Do I have it in me ?
The first step to entrepreneurship is to answer a very simple question “Do I have it in me ?”. There are many in Silicon World who have been outstanding entrepreneurs – Dan Bricklin (the inventor of the first electronic spreadsheet – Visicalc), Bill Gates and the unforgettable Steve Jobs. What is unique about such people ? What are their personal traits and backgrounds ? And, of course, whether I have those traits or whether I could cultivate them.
Many websites and books ask the following common questions :
- Do I have the passion for my project ?
- Can I tolerate a high level of risk ? Am I willing to put my personal funds at risk ?
- Am I an overachiever ?
- Do I have the discipline ?
- Can I sublimate my ego ?
- Am I a self-starter ?
- Am I flexible and opportunistic ?
If the answer to most of the above is “YES” – you are on ! Yes, ideas are important – but they need to be supported by personal traits which will make the ideas work.
HBS professor Walter Kuemmerle, who has studied more than fifty start-ups in twenty countries, says entrepreneurs today should take a litmus test of five questions.
- Do you have the patience to start small?
- Are you a deal closer?
- Are you prepared to make powerful enemies ?
- Are you comfortable stretching rules ?
- Are you willing to shift strategies quickly ?
One could take the following tests online and quickly get a fair indication of one’s mental make-up for becoming an entrepreneur :
Many more such tests are available online.
The next question that arises is – if I don’t have these skills, can I still make it ? The answer is obvious – Entrepreneurs are made, not born ! If you don’t have skills – cultivate them. If you don’t know how to drive, you learn driving ! It’s as simple as that. And no one is born with ALL the skills – if one aspires to become an entrepreneur, he should be willing to work towards it and build his skills and capabilities. Books, websites, programs, organizations – all are available in plenty for the aspiring entrepreneur. Just seek and you shall find !
So what are you waiting for – just go for it !!
E-Series – Yazdi Tantra
Enterprisers.in 