It
seems that in today’s society, being an entrepreneur makes you some
sort of rockstar. The title itself has an appeal that makes anyone
and everyone with an idea suddenly want to call themselves an
entrepreneur.
But
being a true entrepreneur is not an easy road. Most entrepreneurs
have made money – and lost money. It's normal to have had struggles
and successes. The question is whether you have the DNA to see it
through, or if you feel compelled to stick with a secure office job
as soon as your first venture idea fails. And honestly, there’s
nothing wrong with that -- entrepreneurship isn't for everyone.
Here
are five indicators that will help you determine whether the
tough road of entrepreneurship is right for you.
1. You struggle to learn without hands-on experience.
A
very common theme I have found among my entrepreneurial network is
that the vast majority of entrepreneurs learn by doing. This is why
you hear about successful entrepreneurs failing out of school. Not
because they wanted to prove a point, but because the school
environment did not serve them. They weren’t learning anything from
someone else talking at them.
The
need to get your hands dirty is a crucial trait of an entrepreneur.
2. You are patiently impatient.
Kids
with entrepreneurial spirits often get labeled as being “impatient.”
They can’t sit still. They have low attention spans. But as these
kids get older, they develop what is better described as the ability
to be “patiently impatient.” They don’t want to slow down --
and they shouldn’t. But they also are very good at waiting for the
right time to pull the trigger on decisions.
If
you can be both at the same time -- patiently impatient -- then you
are right where you need to be.
3. You don’t take “no” for an answer.
There
is a difference between being obnoxiously persistent and humbly
persistent. The people who get told “no” and refuse to
acknowledge helpful feedback are grandiose dreamers, not grounded in
reality. But the people who get told “no” and then take the time
to listen, learn, adjust and keep moving forward possess a true gift
for persistence.
4. You like to "own" your work.
One
of the big reasons that people with entrepreneurial spirits struggle
in corporate environments is because they feel as though they don’t
“own” their work. It’s a combination of either not being given
enough creative freedom, or having so many checks and balances in
place that nothing actually gets done effectively.
Being
an entrepreneur is tough, but the ability to take charge of your work
is the real reward.
5. You aren't after money. You're after freedom.
Your
intention sets your path. You have to know what your motivations and
goals are, otherwise you’ll chase the wrong things and end up
somewhere you aren’t thrilled about.
True
entrepreneurs seek freedom -- and the definition of freedom is
subjective. It’s more about a lifestyle than a benefits package or
an end-of-the-year bonus.
Chase
the lifestyle, not the paycheck.
BRIAN D. EVANS
Serial
Entrepreneur, Advisor, CEO