THE SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR

Entrepreneurship: A word that has occurred to a great percentage of people with goals, dreams and a vision. For some, it is a burning desire, for others, it is just a wish.

Whichever the case may be, almost everyone desires to be their own boss someday, to answer to themselves, to start up their own business.

Who is an Entrepreneur? The Business Dictionary defines an entrepreneur as “a person who sets up a business, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit. In the same vein, The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines an entrepreneur as “one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise” 

One word that jumps at us from both definitions above is RISK. This denotes a level of uncertainty. There is no business you would venture into that promises you a 100% success. Thus, when it comes to starting up a business, caution is needed. An individual who intends to become an entrepreneur must make informed, well thought-out decisions.  That is the first step to avoiding the potholes and bumps that characterize the road to a successful entrepreneurial journey. Let us now take a look at the qualities that make a successful entrepreneur.

• ·        Discipline – These individuals are focused on making their businesses work, eliminating all distractions and hindrances. They have a clearly defined goal and they don’t stop until it is achieved.
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• ·        Confidence – The entrepreneur has no doubts about his ability to succeed. He is confident in his knowledge of his business and the value of his services. The confidence he exudes has a positive effect on the people he deals with. 
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• ·     A Realist – It is often advised that we expect the worst and hope for the best. What this means is that a self-starter must be aware of the challenges that lie ahead. For him, there are no ‘rose-colored’ glasses. That way, he would be mentally prepared for obstacles and unshaken by disappointments.

• ·     Creativity – Every market has existing players. You need to understand that you are offering a product or service that has been offered before. Something has to set you apart from your predecessors and competitors. It is at this point that a businessman has to look inwards. There must be no end to creative ideas. It is an ongoing process, undergoing continuous refinement. This requires an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a deep understanding of the market. Creativity is definitely a quality that every business owner must possess.

• ·     Strong People Skills – Funny enough, this is one attribute that has often been underrated.  The beauty of people skills however, is that it gives you an edge over your contemporaries who may even have more strength and years of experience than you do. Strong people skills includes a host of qualities-empathy, integrity, courtesy, humility to mention a few. People need an extra reason to keep coming back to you. Strong people skills can be described as an incentive, cake icing…that good feeling that people get just from dealing with you. Add this to good product quality and you are just good to go!
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• ·     Work Ethics –The successful entrepreneur always upholds principles. His professionalism and high sense of morality can be seen in everything he does.

·     Passion – Passion motivates you to make sacrifices. You put in extra hours. You don’t settle. You do what you love and love what you do. It is not all about the money. Passion is all important for an entrepreneur.

The qualities discussed so far are just a few key attributes required for success as an entrepreneur. Every individual has their own strengths and are gifted in their unique way. We may possess some of these traits. But some of them may have to be cultivated. If you are considering starting a business of you own soon or in the future, we hope you find this article helpful.

At Capitalfield Investment Group Ltd, we witness the fruits that a resilient entrepreneurial spirit can bear. This is why we proudly operate eight (8) subsidiaries across diverse sectors of the economy. It all began with a goal!

To learn more about our products and services, please visit our website: www.capitalfieldinvestments.com. You can also follow us on Twitter @capitalfield03

Enjoy the rest of your week! Cheers!