| As the owner of your own business, you will need | | | | these and countless many more decisions. You will be |
| many skills to survive but it is the intrinsic qualities of | | | | rewarded for making correct decisions, but make too |
| patience, persistence, decisiveness, being a self-starter, | | | | many wrong ones and you will be out of business |
| and working well with others that will play an even | | | | completely. |
| larger role in your success. In no particular order, here | | | | 4. Self-Starter – Are you the kind of person who |
| are five qualities you should have if you intend to go | | | | has a burning desire to get up in the morning (or the |
| into business for yourself. | | | | middle of the night) and get something done? Would |
| 1. Patience – Starting a business is the often the | | | | others describe you as an energetic self-starter or |
| easy part, making it profitable can take a long time. Do | | | | would they be likely to think of you as more of a |
| you have the patience it takes to work long hours, | | | | follower of the plans of others? If you do not have the |
| often for little or no money, until your business can | | | | ability to motivate yourself into action, then perhaps, |
| support you? Do you have the patience to deal with | | | | starting a business is not for you. No one but you and |
| irate customers in a calm and rational way, even if | | | | your family will care if you fail, thus, no one will be there |
| they are in the wrong? Do you have the patience to | | | | to urge you to do the many things you will need to do. |
| train and work with your employees and then not lose | | | | 5. Works Well With Others – This might sound like |
| your cool when they call in sick at the last minute or, | | | | what a kindergarten teacher writes on a report card |
| even worse, not show up at all? If you really intend to | | | | but this may be the most important of the qualities |
| go into business, you better have the patience for all | | | | listed here. Most businesses expose you to a wide |
| this and much more. | | | | variety of people and many will have personalities that |
| 2. Persistence – One of the most important qualities | | | | will rub you the wrong way. Others will do their best to |
| you must have to grow a successful business is | | | | cheat you out of something. Still others will lie or be |
| persistence. Persistence is what pushes you to do | | | | downright hostile. None of these make any difference; |
| everything required, whether you want to or not. | | | | you will need to do your best to work well with them |
| Persistence is also what sees you through the tough | | | | all. It is easy to work with someone you like, but it is the |
| times when you are just starting out. There will be | | | | ability to work with the ones you do not like that might |
| many times when you first start out when you will | | | | just make your operation a success. |
| question whether opening a business was the right | | | | Starting and running your own business takes many |
| thing to do. Persistence will be one of the keys to | | | | skills like marketing and accounting, but often it is the |
| getting through these times. | | | | qualities which are inherent in you that make the |
| 3. Decisiveness – As the owner of your own | | | | difference between success and failure. The good |
| business, you will constantly be forced to make | | | | news here is even if you are lacking any of these |
| decisions. These decisions will be large and small and | | | | qualities, you can learn them if you have a sincere |
| could mean as little as who you eat lunch with to | | | | desire to do so and are willing to put forth the effort it |
| something as large as where to locate your operation. | | | | will take. |
| Your success will depend on your ability to make | | | | |