It’s nice to think about starting your own business and being your own boss, but if you’re really committed to it and you’re willing to start a side hustle (or even leave your corporate job) to pursue your vision, then you’ll quickly realize that it’s no cakewalk—aside from all the paperwork you need to do, you’ll also need to have a long-term plan to back up your concept.
So if you know that what you want to do is worth it, then you’ll need to be mentally and emotionally prepared to take that leap of faith. Here are traits that you’ll need to develop to come out at the top of your game:
1. Patience
Patience is for all the long days and nights that you’ll have when setting things up. It’s also for people you’ll meet that will cause you roadblocks, and situations that you didn’t ask for that will make processes more tedious than they already are. Have a hefty supply of it—while starting out and staying relevant won’t get any easier overtime, it does become more gratifying.
2. Tenacity
You’ll get rejected. A lot. From investors who aren’t too keen on backing your vision to stores who aren’t willing to carry your products, these setbacks can make any aspiring entrepreneur question herself, but remember that while there are people who will shut the door on your face, there will always be those who let you in their house. They’re out there somewhere. You just need to find them. Tenacity is persistence—don’t give up when you know that you’ve got something good.
3. Creativity
Everyone says this, but it is important because for a business to become successful, it needs to evolve, and in order to evolve, you always need to develop new concepts. Always be aware of trends. Ride them, but put your own spin on them. Differentiate yourself from the competition.
4. Persuasiveness
You’ll need to infect other people with your passion, whether they be those you work with or those you’re planning to service with your business. To do that, you’ll need to believe in what you’re selling, in the brand you developed, and in yourself.
5. Foresight
You always need to be ten steps ahead of everyone else and you should have all your bases covered. Having a contingency plan is always important so you’ll have a safety net just in case things don’t go your way.
6. Flexibility
Just in case plan A and B don’t work, you’ll need to learn how to wing it. It will be hard and it will be scary, but sometimes, the things that you didn’t expect to happen can actually be the right opportunity to try something new.
7. Timing
You’ll need to be able to anticipate the needs of your market. You’ll also need to create your own rhythm that will make your business run like a well-oiled machine. Most of all, you’ll also need to know when to slow down and stop. Pauses and plateaus can be good for businesses, but more importantly, they can be good for yourself, too.
h/t: Monster
