What’s the difference between a corporate executive and a great entrepreneur? According to a study that was done by Carnegie Mellon thesis students, entrepreneurs don’t start out with concrete goals. Instead, they constantly assess how to use their personal strengths and whatever resources they have at hand to develop goals on the fly, while creatively reacting to contingencies. By contrast, corporate executives set a goal and diligently seek the best ways to achieve it. Which one are you?
According to the Harvard Business Review, the following traits are necessary DNA to the making a great entrepreneur. Obviously, you need to have some kind of smarts or intelligence and guts. Luck doesn’t hurt either. But as you embark on your journey, remember what some of the great entrepreneurial leaders of our time had when they created their businesses.
1. Vision. See the forest through the trees.
2. Passion. Do what you love.
3. Make Decisions. Own it.
4. Be A Team Builder. Include your people.
5. Character. It shows who you really are.