Studies have shown that successful entrepreneurs possess these

characteristics:

1. Self-confidence

This is that magical power of having confidence in oneself and

in one's powers and abilities.

2. Achievement Oriented

Results are gained by focused and sustained effort. They

concentrate on achieving a specific goal, not just

accomplishing a string of unrelated tasks.

3. Risk Taker

They realize that there is a chance of loss inherent in

achieving their goals, yet they have the confidence necessary

to take calculated risks to achieve their goals.

Entrepreneurs are people who will make decisions, take action,

and think that they can control their own destinies. They are

often motivated by a spirit of independence which leads them to

believe that their success depends on raw effort and hard work,

not luck.

So which of these three main characteristics is the most

important? Believe it or not, it has to be self-confidence.

Without self-confidence, nothing else is possible. If you don't

believe in your abilities, then the first challenge that arises

may knock you off the path to achieving your goals. Here are a

few things to keep in mind for maintaining a higher level of

self-confidence.

Positive Thinking

Well, it all starts with a positive attitude, doesn't it?

Believing that something good will happen is the first step.

Negative thinking simply is not allowed. You must truly believe

that there are no circumstances strong enough to deter you from

reaching your goals. Remember too, that positive thinking can

be contagious. When positive thinking spreads, it can open

doors to new ideas, customers, friends, etc.

Persistent Action

Now all of the positive thinking and believing in the world is

useless if it is not applied towards a goal. You have to take

action, no excuses are allowed. This action must also be

persistent. Trying once and then giving up is not going to be

enough. Keep at it one step at a time. If you can't get by a

certain step, then find a creative way to try again or just go

around it.

At the beginning of this article we identified a few traits

that are common among successful entrepreneurs. You should be

able to look ahead and see yourself where you want to be. Now

just maintain a strong belief in yourself and your skills,

stick with it, and don't give up. If you can do that, you're

already half way there!