The 4 Must-Have Traits To Launch and Grow A Successful Business

It starts as an idea, then becomes a dream. That dream turns into a bigger dream that fills your mind, consuming your thoughts every day. That knot in the pit of your stomach tells you that you want to create something - to be your own boss. 

But then whammy!  You are filled with dread. You’ve never done anything like this before.  What makes you think you can create a business and start a whole new life for yourself. So you do nothing. Well, I’ve got news for you. No one who started a business has experience starting a business. Every person has a day one. 

Let’s be honest, starting a business is a lot of work. The hours are long, sacrifices are great and you are constantly dealing with new problems and challenges every single day with seemingly no end.  If you don't have the constitution to weather these things, your business could implode on you faster than it started.

Clearly, entrepreneurship is not for everyone. But how do you know whether it’s for you? There are certain traits that entrepreneurs typically have in common.  These must-have traits help them navigate the ups and downs of the treacherous road ahead while still keeping their heads on straight.

Grit & Determination

While stubbornness is seen as a negative in most situations, when starting your own business, being stubborn can be an advantage.  Grit and determination are solid traits to have when the tough is getting going. You need to have a clear vision and stick to your guns in order to see your business fully developed and launched.

Even long after launch, if you have determination, you can weather the tough times which all businesses are bound to have.

Accountability

I’ve worked and seen many entrepreneurs that have great ideas and may even be willing to work hard, but lack the ability to take accountability for their business and themselves.

When you are an employee, you are typically accountable to your boss and to the greater business you work for.  But when you own your own business, you need to keep yourself accountable. You don’t get to do whatever you want or only what you are good at just because you’re the boss. You and only you are in charge of the good, bad, and the ugly - you own it all. 

Flexibility

The ability to pivot is tremendous when starting a business and navigating through the good and bad times.  Even the most well-laid plans can go awry.  No matter how much to plan, being able to shift focus, or go down a different path, will help you and your business make the most in all situations.

Always build flexibility into your business and in your mind so that you can bring the most to all situations.  There’s only so much you can control, right?

Positive Mindset

Positivity will get you everywhere.  It’s true! If you constantly think you are going to fail, you will.  If you think the project, the product, or the service that you are offering isn’t good enough, it won’t be!

I’m not talking about being unrealistic, but having a positive attitude about what you put out into the world will bring positive results back to you. It will make a huge difference when you are seemingly up against everything and trying to plow through all the people around you being skeptical. So put out all those good vibes!

You may never be 100% sure of whether you are “made” to be a business owner, but you definitely feel more confident in knowing that you share the traits necessary to create something amazing.  It still might feel like a leap, but maybe the ledge you are leaping to just got a tiny bit closer.