1. You see opportunities everywhere
You can’t help yourself: you see the potential in every thing and every person. When you wake up in the morning, you’re raring to go because there are ideas to think up, tasks to set into motion, and businesses to be built.
2. You like to scratch your own itch and solve problems
When you see something that could be done better or a massive problem, you’re not afraid to step up to the plate to solve it. That usually means creating something that solves other people’s problems, too. In turn, these solutions can take on a life of their own and become businesses that make an dent in the industry.
3. You think of something and immediately look for how it could turn into a business
Maybe you like to think up new stories. Or you’re great at coming up with delicious recipes. Coding new software is fun for you. All of your imagination is engaged when you’re having fun! These ideas that keep coming to you are all fodder for your entrepreneurial side. You look for ways to turn them into viable businesses, or people who can do it for you.
4. You used to sell stuff as a child
You know you’re an entrepreneur when you sought experiences to hone your sales skills as a child. Maybe you sold baseball cards like Gary Vaynerchuck or you had a lemonade stand on the corner. Or maybe, like me, you built websites for your parents’ friends and started freelancing before you even knew what the term meant. You likely got hooked on earning money for yourself and decided it was a good trait to take on.
5. You think in terms of investments: time and money
With any task you undertake, whether it’s watching TV the evenings or mowing the lawn on weekends, you consider the time and money investment and return. If you watch one hour of television, that’s one hour less for your business’ development. On the other hand, hiring someone to mow your lawn gives you back time to further your business dreams. You’re constantly crunching numbers and optimizing how you use the resources you have, so you can get more down the line.
6. You assess other people for leadership qualities
You get that your businesses can become bottlenecked if you’re always the one in the middle, so you look for leaders who can help your businesses grow. When you meet someone at a cocktail party, you’re looking to see what role they could fulfill at your current or future companies. You’re also adamant about training and mentoring people who will one day be able to take your spot, so you can go on to build your next business.
7. You love talking about other people’s business success
There’s no such thing as bad-mouthing success in your house. You know that you need to look positively upon successful entrepreneurs to become one, and you love to soak up all the “how-to” advice you can glean from people’s success stories.
8. You read biographies of your favorite business moguls
You love to get a glimpse at how things went down and how you can apply these lessons to your own life and business. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Warren Buffett — they’re all familiar business mentors through their biographies, and you know which traits you want to take on from each of your business heroes.
9. You’re persistent to a fault
Giving up is not in your vocabulary. You know that if this idea doesn’t pan out, there will be opportunities to kick butt with your next business move. You’ve tried and failed before, and you know you’ll make mistakes, but you take each one in stride because you’re in it for the marathon and not the sprint.
10. You care about making the world a better place
You know that business is the vehicle for change on a massive scale, and you’re committed to making the world a better place. Starting a business is something you’re motivated to do because you believe in what you can offer the world, and you know you’re the person to make it happen.
