Entrepreneurs may not have much choice in deciding whether or not to become one. When the desire to take a chance on an idea and to pursue it dominates someone’s being, the path to becoming an entrepreneur is unmistakable. The thought of choosing an alternate path is unthinkable and a waste of time.
The Business News Daily cited a description by Jordan Fliegel, the founder of Coach Up: “Entrepreneurship is an unavoidable life calling pursued by those who are fortunate enough to take chances [and are] optimistic enough to believe in themselves, aware enough to see problems around them, stubborn enough to keep going, and bold enough to act again and again.”
The awareness of the need to follow the path that Robert Frost called “the one less taken” is both powerful and motivating. As Fliegel emphasized, “Entrepreneurship is not something you do because you have an idea. It’s about having the creativity to question, the strength to believe and the courage to move.”
Staying the Course
Tenacity is a virtue among entrepreneurs that some may regard as going too far and doing too much. The Harvard Business Review ranks it on a par with focus as one of two essential characteristics that entrepreneurs possess. The Review notes that Einstein’s comment that doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different outcome is insane may not apply to the group of people who seem to see things in a different light. Every woodsman knows that hitting a lick in the same place enough times can produce results.
Relying on Determination
Entrepreneurs share a belief that a mental outlook can make things happen. Golfers often express the hope that their ball does not go into the bunker, and it goes exactly there as though fulfilling a wish. Coaches recommend using a positive thought on the tee, and it often produces desirable results.
Australian poet Walter Wintle was unaware that calling everyone a man was not politically correct, but his poem makes a point: “Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man, but soon or late the man who wins is the one who thinks he can.” Determination gains strength from seeing challenges as something to enjoy.
Respecting Others
The level of confidence that entrepreneurs have that enables them to see potential that others miss and the risks that seem not to matter make humility an essential characteristic. Entrepreneur cited a study by the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington regarding the essential nature of humility: “Humble people tend to make the most effective leaders and are more likely to be high performers in both individual and team settings.” A respectful attitude toward other people engenders the ability to listen intently and perceptively. Respectfulness conveys kindness, understanding and peace, and it makes anyone who displays it approachable, an essential quality in a successful entrepreneur.
Exuding Enthusiasm
The evidence of an entrepreneur’s passion can appear in a variety of ways. It may take shape as a work ethic that does not pay any attention to a clock and the willingness to work as long as it takes to get a job done. It may show up in putting savings into a project as Open View suggests.
American poet and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson led a rather quiet and contemplative life, but he understood that conviction to pursue a goal with energy was essential. Entrepreneurs inherently understand his belief that “nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” High levels of energy and passion for a goal do not obscure an entrepreneur’s ability to sense when something is off track. Instead, it heightens the capacity to make corrections at the earliest opportunity.
Relying on Education
Some of the most successful entrepreneurs tout their decision to drop out of college to devote their attention to developing their concepts and following a dream. They may have chosen a course of study that was the wrong one for them, and it failed to pique their interest. Many others found inestimable value in earning a college education for the knowledge gained not necessarily from textbooks.
Interacting with others in an educational environment teaches communication, collaboration and negotiation, skills that enhance an entrepreneur’s success in the business world. A degree in music or art may not seem as relevant as finance or marketing, but any field of study that captures the interest of a budding entrepreneur has significant value.
Tracking Todd Lubar’s Entrepreneurial Path to Success
With a firm grasp on all of the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur, Todd Lubar enjoys days of fulfillment that respect the rights, opinions and desires of others by helping them achieve their dream of owning a home. He incorporates the guidance from the Foster School of Business to remember that humility makes good leaders. His shows respect by listening to clients who expect the best outcomes.
His education features a degree in Speech Communication from Syracuse University that gave him insights into listening with purpose. He expanded his knowledge by working in diverse areas such as construction and demolition, entertainment and nightclubs, mortgage banking, recycling and real estate development to broaden his understanding of people as well as business.
His 20 years of experience in the credit and financial markets propelled him to his position as President of TDL Global Ventures and Senior VP of Legendary Investments. He stayed the course and earned the opportunity to give consumers the relief from obstacles that block their path to home ownership. His determination and enthusiasm for the services that he provides to others have placed him in the top 25 originators of home mortgages in the United States for several years.
The combination of tenacity, determination, respect for others, enthusiasm and education makes Todd Lubar an exceptional entrepreneur. He sets an outstanding example for aspiring achievers to follow.
