Do I Have What It Takes?

By now, you will be able to put together a good picture of the qualities and skills required to succeed in your own business. You are likely to be happy and successful in your own business if you:

• possess an inner drive to be independent;
• are able to set and achieve goals;
• are flexible and adaptable;
• are willing to work hard;
• have confidence in your ability to succeed;
• possess self-discipline, leadership abilities and organizational skills; and
• have the confidence to make decisions and take calculated risks.

 If you don’t have all these qualities, you might need to develop some additional skills, or perhaps you might require an associate, partner, or employee whose strong qualities can counterbalance your weaknesses.

If you don’t have at least some of these qualities, you will have to decide if a small business is the right career option for you. If it isn’t, and you are already employed, you might be better off staying in your current job and creating new possibilities there. If that doesn’t work, you might consider other jobs that could interest you either with your current employer or with a new one. If you do not have a job, perhaps you should look for new employment in your area of expertise.

If you are still having difficulty deciding if starting a business is the best career option for you, go through the reality check again with a friend or someone you trust to be honest with you. Ask them for their opinion. Compare notes. The exercise can be very revealing – and worthwhile.

This preceding check list and information was derived from public information available on Strategis and HRDC government web-sites.