Since the first days humans walked this planet there have been entrepreneurs. This distinguished and relatively small group has been responsible for improving the lives of billions of people over thousands of years. From the creation of the wheel 5,500 years ago to the creation of the world wide web in 1989, entrepreneurs have consistently pushed boundaries and overcome seemingly impossible obstacles. While an entrepreneur from 3200 B.C. Mesopotamia is certainly different from our modern day entrepreneur heroes like Elon Musk and Richard Branson, they do have several things in common. Below are 15 characteristics all great entrepreneurs have in common; from Henry Ford and Benjamin Franklin to Steve Jobs and Oprah Winfrey.
- Great entrepreneurs are driven by purpose, not money
- Great entrepreneurs focus on their goals, not their critics
- Great entrepreneurs always find the yes
- Great entrepreneurs are addicted to success and allergic to failure
- Great entrepreneurs out-grind, out-hustle and out-work everyone
- Great entrepreneurs think outside the box
- Great entrepreneurs dream big, but always hustle harder
- Great entrepreneurs are innovators, leaders, risk takers and are typically at least 2% crazy
- Great entrepreneurs work hard for years to become overnight successes
- Great entrepreneurs stop talking and start doing
- Great entrepreneurs fail Song the way because they took risks, not because they didn’t
- Great entrepreneurs always have an exit strategy
- Great entrepreneurs live their startup and work 24/7
- Great entrepreneurs are able to take their startup out of the red and into the black
- Great entrepreneurs are turned on by innovation
Whether you’re a one person shop, or part of a larger fabric, if you’re in this room you have an entrepreneurial inclination. Allow these principles to ground and guide you.
Working both hard and smart can pave the way to a bright future. One we can be proud of and enjoy.
One that can make all the difference.
