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Attitude and the Entrepreneur
Successful employers and employees share many
personal qualities but there may also be key differences.
For example, both employers and employees need a positive attitude, and
a good attitude is something that can be nurtured and developed. But the
attitude of the business owner is likely to be driven by some basic
elements of their character.
If the business owner does not have these character traits, the business
is going to have a tough time making a profit.
The successful business owner is
generally someone who seeks responsibility, pursues goals with vigor,
shows initiative and persistence and has a constitution that is solid
enough to take periods of stress and high workloads.
The source of these qualities is
motivation. The business owner must be doing something that they really
want to do. If there is no passion, there is no entrepreneurship.
This means that business owners
need to periodically and honestly assess themselves. If their business
does not seem like fun any more, how can they change it? What are their
other options, if business changes will not rekindle their enthusiasm?
Entrepreneurs are often driven by a deep
psychological need to achieve. They need a positive attitude because
people who are decisive and take risks have their fair share of failure.
Business people are often truly successful only on their second or third
attempt. A positive attitude for the entrepreneur means the ability to
try again after taking a big gamble and losing.
Attitude is also a key to an entrepreneur's thinking ability. It's a key
to their creativity.
Entrepreneurs need to be able to analyze a problem in an aggressive way,
to turn it around and come up with a positive outcome. A passive
approach to a problem is not a creative one.
Many of the entrepreneur's personal qualities are deep, if not innate.
But there are many other qualities that can be learned or developed.
For example, not all entrepreneurs are born leaders or people managers.
They may have the drive and the determination to succeed, but lack the
skills to carry people with them.
There are many books and courses on leadership and even natural leaders
may need skills development.
While entrepreneurs are commonly high-energy people who cope well with
stress, nobody is indestructible. They may need guidance on basic
things, such as the best diet and exercise regime for coping with
long-term stress.
Entrepreneurs need to be organized, but that does not always come
naturally, especially for a creative and driven person.
Good business people are generally good communicators. They're helped by
the fact that they're doing something they love and enthusiasm is
contagious.
But that does not mean entrepreneurs are gifted with high-level
communication skills. That may be especially be the case if they work in
technical areas. So there will be room for skills development there too.
Attitude and drive may be innate, but skills and knowledge aren't.
Useful sites include:
www.dti.gov.uk
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