The Belief (Part 1)— Characteristics of an Entrepreneur

Being an entrepreneur is first and foremost about believing in yourself. Without this strong belief in yourself, it is impossible to believe in the ideas and values that make up your business. Belief is the seed from which all else grows and evolves in the journey from ‘just an idea in my mind’ to a full-fledged successful venture. The belief is the beginning of every potential possibility and the innermost core of the entrepreneur.

Turn your vision into reality.

(Part 1 of this series will talk about internal beliefs. Stay tuned for Part 2 which will elaborate on the external variety.)

The fundamental internal belief is self-belief. This is a calm and centered understanding that you will be able to handle both the certainties and the uncertainties of whatever endeavor you pursue. You believe that every obstacle in your way will be overcome either by skill or by will, and that the obstacle is but a stepping stone in the journey towards realization of your vision.

Entrepreneurship does not require perfection on every level. On the contrary, it requires openness to mistakes and being able to make decisions based on partial information. Half of the time, your decisions will be based solely upon a gut feeling, and that’s okay. You know that your mistakes are your learning opportunities to make better decisions down the road. Do not let the pursuit of perfection halt your progress.

Strongly believing in yourself should not be confused with arrogance, as arrogance denotes a wild oversight of one’s own shortcomings. Self-belief is the idea that you can and will reach your goal, no matter how many times you’re told “No!”… which will be often! True belief in yourself, in your ideas, and in your business will keep you moving forward, allowing you to readjust, regroup, and rebound when there are setbacks along the way.

As a result of a strong self-belief, four character traits that emerge:

1. Passion — When you believe in something, you connect with it on an emotional level. Successful entrepreneurs are mentally, physically, and emotionally connected to their work. Passionate people will always give that extra effort to meet the goals they set out. Some venture capitalists claim that this is the spark that you see in the eyes of a destined-to-be successful CEO.
2. Self-confidence — Self-confidence stems from a belief that you will be fine no matter what situations arise. You trust yourself to take action, be it right or wrong. You know that your business rollercoaster will dip, twist, and turn only to find you firmly seated and ready for the next surprise maneuver. True confidence equates to a comfortable knowledge of the self. If you know your strengths as well as your limitations, you should naturally rank high in this trait.
3. Responsibility — You take responsibility for your actions. You shift the blame away from outside circumstances and start to look at yourself if things go awry. The embodiment of this trait is that you allow yourself full control of your own destiny, which can be whatever you set your mind to.
4. Positivity — When you fully believe in yourself, every cell in your body aligns to help you reach your goal, whatever that may be. One of the outcomes of connecting with what you are doing is that the goal manifests and is played out in your mind regularly. It’s a constant reminder of the great things that will materialize should you stay the path.

A strong belief in oneself is at the heart of all entrepreneurs. It is what pumps life into you, into your vision, and into your business. With so many moving parts in starting and running your own business, it is easy to lose sight of why you started and how to go forward. Belief in yourself and your ideas is where it starts, and it will pull you through the tough times and pat you on the back when you get to where you need to be.