ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT
Leonardo da Vinci project EL/2000/B/P/114153
Cantillion, who wrote circa 1700, is generally attributed with the earliest cited definition of the word 'entrepreneur' (Carland, Hoy, Boulton & Carland, 1984). Among the characteristics which Cantillion identified was risk bearing (Kilby, 1971). Mill (1848), who was credited with bringing the term 'entrepreneur' into general use (Schumpeter, 1934), also believed that the key difference between entrepreneurs and managers was risk bearing. Risk bearing or risk taking behavior has continued to be a major aspect of entrepreneurship (Carland, et. al., 1984), but the issue is far from settled. There have been a number of empirical studies of risk taking, and the results are frequently contradictory. Most notably, Brockhaus (1980) cast doubt on the traditional perspective with an empirical study which showed no differences between the risk taking characteristics of entrepreneurs, managers and the general public. Research shows that the real entrepreneur, in order to deal with the multiple and several situations that arise in the personal enterprise, a number of characteristics should be part of his personality.
Ten key characteristics
Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? The most
important issue is the notion that choosing to start your own business is
a lifestyle choice, not a career choice. As we all know, it's hard work.
Urquhart-Brown highlighted ten key characteristics of successful
entrepreneurs:
"they are risk takers, they have business vision, drive, determination, and self confidence, they are flexible, powerful communicators, decisive, action/results oriented, they multi-task, and, don't forget, they have optimistic attitudes".
"Entrepreneurs must be forward-looking, hard-working, energetic, persistent people who know their business".
web hosting courtesy of Metrics (c) 2001