The Qualities Of A Successful Entrepreneur.

Frequently, I am asked what the most important qualities are that an entrepreneur must possess to be successful. I thought about this question and then considered the great entrepreneurs of our country and concluded very quickly that the following three characteristics are the common ground of all successful entrepreneurs. (There are more but these few stand out for me):

1. They believe… in themselves, and that they can do the impossible. There are no barriers they cannot overcome. Both are required as nothing is more speculative then believing your dreams and then implementing a plan to succeed. That’s entrepreneurship at its best.

Some of our greatest entrepreneurs definitely believed they could do the impossible—George Washington and Steve Jobs to name two. But even the entrepreneur who wants to open a pizza shop must believe in himself and his mission. To him, this is just as difficult as developing the computer because the entrepreneur creates something real out of his dreams. I call this “modern day alchemy.”

2. Tenacity. the entrepreneur must be willing to try, try and try again if at first he does not succeed. There are so many stories of unprecidented tenacity, the willingness to do it again because you have the vision and will not let go. The entrepreneur never gives up.

3. Commitment. Total, complete, unwavering, a will-do attitude, a no-problem attitude, an I-can’t-fail attitude. This is critical for the success of any small business entrepreneur.

Believe you can succeed.

Be tenacious. Never stop going up to bat. Failure is a learning experience one benefits from, not a defeat.

Be committed. Never give up, success is the only option.

This is my definition and observation of what an entrepreneur needs to win.