Your Personality Can Determine Whether or Not You'll be a Successful Entrepreneur

Here's the next excerpt from the book The Entrepreneur Next Door courtesy of the author and publisher. I liked the book (gave it 7 stars) and if you're thinking of starting your own business (either full-time or as a side hobby to bring in some extra cash), I think you will too.

Today's excerpt really describes the heart of the book -- the research they've done as well as their major premise. Here goes:

In fact, of the entrepreneurs we studied, more than 80 percent have very similar personality traits. There’s a great deal of truth to the notion that entrepreneurs are born, not made. Although upbringing, belief system, education, training, and development affect our ultimate behaviors, our core personality remains relatively constant throughout our lives. In other words, if you start out as a lion, you’re not going to turn into a lamb, regardless of what you do or don’t do. There may be times when you can act like a lamb, but it’s difficult to maintain that behavior for an extended period of time.

It’s also believed that our personalities are developed after we’re born, as opposed to something we are born with. Do you know of a set of identical twins? They may have precisely the same DNA, but their personalities can be very different. There was a recent case in which one of two identical twins was accused of a heinous crime. The authorities had DNA evidence but couldn’t tell which of the twins was the culprit. They looked at more than 100,000 DNA markers and still couldn’t tell the difference. Did I mention that one of the twins has been in and out of the prison system for most
of his life and the other is an upstanding citizen? Go figure.

To experience the greatest level of success and fulfillment, entrepreneurs should choose business ventures that are in sync with their true personalities. Those who choose well tend to prosper. Those who don’t find a fit for their personalities would make great material for TV dramas and sitcoms. Can you imagine a receptionist who acts like Rambo or a professional wrestler who acts more like Mr. Rogers? How about a used-car salesman who’s quiet and introverted, and doesn’t like talking to or interacting with people? You get the idea.

The Entrepreneur Next Door reveals:

• There are hundreds of personality combinations, but they can be pretty much divided into seven basic types. Of these, four are entrepreneurial types and three are wantapreneurial.
• The characteristics that make up the four entrepreneurial generalist personalities and the three wantapreneurial specialist personalities.
• The critical differences among the seven personality types and how they can all achieve success in business.
• What is your “Stupid Switch” and how to turn it off.
• Prospective business areas and opportunities that are compatible with your personality. These are found at www.theentrepreneurnextdoor.com.
• The concept of emotional intelligence and why it’s often more important than intellect when managing others and yourself.
• The role of self-awareness in the life of an entrepreneur and how it can enhance your life’s balance.
• How to create an absolutely awesome company with the right people in the right positions.

Sound interesting? Stay tuned -- this is only the beginning. It gets better from here.

Comments

[Kimber]

Same goes with investing and in many other areas in life.
Once we reach adulthood, our personalities are pretty much set. Change is difficult so we might as well work with what is there.
Luckily there are opps for all of us.