Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur?
July 18, 2016
John Robitaille
Success, Leadership and Communication
Over the past several years I’ve been coaching and mentoring college student entrepreneurs with ventures ranging from t-shirt businesses to fairly sophisticated technologies.
Quite frankly, many of the ideas I’ve seen are half-baked. However, some are exciting and unique ideas proven to be worthy of further resources and vetting. But having a good idea doesn’t make you an entrepreneur.
Some argue entrepreneurship can be taught, while others strongly believe that entrepreneurs are born with high levels of independence, restlessness and drive. I think it’s a matter of both.
Now, I’m not a behavioral scientist; just an observer of human behavior who’s worked with over 450 would-be student entrepreneurs while at the Johnson & Wales University Larry Friedman International Center for Entrepreneurship. And, it’s been one of the most interesting jobs I’ve had in my rather lengthy and diverse career.
Having spent some time in the military, the business world, politics and now in higher education, I’ve had the opportunity to observe people at work from many perspectives. Clearly, entrepreneurs are a different lot, and the successful ones all seem to possess certain common traits.
Entrepreneurs are driven and passionate people who never reach a final destination.
They’re restless, even when they achieve things others only dream about.
They’re curious, focused, stubborn risk-takers who have no patience or tolerance for irrelevant policies, procedures or bureaucrats.
They’re mavericks who question everything.
They’re life-long learners.
They have the ability to accept failure as a learning experience, pivot and carry on.
Entrepreneurship is a way of life for the fearless and the curious. And, the only way to find out if you have what it takes is to experience it. So go ahead, you might just enjoy it.
Source: LinkedIn
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