Studies have shown that successful entrepreneurs possess these characteristics:
1. Self-confidence
This is that magical power of having confidence in oneself and in one's powers and abilities.
2. Achievement Oriented
Results
are gained by focused and sustained effort. They concentrate on
achieving a specific goal, not just accomplishing a string of unrelated
tasks.
3. Risk Taker
They realize that there is a chance
of loss inherent in achieving their goals, yet they have the confidence
necessary to take calculated risks to achieve their goals.
Entrepreneurs
are people who will make decisions, take action, and think that they
can control their own destinies. They are often motivated by a spirit of
independence which leads them to believe that their success depends on
raw effort and hard work, not luck.
So which of these three main
characteristics is the most important? Believe it or not, it has to be
self-confidence. Without self-confidence, nothing else is possible. If
you don't believe in your abilities, then the first challenge that
arises may knock you off the path to achieving your goals. Here are a
few things to keep in mind for maintaining a higher level of
self-confidence.
Positive Thinking
Well, it all starts
with a positive attitude, doesn't it? Believing that something good will
happen is the first step. Negative thinking simply is not allowed. You
must truly believe that there are no circumstances strong enough to
deter you from reaching your goals. Remember too, that positive thinking
can be contagious. When positive thinking spreads, it can open doors to
new ideas, customers, friends, etc.
Persistent Action
Now
all of the positive thinking and believing in the world is useless if
it is not applied towards a goal. You have to take action, no excuses
are allowed. This action must also be persistent. Trying once and then
giving up is not going to be enough. Keep at it one step at a time. If
you can't get by a certain step, then find a creative way to try again
or just go around it.
At the beginning of this article we
identified a few traits that are common among successful entrepreneurs.
You should be able to look ahead and see yourself where you want to be.
Now just maintain a strong belief in yourself and your skills, stick
with it, and don't give up. If you can do that, you're already half way
there!