Getting Started Overview

Everything you need to know about starting a business in a nutshell from Ventureport.org™—the Online Outfitter for the Entrepreneur’s Journey

Overview: Your Personal Characteristics

Trust us: This takes hard work and determination. Sure you hear about the lucky people who comes up with a brilliant idea, finds a backer, and becomes a billionaire. You also hear about people winning the lottery, but the chances are slim that you'll be one of them. Bank on having to do it the good-old fashioned way, through hard work and determination.

Among the key skill sets for the entrepreneurial journey—you need the ability to sell, or a partner who can. No matter what, you'll need to sell somebody something: an investor, a partner, an employee or freelancer, and of course, customers.

You'll need a healthy dose of:

• Passion
• Consistent hard work
• Patience
• Perseverance
• Ability to predict the future.

You'll have to function well under fire or when you're down. You'll have to juggle multiple duties, and function well under adversity. On some days you'll feel like you're in a shooting gallery and they're shooting at you. Other days, you'll feel like you're running up a sand dune. Remember, every unresolved problem comes your way and is your responsibility to resolve.

Thankfully, you may also experience days of incredible euphoria, when you make a big sale or get contacted by a venture capital group, investment bank, or a major company to buy your business.

Click on Your Personal Characteristics for more articles and resources.