Characteristics of an Entrepreneur!

In the previous post, I had tried to share my thoughts around "What is Entrepreneurship?". In this post, I will highlight some characteristics of entrepreneurs as enlisted by John G. Burch. I was trying to find a definition for the word "Entrepreneurship" when I ran across this list on wikipedia. I thought I'll list it here so that all of us can relate that a budding entrepreneur is hiding within each one of us ;-)

John G. Burch[Business Horizons, September 1986] lists traits typical of entrepreneurs:

1. A desire to achieve: The push to conquer problems, and give birth to a successful venture.
2. Hard work: It is often suggested that many entrepreneurs are workaholics.
3. Desire to work for themselves: Entrepreneurs like to work for themselves rather than working for an organization or any other individual. They may work for someone to gain the knowledge of product or service that they may want to produce.
4. Nurturing quality: Willing to take charge of, and watch over a venture until it can stand alone.
5. Acceptance of responsibility: Are morally, legally, and mentally accountable for their ventures. Some entrepreneurs may be driven more by altruism than by self-interest.
6. Reward orientation: Desire to achieve, work hard, and take responsibility, but also with a commensurate desire to be rewarded handsomely for their efforts; rewards can be in forms other than money, such as recognition and respect.
7. Optimism: Live by the philosophy that this is the best of times, and that anything is possible.
8. Orientation to excellence: Often desire to achieve something outstanding that they can be proud of.
9. Organization: Are good at bringing together the components (including people) of a venture.
10. Profit orientation: Want to make a profit; but the profit serves primarily as a meter to gauge their success and achievement.
    

For those who want to read the complete write-up on wikipedia, here is a quick link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entrepreneur. It is pretty interesting!