A lot of people nurture that dream of dumping the corporate world, with all its regimen and frustrations, and venturing out on their own to run the business of their choice. But the entrepreneurial world is also fraught with challenges, so how do you know if it’s for you?
To help you decide, I’ve put together some of the characteristics which I’ve found distinguish the entrepreneur from the rest of us. There is no good or bad here, just different mindsets. So take a minute, put aside your fantasies, and take a hard look at who you really are. If you recognize yourself in many of these quotes, you will not be happy as an entrepreneur:
1. “I like my life structured with clear decision criteria.” Entrepreneurs do not function well in structured organizations and do not like someone having authority over them. Most believe they can do the job better than anyone else and will strive for maximum responsibility and accountability.
2. “Handling problems causes me stress and pressure.” Entrepreneurs are comfortable in stress situations, and are challenged rather than discouraged by setbacks. They may actually be uncomfortable when things are going well, and are not troubled by ambiguity and uncertainty because they are used to solving problems.
3. “My job is fun when everyone knows and does their job.” The best entrepreneurs enjoy the challenge of an undefined role, and enjoy the learning process as much as success. It’s even better when they can inspire and energize others to do things that have never been done before.
4. “I like to put my mistakes behind me and never think about them again.” Entrepreneurs accept things as they are and deal with them accordingly. They are quick to learn from their failures. They may or may not be idealistic, but they are seldom unrealistic. They want to know the status of a given situation at all times.
5. “Balance and family are important in my life.” Entrepreneurs may devote a disproportionate time to the business. During tough business periods, they will concentrate their energies on business operations, and may stay on the job for extended periods of time. Even at home or at social events, the business is always top of mind.
6. “It didn’t get done today, but there’s always tomorrow.” Entrepreneurs have a never-ending sense of urgency to develop their ideas. Inactivity makes them impatient, tense, and uneasy. They have drive and high energy levels, they are achievement-oriented, and they are tireless in the pursuit of their goals.
7. “That’s not my job.” Successful entrepreneurs can comprehend complex situations that may include planning, making strategic decisions, and working on multiple business ideas simultaneously. They are farsighted and aware of important details, and they will continuously review all possibilities to achieve their business objectives.
8. “I love to get awards for my efforts.” Entrepreneurs find satisfaction in symbols of success that are external to themselves. They like the business they have built to be praised, but they are often embarrassed by praise directed at them personally.
9. “I get frustrated when things don’t work.” Entrepreneurs have a “never, never, never quit” attitude. They are self-confident when they are in control of what they’re doing and working alone. Most are at their best in the face of adversity, since they thrive on their own self-confidence.
10. “Risk and uncertainty cause me to lose too much sleep.” Some of the best entrepreneurs talk about the highs they get from taking a big risk, and the euphoria they feel when they beat the odds. They live for these feelings.
If you are an employee, and you recognize your boss in the quotes, you probably are not a happy employee. If you recognize your CEO or business founder in the quotes, then your business is probably failing. That’s how important it is for the right people to be in the right category.
In my experience, the most unhappy people are the ones who clearly fit in one category, but for various reasons believe they need to be in the other one (entitlement, more money, more prestige, family pressures).
My message to you is do what you enjoy. Life is too short for the alternative.
This is a guest post by Marty Zwilling. Marty is the founder of startupprofessionals.com and for years has provided entrepreneurs with first-hand advice, mentoring and business plan assistance, as a startup consultant. Marty is a member of the Arizona Angels Venture Group, Inc., the Arizona State University Technopolis program, and on the Advisory Board for several startups.