Entrepreneurs are a unique breed. From Steve Jobs to Elon Musk, titans of innovation have a lot of unique traits that make them good at what they do. They make the best of bad situations, the exude confidence in everything they do, and their networking skills are second to none. It’s always been obvious which traits make a good entrepreneur, but what about the deal breakers? What traits should come as red flags for someone looking to start a business?
Knowing your limitations is just as important as knowing your strengths in the world of entrepreneurship. And if you want to make sure you aren’t harboring an Achilles heel when it comes to your startup goals, check out a few traits that will let you know if you aren’t cut out for entrepreneurship:
Getting Along With Everyone
People-pleasers are great salesmen and customer service reps. They’re empathetic and they’re always focused on helping people get what they want. They don’t get in shouting matches, loud disagreements, or battles over small details.
These are not traits you want in a budding entrepreneurs. Startup founders and business owners need to be able to put their foot down and demand the things they need. Whether it’s funding, employees, or the right influencer, an entrepreneurs need to be able to stake their claim, regardless of the people that need pleasing.
Following Orders
A good employee knows their place. They follow orders and take instructions on the best way to do something, regardless of how experienced they are. They put their heads down and they get the busy work done, even if they don’t think it’s contributing to the betterment of a company.
Entrepreneurs don’t follow orders. They make their own path and create the circumstances needed to succeed. Even if experts advise otherwise, an entrepreneur acts on well-informed instinct, and those instincts are usually right. Following orders gets in the way of the creative process, and an entrepreneur without creativity might as well start greeting people at Walmart.
Loving the Status Quo
The status quo helps regulate the business world. It let’s potential candidates know what it takes to get hired. It keeps employees informed on the best ways to stay in their current position. And it makes it easy for managers to keep track of their team.
Entrepreneurs have no business in the status quo. They’re all about mixing things up, innovating new technologies, and revolutionizing the standard way things get done. As far as entrepreneurs are concerned, “status quo” is a curse word that should never leave their lips. Unless, of course it’s in the sentence, “to hell with the status quo!”
H / T Vanguard