Gallup Reveals 10 Talents Of Successful Entrepreneurs

5. Determination

   “You persevere through difficult, even seemingly insurmountable, obstacles.” Entrepreneurship is all about endurance. This why you’ll hear people refer to starting a business as a marathon and not a sprint. Make no mistake, at each stage in business you will face obstacles – they are necessary. You’d much rather make a $1000 mistake than grapple with a $1 million dollar flop. Everything you go through will grow you – preparing you for the next level in business. Successful entrepreneurs are solution-oriented; by necessity you must become an expert problem solver.  “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” (Napoleon Hill)

6. Independent

   “You are prepared to do whatever needs to be done to build a successful venture.” If you can’t do anything without the approval of a committee you’re in for a rude awakening. I’ve encountered thousands of entrepreneurs and I am hard pressed to define any of them as co-dependent. To lead others you first have to lead yourself. Entrepreneurs by nature are independent, reliant on their own efforts and take minimal excuses to accomplish the task at hand. Practice becoming more independent (and less co-dependent) and you’ll be happier and healthier. Research even suggests that “a lack of autonomy leads to greater stress and poor health.” (Source: Oprah.com) It starts with cultivating faith in yourself at a fundamental level.  Start with small things and then graduate to bigger things.

7. Knowledge-Seeker

   “You constantly search for information that is relevant to growing your business.” Entrepreneurs are life-long learners. Knowledge is potential power, but when activated it is an unparalleled creative force. Seek knowledge daily by consuming the right information, distilled knowledge on personal development and practical insights on each component of your business. This can be attained by “doing”, reading business books, taking online courses, networking, business coaching, and attending conferences.

8. Promoter

   “You are the best spokesperson for the business.” Get comfortable with talking about and sharing your business with others. Not for validation (see #2), but to strategically grow brand awareness. Savvy entrepreneurs are really good at promoting themselves by building a world-class personal brand. “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are” (Theodore Roosevelt) and continue to reinvent and re-imagine yourself.

9. Relationship-Builder

   “You have high social awareness and an ability to build relationships that are beneficial for the firm’s survival and growth.” When you are building a business, the last thing on your mind (for most people) is building relationships. But relationship building will become a key factor to landing new business, creating a brand, and building a sustainable business. If this isn’t your sweet spot, start with social media. As I discussed in Forbes, build online relationships and transform them into real-world opportunities.

10. Risk-Taker

    “You instinctively know how to manage high-risk situations.” Face fear in business and take better risks. Risks will be present in business, but it’s how you manage and face them that makes all the difference. Every successful entrepreneur will tell you that when they came to a fork in the road, or when it was time to put up or shut up; inevitably they were faced with a tough question, “Can I risk this?”

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