Building your dream takes many, sometimes disparate skills. And questions. Most importantly of these questions, “Should I pursue entrepreneurship?”. Let’s discuss, Builder Generation.
An anonymous person once wrote, “Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won't so you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.” Entrepreneurs are the embodiment of the idea that hard work and determination can earn you things others only dream about. Entrepreneurs make their dreams come true.Not everyone’s experience of entrepreneurship is the same. However, these are things we’ve found true of many, many entrepreneurs broadly. Here are 10 unmistakable indications that you’re an entrepreneur:
#1 You really want to know things
Entrepreneurs never assume that they know all of the answers. They're always searching, always yearning for more knowledge. They read incessantly. Whether it’s books, podcasts, radio, or TV, an entrepreneur will always opt for content from which they can learn over that which merely entertains. They seek out information, mentors and advisers who can guide them toward their goals. Entrepreneurs likely have studied history because they know those who don’t learn from it are doomed to repeat it.
#2 Bigger is better
Are you willing to settle for, "just enough?" Are you happy to just contribute a small piece of the puzzle? Then you may not enjoy entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs often look at the big picture. They’re likely to not be able to settle for less. How can things be better? How does this piece fit into the bigger picture that others can’t even see yet? If you’re an entrepreneur, you’re hard at work answering those questions, and you’re not going to rest until you do.
#3 Your friends are smart(er than you)
Are you inexorably drawn toward the sharpest tool in the shed? The brightest bulb in the sconce? When entrepreneurs go friend hunting, they always shop in the gifted section. A friend who can't teach them something is a friend they can do without. Their smart and talented friends are a gift.
#4 You love managing yourself
Entrepreneurs know what needs to be done and they do it. On their terms. The way they know it should be done. An entrepreneur not only doesn't need a higher authority guiding their every step, they often dislike it. This means managing an entrepreneur should include an open and conversational approach.
#5 You make lemonade
Problems are opportunities, and they seek them out. If everywhere you go, you see a problem to be solved or a need to be met, you're staring entrepreneurship in the face. Entrepreneurs often find they pay no attention to things that work. They're drawn to the things that don't, and they won't stop until they've fixed them. When life gives you lemons… well, you know the rest.
#6 You're a people person
People fascinate you. You watch them. You talk to them. You need to know what makes them tick. If you buy people drinks just to hear their life stories, you might be an entrepreneur. Understanding and being curious about the human condition enables business in all forms--a real benefit of moving towards your entrepreneurial adventure.
#7 You were born to run
Entrepreneurs aren't made, they're born. And the gears that make them who they are start spinning while they’re still in the womb. Was yours the top-grossing lemonade stand on the block? Did you always win the tote bag for selling the most magazines in the school fundraiser? The entrepreneur gene can't hide. And it drives you from your very first breath.
#8 You're fueled by, "can't"
Have you ever done something just because someone told you you couldn't? Did someone in the shadowy corners of your childhood say, "you can't" or, "you never will"? If they did and you've spent the rest of your life proving them wrong, you're quite possibly an entrepreneur.
#9 You work harder and smarter
Entrepreneurs are always ready to go the extra mile to achieve their goals. They put in more hours. They skip more meals. They miss more birthday parties. But they don't just work hard, true entrepreneurs work smart. An entrepreneur knows the value of hard work, but inefficiency is the enemy. If there's a way to do the same work in half the time, they'll find it. (Though more experienced entrepreneurs have practiced a good semblance of a personal life--it’s an ongoing debate in the entrepreneurial community).
#10 Failure is your very best friend
As Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” The most important trait of an entrepreneur is their healthy respect for failure. We know that entrepreneurs thrive on learning, but success merely confirms what we already know to be true. To learn something new, you must always be willing to fail.
Are you an entrepreneur? Are you looking forward to your next entrepreneurial (or intrapreneurial) adventure? We’d love to get your idea created and out into the wide world of customers! Builder keeps making development of your next tech project easier and easier. What better time than now to turn your dream into reality? Try out Builder & see how easy it is!
