Are Entrepreneurs Born or Bred 2.0 ?

Some say that entrepreneurship cannot be taught — that true entrepreneurs are born with the drive, determination and burning desire to start their own businesses. People with certain personality traits are more likely to be and succeed as entrepreneurs. Results from surveyed entrepreneurs suggest that their inbuilt entrepreneurial desires drove them to start businesses. Recently, blogger Mark Suster started a series of blog posts about the traits that make up an entrepreneur. So far, tenacity, street smarts, the ability to pivot, resiliency, inspiration, perspiration and the willingness to accept risk have been highlighted, with more to come. Can these traits be taught or must they be innately wired into the entrepreneur? The other side of the spectrum says that anyone has the potential to be a successful entrepreneur if they put in the effort and work hard. These believers say that there is no set “entrepreneur personality” and that, while successful entrepreneurs may share some like characteristics, there is a mixture of personality types that can be successful in the entrepreneurial world. This category of entrepreneurs is widespread: the ones who work hard and learn in business school, the ones who took a risk when the opportunity presented itself, and more. Their views and actions embody the American Dream — that hard work can reap desired success. Some say that one of the most important characteristics an entrepreneur must possess is the tolerance for risk. Does that recognition of, and tolerance for, risk have to be intuitive? Or can it be taught? Or is it a mixture of both? Enough said, we believe that we conveyed our idea. Cheers!