It goes without saying that a huge part of the American dream involves becoming one's own boss and it isn't terribly difficult to understand why. Entrepreneurs not only have the freedom to live their lives the way they want, but they also get to take pride in knowing that they really brought something of value to the table that society really needed. However, not everyone is hard-wired with what one might call a true entrepreneurial spirit.
Comfortable Taking Risks
A large part of being an entrepreneur and building something unique involves being willing to explore new territory. You not only need to be able to come up with ways to provide a service or product that no one else is already giving to the public, but you need to be fearless when it comes to trying something new as well. No one ever built a new business from the ground up and made it a success without taking a few chances and putting it all on the line.
Passionate and Vision-Oriented
If everyone who liked the idea of being their own boss and making money had what it took to build a business, we'd all be entrepreneurs. At the end of the day, true entrepreneurship is about a deeply felt passion for what you're looking to accomplish. It's also about having a clear vision, not only for what you want to achieve, but for the path you plan on taking when it comes to making it happen. You need to be able to stay passionate about that vision come what may as well.
Follow-Through and a €No Matter What€ Attitude
Far too many people are interested in developing their own products and running their own business because they think it's going to be so much easier than working for someone else. They find out pretty quickly that the opposite is actually true. Not only is building your own business from the ground up tough going, but it requires a €stick-to-it€ attitude even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Entrepreneurs hear the word €no€ a lot, especially in the beginning phases of developing their business. However, they believe in what they're doing to such an extent that they can stick with it, even when the going gets super rough. Not succeeding and realizing their vision simply isn't an option for them.
An Ability to Connect With Others
The best businessman can also be described as a €people person€. He loves getting out there and rubbing elbows with peers in a networking context. He's not afraid to sell himself or to communicate with others. He's also adept at figuring out what his target demographic is really looking for in a product or service. Without the ability to effectively and comfortably connect with other people, there's no room for success as an entrepreneur. At the end of the day, any given business or service is ultimately going to be about the people it was created to cater to.