Do You Have What It Takes To Be a Successful Entrepreneur?

How do you know if you have what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur?

While the answer to this question may have many facets, certainly one element of being successful is what I call “Valuing Goals over Sacrifice.” So what does this really mean?

On a hunting trip a few years ago with my son, we discussed a hunting strategy that involved getting up before sunrise and hiking across a muddy field on a freezing cold and foggy morning. It was one of those mornings where you just want to stay in bed, perhaps with a nice cup of coffee, rather than expose yourself to the raw elements. Clearly the chances of having a successful hunt this day were reduced dramatically by the weather. It would be easy to convince yourself that the sacrifice just didn’t justify the goal. If you are one to say “Since there is a limited opportunity for success, why should I expose myself to being miserable?”, you are likely not yet ready to be an entrepreneur.

In the business world, successful entrepreneurs tend to be individuals that are highly goal-oriented. No amount of sacrifice or pain will deter them from their goal. Provided it is the best path, they will do whatever it takes to accomplish their goal.

Are you willing to get up early and make that cold call at 6:00am to a potential client, even though the chances of success are small? Are you willing to speak to a professional group after hours, even though public speaking is a major fear of yours and the commitment requires working late into the evening?

The key here is that successful entrepreneurs choose the “best path” to their goal, not the easiest or shortest path. Goal-oriented entrepreneurs do not flinch at placing themselves in painful situations if they improve their odds of success even a little bit. The successful entrepreneur values the goal and is willing to sacrifice much to obtain it.

Do you have what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur?