Lea F. Olegario
SPENTREP: Factors Paper – A Self-Check
To be an entrepreneur has always been at the back of my
mind. As much as I fear it, I find myself taking small steps towards becoming
one. Since I have chosen Entrepreneurship over a lot of available electives, I
guess I have revealed and personally accepted that I have more interest in
being an entrepreneur than I originally thought I had.
I have often felt that I was not born an entrepreneur and I
was wondering if I could be one. In the article 12 Essential Characteristics of
an Entrepreneur, the author has cited 12 characteristics shared by all successful
entrepreneurs. These are the characteristics that the article said that if a
person lack will make him or her fail in being successful in the
entrepreneurship field – I need to check myself against these to have a better
view of where I stand as I try to go closer to the door of the entrepreneurship
world. An Entrepreneur is,
1. Confident
Confidence is the belief in oneself that may be innate in a person or a
result of being able to overcome challenges. I have been a shy girl during my
early years but now I can say that I have earned enough confidence to trust
myself to be able to do things and work with all kinds of people. It was
developed by the many opportunities that I have delved into and the
difficulties I have overcome both in my personal life and in work. Confidence
shows in how we make decisions, choose options, and treat other people. I still
have to improve more on my confidence such that I have to be firm in the things
that I believe is right and not do the second-guessing game every time.
2. Feels a Sense of Ownership
Taking responsibility of the things assigned to us and putting the burden
upon ourselves to take care of these things to make sure we achieve success is
what ownership really is. I have this in excess which I think is becoming a
flaw on my part. I own and take accountability of the tasks assigned to me
ready to own even the negative effect of other people’s actions as long as they
are in my line of responsibility. I share in other people’s accountability even
if I should leave them to it. I have not been very successful in getting all
people under my care to own up to whatever they are doing. Although I have it,
it is essential that I transfer this to others to be able to have a working
enterprise even without me getting fully engaged in it.
3. Able to communicate
Understanding is derived from effective communication whatever form it
may be in – written or spoken language, signs, papers, etc. Communication is
very important in keeping an enterprise and in establishing and expanding networks,
which are things necessary in growing a business. I have a fairly good grasp of
the English and Filipino languages and can talk to different kinds of people.
Listening is also a skill that I have which is a very important part of
communication. I still have to learn how to say difficult things as it is
necessary if I am to have my own business and a lot of people under me. On a
more specific note, at the current times, knowing other foreign languages would
help me get more opportunities than those who only know the normal English and
Filipino languages.
4. Passionate about Learning
Entrepreneurs normally seek out knowledge and learning on their own. They
learn from their experiences and try to always seek out new teachings that
would help solve their problems and enable them to create new things. I am a learner
and my taking up an MBA is a proof of that. I always want to broaden my skill
and expose myself to things I have not experienced before. Every time I learn
about some new thing, it just makes me realize how little I know. But then
again I see myself as a Jack of all trades and I believe to really be
passionate about learning is also to devote ample time in perfecting a craft
and knowing it inside and out. I need to be able to focus on a certain thing
and learn more about it first, and once I know I have enough to be able to use
or apply it effectively then I can go on the next one.
5. Team Player
No man is an island is the first thing that comes to mind. No great
enterprise is composed of one person. We always need others and their help. I am
a believer that two heads are better than one and more heads is even better. Working
in teams makes the task easier to bear for each other or at least that is the
purpose. I am a team player in that it propels me to do my task if I know that
the whole team will be affected by my not doing the tasks assigned to me. I
support the direction of the group and always try to contribute. Sometimes
though I feel that working alone is more efficient on some tasks as trying to
come to a compromise is a hard task most especially when a lot of people in the
group are vocal. This helps develop though character and leadership.
6. System-Oriented
Developing a defined way of doing things is key to ensuring organization,
efficiency, and quality in a business. I am very keen on developing processes
and procedures so that there will be a guide on how things need to be done,
making it repeatable every time. However, being too systemic may hamper creativity.
I think sometimes I am more of a logical person than an imaginative one.
7. Dedicated
Focus and a lot of energy are what dedication is all about. Once I set
myself on achieving something I place a lot of my time and energy to try to
finish it. But then I have noticed that in goals that takes a few years there
were times that I lost focus and got discouraged on certain setbacks. I realize
that it takes me a while before I get back on course again – but then again I know
I have already set my mind on the goal so I know it is only a matter of time before
I continue getting back on track and finishing it.
8. Grateful
To be grateful in both the big and small things keep one hopeful. This is
something very important that an entrepreneur must have as it can keep their
drive in whatever they are doing. I can say I am grateful in what I have but
not as grateful as I want myself to be. I tend to forget the many privileges I have
until I am reminded of them by a person or an event. This is something I need
to develop as it will remind me of all the things I am capable of even when I
am going through setbacks and will also let me be content and satisfied in what
I have.
9. Optimistic
A positive outlook is more than being grateful. It is not contentment but
the confidence that the future will always bring one to a better place/state. I
see the future with the mindset that there are other great opportunities
waiting for me. I cannot say I am optimistic as I feel like I am just psyching
myself up when I use that word. But then I am hopeful and I believe hope is
behind what we call optimism. This causes me to continue on during difficulties
which I think is very useful as running a business will never be always smooth
sailing.
10. Gregarious
A people person is normally outgoing. I consider myself a people person
but gregarious is definitely not a word I would associate myself with. I spend
time with a lot of people and can talk a lot of times but I have an introvert
side in me that needs time alone and yells for rest after talking to so many
people. Being an introvert makes me a thinker which is good because I get to
reflect and learn on things I did but it also induces depressions and makes me
dwell on things more than I should. I have to learn how to get back up faster
and get out of the ‘thinking too much’ state sooner than the rate I do right
now if I am to survive the hardships that entrepreneurship risks may bring.
11. A Leader By Example
The entrepreneur is a mover of people and one way to do this is by
setting an example for the members of the enterprise. This type of leadership
has always been my advocacy but I think I still fall short on this. The team
follows me but I have not had the chance to develop leadership in them. I need
to be able to make them be leaders in their own way and extinguish my hold or
control of things.
12. Not Afraid of Risk or Success
To be discontented is one way to describe this but it is really the
courage to get out of the status quo and not be afraid of change. I am not a
big risk taker but I welcome calculated risks and of course successes. What I
am more afraid of is to be bored and stay in one state for a long time. I am
worried and scared though that my decisions will affect others negatively,
which may in an enterprise. I have to learn how to be able to live with risks
and be able to sleep on it even if it might have a negative effect on the whole
company if it turns out not the way I planned it to be.
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