Most of my work experience has been within small businesses. My parents are both small business owners, and this type of work format feels comfortable for me. I had thought for a few years that I would like to own and manage my own small business, but I felt some apprehension about the responsibility and risk involved. I had heard about an organization called S.C.O.R.E., a group of retired executives who counsel prospective small business owners on a volunteer basis, and I decided to meet with one of them to discuss the feasibility of my aspirations.
Prior to meeting with the S.C.O.R.E. representative I did some reading on the qualities of successful entrepreneurs in order to prepare myself for the conversation. According to Jones, there are two types of entrepreneurs--the Lifers and the In and Outers. The Lifers dedicate their lives to one endeavor and develop it to the maximum. They grow into very large corporations and become fine examples of leadership and strategy. The In and Outers are quite creative. They develop an idea or a company to the point of secure profit, sell it, and then move on to develop something else.
Kuriloff and Hemphill discuss several characteristics of people who are successful entrepreneurs. These types of people who are good in the arena of small business creation and management tend to be objective and realistic. They strive for accurate and speedy feedback about what they are doing, and the are generally optimistic in novel situations. They have a practical attitude towards money, but they are not greedy. These types of achievers are committed to excellence and finishing tasks. They choose projects with moderate risks and are skilled at seizing opportunities which show potential for achievement.
It seemed part of my responsibility to prepare myself with this information before meeting with the S.C.O.R.E. volunteer in order to answer basic questions for myself about whether I am suite...