The Internet is chalk-full of lists of characteristics that entrepreneurs must either possess or gain in order to be successful. However, not many of those lists will outline some characteristics that won’t get entrepreneurs far in their businesses. Here are four characteristics that successful entrepreneurs cannot let get the better of them.

1.    Being Obsessive

You may have heard this term on one of those many other lists, which is: successful entrepreneurs know how to delegate. With that, obsessive entrepreneurs have a hard time letting go. This characteristic can seriously hurt your productivity if you become overburdened. In addition to that, obsessing over every little detail is tiring! Learning to not stress about everything opens to door to the elusive “work-life” balance that every entrepreneur chases.

2.    Being Self-Righteous

Yes, you’ve started your own business and yes, things are going well, but like with laws, there are precedents in entrepreneurship that you should pay attention to. Even if you’re starting a business that’s never been seen before, there are baselines for building a business that should be followed. Find a mentor with similar business ideas to you and don’t be afraid to learn from them! As the old adage goes, two heads are better than one.

3.    Being Fearless

Being fearless, while enticing, will probably get you in more trouble. By staying cautious about your business objectives, you also keep yourself realistic. It’s okay to be afraid about expansion and taking a different direction – embrace that fear! It will help you keep your wits about it and sharpen your instincts for taking calculated risks.

4.    Being Predictable

You’re an entrepreneur! Which inevitably means you are not a sheep that follows the herd. This is just a casual reminder to continue doing what you do best: being unpredictable. You’ve always found a way to creatively put yourself ahead of the rest but when you’re tired or a little frustrated, don’t let yourself slip into following what the other people in your field are doing.

Luckily, if you’re already aware of the characteristics it takes to make a great entrepreneur, chances are you won’t have too many of these in your system. If you find yourself leaning towards them, it might be a good idea to take a step back and reassess how you’re handling your business. Until them, just keep doing what you’re doing!

© Zoe Begopoulos, DemGen Inc. 2014

Many entrepreneurs have trodden the same path in the last several years, following the advice of many, those that tell them they should be a niche brand; that this will give them an advantage over others who offer too much of a variety. After all, don’t numerous businesses do that already?

The mistake is in taking the advice literally. Specialization has turned into such a fad, that many entrepreneurs are only skilled at one thing, leaving them at a loss in an economy that may not need them at the moment. Most business and financial experts will tell you, (especially if you are just starting out), to leave specializing until you have been in business for many years, preferably retired and scaling down. By then you will know what you do best and what interests you the most. By that time you will also feel more secure with a part-time income.

Planning your career path far in advance can leave you wondering if you have made the right choices. Content business owners tend to be those who veered from a predictable path many times, often because they found themselves interested in something else. These interests, whether they realized it at the time or not, added value to what they were offering. They became professionals in many things, created a business that was unique and at the same time attracted more customers with their knowledge of products and services that may have been outside of their usual offers.

While some entrepreneurs feel they should focus on a core message in order to be taken seriously – women in particular – there are others who welcome the generalist approach, fearing they will get stuck in one business and in the  future will find they have no way to expand into another. They find that the “following your passion” approach to business leaves a lot of room for accountability and professionalism as well as too many so-so entrepreneurs masquerading as authentic and knowledgeable business people.

The perfect business is one that is a combination of what you are good at and also don’t mind doing. At the same time, it needs to be something that others find value in and will pay you for. Don’t worry that your business won’t be recognized as a niche market. Aim for quality; in your products and services but mostly in how you treat your customers. An established small business can create products for niche markets when it has been around longer and has a loyal and satisfied customer base.   It will be known for what it provides and how it provides it, not just for being a brand.

© Chris Draper, DemGen Inc. 2014

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