Do you have the right personality for business?

Starting a business usually involves hard work, commitment and risk. Find out if you’ve got the right personality to successfully start a business.

If you’re thinking about starting your own business, it’s wise to really make sure that you are prepared and realistic about the adventure ahead.

And, just as importantly, that you have the right personality or entrepreneurial mindset to enjoy and succeed at starting a business.

The qualities you need to successfully start a business

Most successful entrepreneurs share the same few core qualities:

  • A willingness to take risks.
  • An acceptance of uncertainty.
  • Great networking skills.
  • Initiative and self-discipline.
  • A love of hard work.
  • Passion and enthusiasm for what they do.
  • Creativity and adaptability.

Ask yourself if you could successfully start a business

It doesn’t matter how great your idea is, or how great your products or services are, if you don’t have the right personality to start a business, your business may not be successful and you may not enjoy running it.

To help you decide whether starting a business is the right choice for you, think about the answers to the following questions:

  • Do you enjoy risk?
  • Are you comfortable with uncertainty?
  • Can you spot and grab opportunities?
  • Do you enjoy working hard?
  • Are you realistic?
  • Are you organised?
  • Can you multitask?
  • Are you self-motivated?
  • Are you self-disciplined?
  • Do you get on well with people?
  • Are you good at networking?
  • Can you cope with setbacks?
  • Are you reliable?
  • Can you easily understand what people want?
  • Can you prioritise?
  • Can you plan ahead?
  • Are you able to commit to projects?
  • Are you hungry to learn?
  • Do you believe in your abilities?
  • Are you thorough?

If your answer to all or most of these questions is ‘yes’, then there is a good chance that you will enjoy and do well running your own business.

However, if some of the questions filled you with fear, starting your own business may not be the best choice for you! Instead, think about whether flexible work offers you the work-life balance you need as a working mum, with the security of a regular income.