Entrepreneurship is an interesting journey that requires a confident spirit and series of traits. It is an act and I think I should put up this short article. Here are my top list of traits that make successful entrepreneurs.
1. Planning
There’s a lot of talk about “P” words: passion, perseverance, and persistence. I mistrust all three.
A lot of unsuccessful entrepreneurs have these traits as well. You have to have some variation on them, but you can have all three and still fail. You and I both know people who never made it—and never stopped trying, either. My favorite “P” word in entrepreneurship is “planning,” it is the first and most important business management process. .
2. Empathy
As in, understanding how other people think and feel about things. Empathy leads to understanding what the people you sell to want, what they need, how they think, and how to best reach them. It’s hard to imagine somebody building a company without being able to put themselves in the buyer’s state of mind.
3. A sense of fairness
For dealing with vendors, customers, and employees, a successful entrepreneur needs to be able to be fair with those they do business with.
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4. Transferable values
This is closely related to the sense of fairness. I just don’t see people building businesses without believing in what they’re doing.
5. Willingness to work hard
Entrepreneurs need the ability to work shoulder to shoulder with other people. Cliched, but true: The harder you work, the luckier you get.
6. Knowing what they don’t know
To me, that’s much more important than what you do know. Understanding your own self, your weaknesses and where your strengths lie is one of the key traits of a successful entrepreneur.
7. Listening carefully
It’s important to listen carefully. When necessary, sometimes you need to shut up.
8. Vision for what they can build
Imagining a happy future. Dreaming. Successful entrepreneurs need to have a solid vision of success. That vision is the driving force and it gives a sense of direction.
9. Making mistakes
You have to deal with failure. Keep pitching. Successful entrepreneurs are not afraid of failure, they see failure as part of the process and they try as much as possible to get up when they fall and learn.
10. Jumping viewpoints
From short to long-term in an instant, and mixing those viewpoints together. It’s like dribbling—keeping your eyes up while managing the ball at your feet.
11. Do what you enjoy
If you’re starting a business for the money, you may be in it for the wrong reasons. Make sure you are doing what you truly enjoy. Entrepreneurs that are successful have something in common – passion.
12. Take what you do seriously
Start your business soberly, with intention. Take it seriously.
13. Plan everything
It doesn’t have to be a formal business plan; a lean plan or an internal plan can work fine. What kind of plan you choose depends on your business and the needs of your company—but you need a plan regardless of what your goals and intentions are.
14. Manage money wisely
Good businesses have failed based on lack of cash which is not the same as being profitable. To be successful, you need to learn how to manage your money. The way up is the way down. Successful entrepreneurs have always been accountable for the cash flow and expenses incurred by their business.
15. Ask for the sale
You can’t wait for everything to come to you. You need to be assertive and actually ask people to buy what you are selling. After giving value, all you need to do is sell too.
16. Remember, it’s all about the customer
To be a successful entrepreneur, it’s important to sell something that your customers actually want. Knowing your customers well is key here.
17. Become a shameless self-promoter (without becoming obnoxious)
More often than not, you are not going to be discovered out of the blue. You need to promote your business and make people find out about it yourself.
18. Project a positive business image
You may only have a single opportunity to convince your customers to try your product or service. Developing a solid business rand is key to being successful.
19. Get to know your customers
If you can personalize your business, you set yourself apart from the competition. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can just put out a great product and leave it at that.
20. Level the playing field with technology
Successful entrepreneurs utilize the technology available to them. What technology is out there that can make running your business easier? Leveraging available technology to your advantage can make the difference between a run-of-the-mill small business, and one that can stand up to bigger competitors.
21. Create a competitive advantage
If you think you don’t have any competition, you’re wrong. All businesses have competition. The question is, what do you do better than your competition?
22. Invest in yourself
To become an expert, you need to invest time and energy into learning as much as you can about your industry, and become as skilled as possible.
23. Be accessible
Make it easy for people to buy and use (and also ideally afford) your product. Don’t make it challenging for people to do business with you.
24. Build a rock-solid reputation
To be a successful entrepreneur, your customers, investors, and those in your industry need to be able to trust you. Don’t ever give them a reason not to.
25. Sell benefits
You aren’t just selling a product or service. You are selling what your product or service does better than anyone else.
26. Get involved
Become a fixture in your community, whether online or in your local community (or both). Make yourself a voice in your industry.
27. Grab attention
You may only have one chance to convince someone that your business is worth a second glance.
28. Master the art of negotiations
No question about it: You will have to negotiate at some point in your business career. It’s a good skill to get down early.