Many people assume that entrepreneurs are the extroverted, go-getter personalities that are raring to go with their innovative idea every single day. However, both introverts and extroverts have their fair share of the entrepreneurship pie, and living your dreams might just be as simple as aligning yourself with some specific qualities and characteristics.
According to the book, Why Aren’t You Your Own Boss? Leaping Over the Obstacles That Stand Between You and Your Dream 
Here are just six attributes of some of today’s leading entrepreneurs:
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High anxiety tolerance
With insecurity and risk as a part of life, the skillful entrepreneur develops a high tolerance for anxiety and manages to keep stress at bay with ease. Getting comfortable just doesn’t come naturally; knowing how to work under pressure, assess risks, and make the best of anxiety may actually be a strong success driver.
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Learning from mistakes
Most successful people will tell you that learning is part of the process, but successful entrepreneurs develop resilience and fortitude when they’ve made a mistake—no matter how serious they may be. Overcoming obstacles and challenges comes naturally, and thinking ahead for progress is almost a goal in itself.
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Delegating with effectiveness
Successful entrepreneurs know how to delegate and share the workload when needed; instead of taking on a martyr-style role of doing everything on their own, they hand off assignments and projects to others. Doing this with clear direction and flexible timelines can lead to exceptionally powerful work teams.
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Critical thinking
Critical thinkers by nature, successful entrepreneurs know how to filter out information and look for quality; being able to judge both objectively and subjectively takes practice, and having a grounded perspective requires a healthy level of critical thinking.
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Communication skills
Both introverts and extroverts adopt essential communication skills and strategies to work with others. From customers to clients, knowing how to deliver and articulate a message is an asset to any venture.
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Flexibility
Taking nothing for granted, the successful entrepreneur can adapt quickly to a challenge and look for opportunity when faced with a struggle. Being flexible requires an open mind and plenty of ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking, but there are many advantages of adapting a think-on-your-feet mindset.
Which attributes inspire you? What other characteristics do you have or admire that define the ideal entrepreneur personality?
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As more companies adopt an entrepreneurial or virtual business model these traits will become increasingly important for professionals moving into leadership roles. Entrepreneurs learn how to “think logically and comprehensively about a situation and identify a course of action” in the midst of ambuguity. That isn’t easy to do–but the skills required can be learned.
the 6 tips you listed are good, but they’re for the actively, doing in the now now entrepreneur. here are a couple for the contemplators…
vision:
you need to have a clear-cut idea of who you are and where you want to go and how you plan to arrive there (no shooting from the hip from the get-go)
desire:
intense, ambitious desire. you must want it really bad. above and beyond the next guy (and that’s not an overstatement either)
The number one is “never giving up” and being able to go on… and on… and on… and on… no matter how many “failures” you encounter. This isn’t something that normal people do. It’s something that extraordinary people do.
That’s an excellent point Jordan; learning is part of the process, and these characteristics can definitely be developed in any personality type.
david…
a good example of what you mentioned is Abe.Lincoln; the guy was/is synonymous with failing many times over…before he was finally elected prez
the guy pushed and pushed forward, despite all the failures he was encountering – and it finally paid off – with one big win