If you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, it is imperative you focus on your character. Successful business builders put as much effort into honing their character as they do into building their companies. If you want to significantly increase your chances of entrepreneurial success, there are a number of ‘d’ characteristics you need to work on during the length of your career. Incorporate the following 10 characteristics into your growth plan, and there’s a good chance you’ll achieve the business dreams you long for.
Decent
If you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, you must learn to be decent. This includes being decent to reporters and journalists who might write about your company as well as investors who might want to fund growth expansions for your business. While it’s good to have a bit of edge to your character if you want to get ahead of your competitors, you won’t go far as an entrepreneur if you don’t learn to be decent to those who can help your company grow.
Devoted
Devoted entrepreneurs tend to build stronger companies. You must be devoted to the concept you’re building your company around and devoted to those individuals who are helping you build a thriving business. Learn to become more devoted to business causes that matter and you will become a more successful entrepreneur.
Daring
Daring entrepreneurs succeed where others fail. If you are daring in your approach to growth and marketing, you will try things others shy away from. Be willing to be daring as you are building a business and you will be amazed at the success you can achieve.
Defiant
Just as daring entrepreneurs try things others pass over, defiant entrepreneurs know when it is in their best interest to stand up to tradition or defy norms others accept as the ‘best’ or the ‘only way. When you are defiant as an entrepreneur, you are will to ask why over the simplest of things and you don’t just accept ‘that’s the way it’s done’ as an explanation. Be defiant in chasing your entrepreneurial dreams and your success will be even sweeter.
Different
Be willing to be different if you want a long and thriving career as an entrepreneur. If you wanted to be the same as everyone else, you would be working a 9-to-5 job instead of following your heart and building your own business. Being different as an entrepreneur is an awesome characteristic; happily embrace your own weirdness!
Diligent
Diligent entrepreneurs don’t overlook the small things. They pay attention to everything from market shifts to employee interactions. If you want the company you are building to succeed on a long-term basis, you must accept it is your responsibility to be diligent about all matters that can influence the life of your business.
Discreet
Successful entrepreneurs are discreet. They praise their employees publicly when it is appropriate and discipline them privately when necessary. They aren’t braggarts in public and they don’t flaunt their success when it might come off as being egotistical or vain. Learn to become more discreet as an entrepreneur and you will increase your chances of a successful business career.
Discriminating
Be discriminating as an entrepreneur if you want to grow your network. Discriminating entrepreneurs know when an investor is blowing smoke and when they’re truthful about their intentions to invest. A discriminating entrepreneur knows when it is appropriate to form a business partnership with a vendor and when that vendor is unscrupulous. Hone your ability to be more discriminating if you don’t want to cut your entrepreneurial career short.
Dependable
Entrepreneurs who are dependable tend to build more resilient companies and have stronger business networks. When others know they can depend on you, they are more likely to trust you and send potential business your way. Work on becoming a dependable entrepreneur and you will be impressed at how more opportunities come your way.
Distinctive
The final ‘d’ characteristic you should work on is becoming more distinctive. When you are building a business, you want to stand out from the rest of the crowd in your market niche. Be willing to be distinctive and memorable or your company will blend into the background and won’t be something customers, investors, and journalists seek out.
If you work on honing these 10 ‘d’ characteristics, you can significantly increase your chances of success as an entrepreneur. It won’t happen overnight and it won’t happen without hard work on your part, but the results will amaze you once you learn to integrate these 10 ‘d’ characteristics into your entrepreneurial journey.
Keep It Real,
Mark Lyford