[Think Like an Entrepreneur] Ep. 4 Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurship is the latest hot new career and everyone seems to want to throw their hat in the ring and grab the dream.

However, as awesome as entrepreneurship looks, it’s one of the hardest things you can take on. So the question becomes do you really have what it takes to be an entrepreneur?

There are three things that I believe will help determine entrepreneurship.

First, are you willing to do whatever it takes for this business to take off? I’m not saying a few late nights here and there, I’m talking about whatever it takes. It could mean finding more money. It could mean a month of little sleep. It could mean so many things, but I’m talking whatever it takes.

I was fortunate to grow up on a farm, so hard work is honestly nothing to me. I’ve been doing it all my life. I never had summers or holidays off. So when building my first business meant I had to work my butt off for a few years, I was all in because the rewards later were so worth it.

Second, are you willing to risk it all? Now, I’m not saying you need to put every single dollar of your savings on the line. What I am saying is that you need to be willing to risk some. The more you have on the line, the more you will be willing to do what it takes. If you don’t have anything to lose when the going gets tough, you might not just get going.

Third, passion only goes so far, are you willing to work beyond that? Every single business I’ve built, I’ve been passionate about. However, passion doesn’t do the bookkeeping (that’s one thing I’m not keen on). There are tasks that you’ll have to deal with every single day that you won’t love. However, the passion you have for what you’re doing has to be so strong that it will get you through those not so awesome days. So the question isn’t are you passionate about this, and if yes, that’s great. The question becomes how passionate are you about this? And is it great enough to pull you through it all?

Entrepreneurship has by far been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.  Obviously, I personally can’t stop building businesses. However, it’s not an easy road to climb and that’s why not everyone does it.

So dig deep and before you jump into that next idea.  Make sure you’re willing to put it all on the line to make it happen.