7 Signs You Have What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur
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7 Signs You Have What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur – If I told you I’m currently working in my sweatpants in my home office, sipping a chai tea latte and gazing out at a gorgeous Pacific Northwest mountain view, would you think it sounded too good to be true? Well, that’s because I’ve left a couple things out.
For instance, I’ve worked in this same spot for about 50 hours this week. Oh, and I haven’t spoken to another human (other than my family) in 3 days.
7 Signs You Have What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur
By guest writer Taylor Mack
There’s no need for pity: the hours don’t feel long, because I’m spending time on work I love to do. I don’t have to deal with a commute (that means no sitting in traffic!) or an annoying boss, and I can wear whatever I want to work.
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And, I’m meeting up with some friends tomorrow, so I’m not a complete hermit.
Why am I telling you this? Because in order to decide if entrepreneurship is right for you, you need to know ALL aspects of the lifestyle (and not just the glamorous parts).
Here are 7 ways to tell if the online business lifestyle is a good fit for you.
If you possess these qualities, there is a good chance that you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur.
You Can Work Independently
When you have your own business, you don’t go into an office and see your colleagues every day.
There’s no desk mate sitting next to you to bounce ideas off of. In fact, your dog might be the only companion you have during the work day.
That may actually be a perk for you (it is for me!).
[adsense]But if you’re the type of person who needs to be surrounded by people, this may be difficult for you.
When office camaraderie is no longer a built-in part of your job, it can get lonely. But it doesn’t have to be!
You just need to be willing to make an effort to meet up with friends.
And you can always reach out and connect with others in the online world. In fact, it’s important to do so.
You Love To Learn & Try New Things
Working in the digital space, things are ALWAYS changing.
Algorithms shift, strategies become obsolete, and new platforms pop up. This is one of the most challenging and exciting parts about being an online entrepreneur.
You have to be willing to do a lot of research and invest some time (and sometimes a little money) into learning tools & strategies you aren’t familiar with.
You will inevitably hit snags with your technology, and you’ll have to be patient trying to solve them yourself. Luckily, there are a lot of resources out there.
And once you do fix the problem, you’ll feel like a straight-up genius.
There are a million social media & marketing strategies out there, and you’ll have to go through some trial and error to figure out which work best for you.
If you’ve got a good mix of passion and patience, you should be able to handle this just fine (and you may find you enjoy it!).
You Don’t Need Others’ Approval
Expect that most people you know won’t understand what you do. They may think it’s strange. Some may not even consider it “real work”. Those people may avoid the subject of your work altogether.
On the other end of the spectrum, others may show interest in your work. That’s great! But you’ll likely spend a lot of time explaining what you do.
Don’t be surprised if you see their eyes start to glaze over. The digital world is an enigma for those who aren’t immersed in it.
Often, as an entrepreneur, society doesn’t view you as worthy until you’re successful. All that hard work you’re doing until then typically goes unnoticed.
A lot of people struggle with this lack of recognition. Hopefully, you can come to terms with this. Plus, it’ll be that much sweeter when it does pay off.
Just remember: you’re doing this for YOU, not anybody else.
You Can Set Your Own Schedule (& Stick To It)
Are you the type of person who can handle a blank slate? Without a boss telling you what to do, you’re the only one who can create your to-do list. You plan your days and the goals you want to reach.
But that’s the beauty of it: you get to choose what you work on. You’ll still have to push yourself out of your comfort zone sometimes to be successful, but it’s in your own way and on your own time.
Setting your own hours is one of the best parts of being an entrepreneur. Keep in mind, you’ll likely be working more hours at first than you would at a typical 9-to-5 job. But this won’t always be the case.
Think about like this: you’re putting in the hours upfront so you can have the lifestyle you want later on.
To me, it’s totally worth it, because I’m doing work I actually care about. You’ll have to decide if it’s worth it for you!
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You’re Creative & Resourceful
This doesn’t necessarily mean you’re an artist. It means you’re imaginative and like to come up with new ways to do things. You aren’t the type of person who follows what everyone else is doing. You think outside the box, and love to brainstorm new ideas.
Unfortunately, you can’t spend all daydreaming. A good entrepreneur is a balanced mix of right brain (creative) and left brain (logic).
You have to be able to switch between designing a beautiful graphic and figuring out your monthly budget.
That is, until you can afford to hire out certain tasks.
Most online entrepreneurs don’t start out with a huge budget.
[adsense]You’ll need to find creative ways to reach your goals without just throwing money around (like the bigwigs do). This means bootstrapping your social media & marketing strategy and building your own website.
If you aren’t tech-savvy, don’t worry. There are tons of resources out there, and websites are easy to make these days with plug-and-play sites (like WordPress) and ready-made design themes.
And honestly, figuring out all that stuff on your own is one of the most rewarding things about being an entrepreneur.
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You Like to Be in Control of How Much Money You Make
As a business owner, you’re in control of how much you make. The actions you take directly effect your bottom line. It’s exciting and a little scary at the same time!
Your income may not be much at first. Plan for this. Many people, including myself, start their business on the side of their full-time job.
It’s a way to minimize the risk and test if your business idea is viable. It also allows you to build up your following and your website’s SEO & domain authority.
Either way, what it takes to be an entrepreneur is dedication, time, and hard work.
You’re the only person keeping yourself accountable, so you need to be self-motivated. Follow through is necessary, or you won’t make money.
But the amount of money you make isn’t controlled by how much a company decides you’re worth. I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty good to me!
If you’re a perfectionist (as many of us are), you’ll need to let go of that desire to get every single thing just right before putting it out into the world.
What it takes to be an entrepreneur – You have to be able to strike a balance between creating a perfect end-product, and actually getting things done.
You’re Willing to Push Through Even When No One Is Listening
Getting started in the online world when no one is following or listening can be tough. Like everybody else, you have to start at zero and work your way up.
Celebrate every win, no matter how small it seems! Eventually, you’ll start to gain more and more traction. It’s like a snowball effect.
I remember first creating the Instagram account for my online shop. I was posting to the sound of crickets. But I powered through, kept posting, and now I have over 3,000 followers (and many of them are customers).
My advice: just keep going. It will pay off if you’re working smart and staying consistent.
7 Signs You Have What It Takes To Be An Entrepreneur – Conclusion
If you haven’t run away screaming after reading this article, you probably have what it takes to be an entrepreneur!
Despite its difficulties, I can tell you that it’s so worth it.
You’re building a business on your own: that’s not something just anyone can say. If you’re passionate about this, it’s the only type of job that will feel right to you. So get out there, and good luck on your entrepreneurial journey!
_________________________
Taylor Mack blogs at SmallBizRefined.com and owns an independent online bookstore. She’s all about helping creatives & online shops grow with social media and marketing tips. As an entrepreneur and unabashed tech nerd, she’s been testing these strategies since 2017 and knows what works.
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