Traits of typical entrepreneur revealed
A TYPICAL entrepreneur isn’t particularly smart and lacks personal ambition. They were a loner at school but had to work hard at home.
Those were just some of the defining characteristics revealed in a survey carried out on behalf of the If We Can, You Can campaign, backed earlier this year by the Gazette to boost the number of people going into business on their own.
Guisborough fireman Matt Stirland, who was named the campaign’s Teesside Entrepreneur of the Year, said that, like many entrepreneurs, money did not motivate him. “I’m massively ideas driven,” he said. “What motivates me is coming up with an idea and seeing it move on.”
Organisers of the campaign, the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, said it wanted to “dispel myths and stereotypes“ that exist,” surrounding entrepreneurs by examining the psychology and dynamics behind those running a business.
It focused on a variety of influences including school, family, characteristics and career background to evaluate different triggers of entrepreneurship.
It found more than 55% of entrepreneurs rated themselves as average academically with only 33% describing themselves as ambitious, motivated and money driven.
But they shared a strong work ethic, instilled at a young age.
A total of 72% had a strict upbringing where doing chores and home work were a must. Nearly half described themselves as creative and opportunist.
Nearly all of them had worked for someone else, but more than a quarter had set up on their own because they were fed up with answering to a boss.
Almost half (47%) described themselves as a bit of an outsider at school and only half could look to their families for experience in running their own firm.
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