I Have No Business Being in Business

 I've been self-employed, full-time, since 2011 and part-time even longer. As time has progressed, I've become aware of the supposed qualities of the popular character traits of what a business owner is expected to have. My virtual mentor, Dan Miller, posted on his blog another list of these traits with only slight variations of the others I've seen over the years. 

As I read these lists, I must admit I grew quite discouraged, especially in the early days of my solo ventures, because I recognized I had very few of the "requirements" or character traits of the traditional entrepreneur. Here are just of few from Mr. Millers' list:

• Have a positive outlook
• Enjoy competition
• Plan ahead  
• Have a high level of confidence and belief in my abilities
• Enjoy what I'm doing
• Work long hours
• Support of my spouse

There are more but these are the ones that stand out in my experience because the possession of these traits has come into question over the last 11 years. Of course, everyone's situation is different, but I must say I respectfully take issue with Mr. Miller's list and most of the other lists of character traits I've come across over the years. 

Being the reluctant entrepreneur that I was, I possessed painfully few of these traits. If I had truly believed that the required traits were necessary, then things would have been dreadfully different. I would never have attempted to earn a living on my own, and according to the list I should have never tried. Based on conventional advice, I should have simply given up completely and continued to work low paying, unfulfilling jobs. 

But necessity is the mother of invention as they say, and I started working on my own regardless of what the "experts" said. 

However, as time went on, I've discovered what few people discuss openly or write about in the realm of the self-employed. Even though I was aware of how few qualities I possessed of the traditional business owner, at least in the beginning, I was driven by my need to earn income, pay my bills and eat. These are the qualities that trump the litany of features espoused by conventionality. 

But as time progressed and my business and reputation grew, I became the type of person who possessed many of the qualities listed. The requisite features of a typical business owner, though not initially apparent, developed over my time as a businessman.

So, I venture to say that if one possesses the qualities listed then one will increase one's chances of success from the start but it isn't required. What is required is the unconquerable sense of responsibility and duty that drives a person.