Entrepreneurs are many types of people. Successful entrepreneurs come in various ages, income levels, genders, and races. They have different types of education and experience, and come from different cultures and countries. But research shows that most successful entrepreneurs share certain personality traits, including creativity, dedication, determination, flexibility, leadership, passion, self-confidence, and “smarts.” Creativity This drives the development of new products or services. It makes the entrepreneur improve constantly. It is learning, asking questions, and thinking in new ways. Dedication This makes the entrepreneur work hard, 12 hours a day or more, often seven days a week, especially in the beginning. Planning and ideas must have support from hard work to succeed. Determination You really want to succeed. If something bad happens, you don't give up. Determination persuades the entrepreneur to make another phone call, or knock on another door. For the true entrepreneur, money is the reward, but seeing the product or service actually work is more exciting. Flexibility The ability to move quickly when things change. An entrepreneur should be ready to modify his or her original idea if customers push for something else. Leadership The ability to create rules and set goals. Good leaders finish everything they start and make sure everyone follows the rules. Passion This is what gives entrepreneurs energy. Passionate entrepreneurs can convince others to believe in their idea. Passion helps entrepreneurs stay focused and gets others to take their plans seriously. Self-confidence Comes from planning, experience, and what you know. Self-confident entrepreneurs can listen to others without giving up their own point of view. “Smarts” This is an American term. It describes skills based on common sense and intelligence. Common sense gives a person good instincts; intelligence makes him or her an expert. Many people have smarts but don't recognize them. For example, a person who successfully keeps a family budget has organizational and financial skills. Employment, education, and life experience all contribute to smarts. Every entrepreneur has some of these qualities. If he or she doesn't, he or she can hire someone who has them. The most important thing is to be aware of your strengths and to build on them. Jeanne Holden is a freelance writer with expertise in economic issues. She worked as a writer-editor in the US Information Agency for 17 years. This article has been contributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, US Department of State
