Is Entrepreneurial Spirit Unique To A Few People

Why do some people seem to have an unending entrepreneurial spirit, while others appear to have none at all? Doesn't everyone want, on some level, to be their own boss and control their own destiny? Can anyone become a successful entrepreneur?

The answers to these questions and similar questions may surprise you.

Does everyone have an entrepreneurial spirit?

At a very basic level, yes. Nearly everyone dreams of owning their own business at some point in their lives. Perhaps they are attracted by the apparent freedom or glamour that comes with being a business owner, or perhaps they genuinely want to build something of value and take on the responsibility of developing a successful business.

Can everyone turn his or her entrepreneurial spirit into a successful business?

No. This is a harsh truth that some people do not like to hear or face, but it is the underlying reason why some entrepreneurs succeed while others fail. It is simply not enough to have the desire to own a business. You must be realistic about the amount of work and time it takes to be successful, and be willing to truly commit to performing that amount of work.

How do I know if I can be successful?

The easy answer is that you will never know until you really try, but that is a risky premise on which to base a huge life decision like starting a business. While no entrepreneur is ever assured of being successful, there are some personal characteristics that successful business owners tend to have in common. These include:

• Willingness to work hard and focus on the business 24/7
• Enough self discipline to work when there is no "boss" around
• Understanding that success comes over time, not overnight
• Ability to deal with the very real risk of failure
• Realistic view of all aspects (good and bad) of owning a business
• Strong, burning, nearly all-consuming desire to own a business

What if I'm not sure?

Most business experts will tell you that if you are not sure about starting a business then you are not ready to start a business. In general, this is true, but remember that there is a fine line between genuine uncertainty and simply letting your fear stop you from doing something that is very important to you. It takes honest self-evaluation and some deep soul- searching to determine which of these is true for you.

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