together.
9. You love hearing about new business ideas and meeting new people, often finding yourself offering unofficial and unpaid business advice (though it does cross your mind on occasion to invoice said individual, though you realise charging your Auntie Margaret for advice on how to best start up her cake business may be deemed a little harsh) and equally you are known in your circle of contacts to be a reliable source of information to those seeking advice..and you secretly love that.
10. You listen to Ted Talks through your head phones whilst as gym/walking/sunbathing.
11. 'Enjoying' what you do for a living is extremely important to you.
12. You measure success in profit not turnover.
13. You also measure success in the level of satisfaction/enjoyment/self-expectation met.
14. Your aim is to work your business around your lifestyle rather than the other way around- because you know your priorities.
15. You see problem solving as a challenge rather than an obstacle.
16. You are not afraid of failure, all the greats have failed at least once before making it.
17. You have at least one hero in the business world that inspires you, whose quotes you have on your phone wallpaper/office wall/PC screensaver.
18. You use real life tough experiences to spur you on rather than hinder your progression- after all its who you are and what has built your character.
19. You thrive on criticism and use it as a way of driving you further forward- ‘There is no better revenge than success’.
20. Procrastination is one of your biggest irritations.
21. You can’t wait to get up in the morning to start work- every day is different.
22. You invest in 'you' to self develop- booking onto workshops/seminars/courses that you know will take you higher- because you know 'you' are your biggest asset.
23. You find yourself thinking about new business ideas/ways to improve current systems and infrastructures - A lot.
24. Sleeping is a barrier toward your goal and you cannot wait to get up to see what the day will bring- but you are aware that you need it in order to be as productive as possible and you are aware that taking care of yourself is equally as important to be the best you can be (yoga/gym/meditation/nutrition).
25. You can’t ever envisage working ‘for’ someone again once you've had a taste of self-employed life and that is all the motivation you need to build your empire and make things happen.
How many did you identify with?
Fiona Duncan, RSViP Business Network