People often ask me what kind of personal skills make someone a candidate to have their own business. And when I start listing the things I think are helpful, I find that I touch on many things that seem to be contradictory. Is it better to be an extrovert or an introvert? A dreamer or a realist? A thinker or a doer? A socializer or a loner? Is it more valuable to have imagination or practical skills? To be left-brained or right-brained? Dominant or reserved? Analytical or expressive? Change-loving or schedule conforming? Super intelligent or just normal? Gorgeous or average?
I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no “right” or “predicable” pattern that leads to successful business operation. I think most of us defy rational explanation or categories. The businessperson is someone using both sides of their brains. The right side pours out dreams, passions and fantasies and the left side takes that and creates patterns and systems to allow results that benefit everyone and magically produce money as well. You can have the soul of an artist – and your business is a shaped release of that art. You can be a logical precisionist and your business brings life to those otherwise boring and useless details.
The common trait is that people who succeed, whether in their own business or as a trusted employee, are people who know how to set goals and take action. Welcome to the world of entrepreneurship – there are no obstacles, no barriers. No wrong personal attributes, backgrounds, or education – just opportunity for all!
