Do You Have What It Takes?
 

Entrepreneurship, to many, means a life which allows you to sit behind a huge desk, with feet resting comfortably, sipping coffee, as you answer calls from customers who wish to purchase your products or services. What does entrepreneurship or owning a business mean to you? Your images or thoughts might include: wealth, flexible working hours, an elegant office, a huge desk, independence, power, control, prestige, freedom, and respect from others.  This picture looks very attractive and lures many people into the world of entrepreneurship. This picture, however, is not realistic and generally leads to business "failure" within the first few years. 

Owning your own business is not always a bed of roses.  It generally requires a lot of hard work, long hours, sacrifice, planning, money, action, patience, energy, know-how, and most importantly STRESS.

One important thing to remember, however, is that people are not born with the skills needed for owning and operating a business venture. Rather these skills are learned over the years through training, reading, brainstorming, researching, experimenting, planning, and experience, to name a few. This provides reassurance for those of you who have never owned a business in the past.
 
Being your own boss; many dream of it, some strive toward it, and even fewer succeed at it. The entrepreneur faces a challenge few will risk, while venturing to places few have gone. Entrepreneurship can be viewed as a mystical journey fueled by ideas, energy, passion, action and money. It is, as statistics will tell you, a gamble. The experienced entrepreneur knows, however, a "wise gamble" is nothing less than a calculated risk.

So do you have what it takes to own your own business?  To answer this YOU must look deep inside yourself and ask one simple question - What Do I Want?  If you want or desire something badly enough, you will do everything in your power to attain it.  So if you want to own your own business badly enough, you will take the necessary steps. And as you rattle those entrepreneurial dice, as you consider your future, as you enter the world of entrepreneurship, be sure to utilize the skills you already possess and improve on the skills you lack. This will reduce the risk and improve your odds of winning the entrepreneurial game. Remember, before you can play any game, you must be aware of the rules and be skilled at executing all necessary strategies.
 
Whether you decide to start a business, receive your high school diploma, or purchase your dream house, be sure to develop a realistic and effective blueprint - a Plan. Remember that planning is one of the most important factors in society today. Those who develop a blueprint, a strategy, or plan can be whoever they want to be and achieve whatever they want to achieve. So create your PLAN today and may all your dreams come true. GOOD LUCK!!!


 

ASSESSMENTS:

To assist you in determining whether or not you have the characteristics and skills of an entrepreneur, we have developed the following three assessments.
 


Used independently, each assessment provides little information. Used together, however, the assessments will help identify your strengths, uncover many of your weaknesses, and provide insight into your own personality. 

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