Attributes, qualities, and characteristics of an entrepreneur

ATTRIBUTES, QUALITIES, AND CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ENTREPRENEUR

Attributes, Qualities, and Characteristics of an

Entrepreneur The Entrepreneur According to Schumpeter (1950), an

entrepreneur is a person who is willing and able to convert a new idea or invention into a successful innovation.

Schumpeter is also famous for the phrase “creative destruction”


Entrepreneur The Entrepreneur Webster’s – someone who runs a

business at his or her own financial risk

An entrepreneur is a person who undertakes the creation of an enterprise or business that has the chance of profit (or success).


Entrepreneur Who is the Entrepreneur?• Somebody who has IDEAS and

makes these ideas happen or come to life.

• Must have some BUSINESS SKILLS (ideation, creativity & innovation)

• Somebody who ASSUMES RISKS• Desires to MAKE PROFIT


Entrepreneur The Role of an Entrepreneur:1. Entrepreneurs are innovators They observe an opportunity. They create new goods and services. They improve existing products.


Entrepreneur The Role of an Entrepreneur:2. Entrepreneurs provide choice They add goods and services to the

marketplace. They offer variety. They design different approaches to

familiarproblems.


Entrepreneur The Role of an Entrepreneur:3. Entrepreneurs provide jobs They hire workers for their

businesses. They consume resources, thus

providing jobs inthe industries that supply those

resources.


Entrepreneur The Role of an Entrepreneur:4. Entrepreneurs help the

economy grow.

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Why Become an Entrepreneur?

The three primary reasons that people become entrepreneurs and start their own firms

Desire to be their own boss

Financial rewards

Desire to pursue theirown ideas

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Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs1 of 3

Four Primary Characteristics

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Passion for the Business The number one characteristic shared by successful

entrepreneurs is a passion for the business. This passion typically stems from the entrepreneur’s belief

that the business will positively influence people’s lives. Product/Customer Focus

A second defining characteristic of successful entrepreneurs is a product/customer focus.

An entrepreneur’s keen focus on products and customers typically stems from the fact that most entrepreneurs are, at heart, craftspeople.

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Tenacity Despite Failure Because entrepreneurs are typically trying something new,

the failure rate is naturally high. A defining characteristic for successful entrepreneurs’ is

their ability to persevere through setbacks and failures. Execution Intelligence

The ability to fashion a solid business idea into a viable business is a key characteristic of successful entrepreneurs.


Entrepreneur The Qualities of an Entrepreneur:1. Inner Drive to Succeed

Entrepreneurs are driven to succeed and expand their business. They see the bigger picture and are often very ambitious. Entrepreneurs set massive goals for themselves and stay committed to achieving them regardless of the obstacles that get in the way.


Entrepreneur The Qualities of an Entrepreneur:2. Strong Belief in themselves

Successful entrepreneurs have a healthy opinion of themselves and often have a strong and assertive personality. They are focused and determined to achieve their goals and believe completely in their ability to achieve them. Their self optimism can often been seen by others as flamboyance or arrogance but entrepreneurs are just too focused to spend too much time thinking about un-constructive criticism.


Entrepreneur The Qualities of an Entrepreneur:3. Search for New Ideas and

InnovationAll entrepreneurs have a passionate desire to do things better and to improve their products or service. They are constantly looking for ways to improve. They're creative, innovative and resourceful.


Entrepreneur The Qualities of an Entrepreneur:4. Openness to Change

If something is not working for them they simply change. Entrepreneurs know the importance of keeping on top of their industry and the only way to being number one is to evolve and change with the times. They're up to date with the latest technology or service techniques and are always ready to change if they see a new opportunity arise.


Entrepreneur The Qualities of an

Entrepreneur:5. Competitive by Nature

Successful entrepreneurs thrive on competition. The only way to reach their goals and live up to their self imposed high standards is to compete with other successful businesses.


Entrepreneur The Qualities of an Entrepreneur:6. Highly Motivated and Energetic

Entrepreneurs are always on the move, full of energy and highly motivated. They are driven to succeed and have an abundance of self motivation. The high standards and ambition of many entrepreneurs demand that they have to be motivated!


Entrepreneur The Qualities of an Entrepreneur:7. Accepting of Constructive Criticism and

RejectionInnovative entrepreneurs are often at the forefront of their industry so they hear the words "it can't be done" quite a bit. They readjust their path if the criticism is constructive and useful to their overall plan, otherwise they will simply disregard the comments as pessimism. Also, the best entrepreneurs know that rejection and obstacles are a part of any leading business and they deal with them appropriately.

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Types of Entrepreneurs

Novice Entrepreneur Has no prior business ownership

experiences as a business founder, inheritor, or purchaser

Habitual Entrepreneur Has prior business ownership experience

Nascent Entrepreneur In the process of starting a new business Can be either a novice or a habitual

entrepreneur

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Types of Entrepreneurs (cont’d)

Serial Entrepreneur Has sold or closed an original business

and establishes another new business Continues the cycle of selling/closing

and establishing Portfolio Entrepreneur

Retains an original business and builds a portfolio of additional businessesThrough inheriting, establishing, and

purchasing the businesses

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Common Myths About Entrepreneurs1 of 5

Myth 1: Entrepreneurs Are Born Not Made This myth is based on the mistaken belief that some people

are genetically predisposed to be entrepreneurs. The consensus of many studies is that no one is “born” to

be an entrepreneur; everyone has the potential to become one.

Whether someone does or doesn’t become an entrepreneur, is a function of the environment, life experiences, and personal choices.

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Although no one is “born” to be an entrepreneur, there are common traits and characteristics of successful entrepreneurs

• Achievement motivated

• Alert to opportunities

• Creative

• Decisive

• Energetic

• Has a strong work ethic

• Is a moderate risk taker

• Is a networker

• Lengthy attention span

• Optimistic disposition

• Persuasive

• Promoter

• Resource assembler/leverager

• Self-confident

• Self-starter

• Tenacious

• Tolerant of ambiguity

• Visionary

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Myth 2: Entrepreneurs Are Gamblers Most entrepreneurs are moderate risk takers. The idea that entrepreneurs are gamblers originates from

two sources: Entrepreneurs typically have jobs that are less structured, and so

they face a more uncertain set of possibilities than people in traditional jobs.

Many entrepreneurs have a strong need to achieve and set challenging goals, a behavior that is often equated with risk taking.

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Myth 3: Entrepreneurs Are Motivated Primarily by Money. While it is naïve to think that entrepreneurs don’t seek

financial rewards, money is rarely the reason entrepreneurs start new firms.

In fact, some entrepreneurs warn that the pursuit of money can be distracting.

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Myth 4: Entrepreneurs Should Be Young and Energetic. The most active age for business ownership is 35 to 45

years old. While it is important to be energetic, investors often cite

the strength of the entrepreneur as their most important criteria in making investment decisions. What makes an entrepreneur “strong” in the eyes of an investor is

experience, maturity, a solid reputation, and a track record of success.

These criteria favor older rather than younger entrepreneurs.

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Attributes, qualities, and characteristics of an entrepreneur