Comments on: The #1 most important personality trait of an entrepreneur http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/ thoughts on how the Internet intersects with work, play & life Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:09:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Lucas http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-33266 Lucas Tue, 17 Mar 2009 05:48:51 +0000 http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-33266 The most successful organisms are those that can make adaptations the quickest. Think of microbiology... Archaea and Bacteria are found everywhere. While they may not fly like an eagle, run like a cheetah or swim like a dolphin, these lifeforms are masters of adaptation. This trait allows them to thrive in environments that are too salty like the Dead Sea, too hot like the undersea vents in Marianas Trench, volcanic springs in Yellowstone National Park or in the acidic slurry found in industrial effluent like copper or gold mines. Adaptation leads to success not only in nature but in business as well. It is after all, quite a jungle out there. The most successful organisms are those that can make adaptations the quickest. Think of microbiology… Archaea and Bacteria are found everywhere. While they may not fly like an eagle, run like a cheetah or swim like a dolphin, these lifeforms are masters of adaptation.

This trait allows them to thrive in environments that are too salty like the Dead Sea, too hot like the undersea vents in Marianas Trench, volcanic springs in Yellowstone National Park or in the acidic slurry found in industrial effluent like copper or gold mines.

Adaptation leads to success not only in nature but in business as well. It is after all, quite a jungle out there.

]]> By: Don Campbell http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5244 Don Campbell Sat, 03 May 2008 03:06:13 +0000 http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5244 Absolutely true. That's why most VCs and Angel investors you talk to will say they don't invest in ideas, they invest in a great team of people. They know the original idea is going to change a lot before the business becomes successful, and great entrepreneurs can adapt along the way. The tricky part is knowing when to stick with something and when to change. I really like Seth Godin's book "The Dip" as a way to think about that topic. Great post - thank you Melissa! -Don Absolutely true. That’s why most VCs and Angel investors you talk to will say they don’t invest in ideas, they invest in a great team of people. They know the original idea is going to change a lot before the business becomes successful, and great entrepreneurs can adapt along the way.

The tricky part is knowing when to stick with something and when to change. I really like Seth Godin’s book “The Dip” as a way to think about that topic. Great post - thank you Melissa!
-Don

]]> By: Al Sargent http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5228 Al Sargent Sat, 03 May 2008 00:12:43 +0000 http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5228 No doubt flexibility is important. Your anecdotes illustrate that. But how do you do know it's the MOST IMPORTANT trait for entrepreneurs? Your article presents no research presented to back up what you're claiming. It would have been nice if there were -- perhaps a survey of a few hundred entrepreneurs, asking what trait they think was most important to their success. Sorry to rain on the parade... No doubt flexibility is important. Your anecdotes illustrate that. But how do you do know it’s the MOST IMPORTANT trait for entrepreneurs?

Your article presents no research presented to back up what you’re claiming. It would have been nice if there were — perhaps a survey of a few hundred entrepreneurs, asking what trait they think was most important to their success.

Sorry to rain on the parade…

]]> By: Azhar http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5219 Azhar Fri, 02 May 2008 21:04:03 +0000 http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5219 Really true, Ideas keep changing. What should not change is the willingness to start a start up. Until and unless, Start up dreams are alive, ideas can change any number of times. Really true, Ideas keep changing. What should not change is the willingness to start a start up. Until and unless, Start up dreams are alive, ideas can change any number of times.

]]> By: Vishal Shah http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5207 Vishal Shah Fri, 02 May 2008 17:07:34 +0000 http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5207 Entrepreneurs are nothing without passion. Entrepreneurs are they who are passionate about something, who believe that the thing that they are most passionate about is something special and to live that passion, they make themselves adaptable. So, I don't completely agree with the gist of this article, because it lacks talking of the No. 1 thing, 'Passion'. Entrepreneurs are nothing without passion. Entrepreneurs are they who are passionate about something, who believe that the thing that they are most passionate about is something special and to live that passion, they make themselves adaptable. So, I don’t completely agree with the gist of this article, because it lacks talking of the No. 1 thing, ‘Passion’.

]]> By: Aditya Kothadiya http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5206 Aditya Kothadiya Fri, 02 May 2008 17:04:59 +0000 http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5206 I have written extensively on this topic - What Makes Them Entrepreneurial here - http://www.adeologue.com/adeologue/what_makes_them_entrepreneurial/index.html One of the traits I have mentioned is this adaptability attribute - http://www.adeologue.com/adeologue/2007/07/what-makes-them.html I am still interviewing few successful entrepreneurs and understanding what made them entrepreneurial. It's very important to learn these traits and develop those. I have written extensively on this topic - What Makes Them Entrepreneurial here - http://www.adeologue.com/adeologue/what_makes_them_entrepreneurial/index.html

One of the traits I have mentioned is this adaptability attribute - http://www.adeologue.com/adeologue/2007/07/what-makes-them.html

I am still interviewing few successful entrepreneurs and understanding what made them entrepreneurial. It’s very important to learn these traits and develop those.

]]> By: Vaibhav http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5202 Vaibhav Fri, 02 May 2008 16:12:32 +0000 http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5202 Great post and certainly i agree with you on this. Cheers Great post and certainly i agree with you on this.
Cheers

]]> By: Ethan Bauley http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5201 Ethan Bauley Fri, 02 May 2008 15:48:11 +0000 http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5201 Ability to thrive within dualities: Conviction v. flexibility Emotional v. practical Social v. GTD Selling v. listening The list goes on forever... Ability to thrive within dualities:

Conviction v. flexibility
Emotional v. practical
Social v. GTD
Selling v. listening

The list goes on forever…

]]> By: Entrepreneurship: Some quick links at mitu.nu http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5200 Entrepreneurship: Some quick links at mitu.nu Fri, 02 May 2008 15:46:20 +0000 http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-5200 [...] What is the #1 most important personality trait in an entrepreneur? Hint: according to Melissa Chang, it’s adaptability. I was glad to have discovered this blog actually, a lot of very interesting discussion on entrepreneurship, important and undesirable traits, and general reflections on starting up. Great Stuff! [...] […] What is the #1 most important personality trait in an entrepreneur? Hint: according to Melissa Chang, it’s adaptability. I was glad to have discovered this blog actually, a lot of very interesting discussion on entrepreneurship, important and undesirable traits, and general reflections on starting up. Great Stuff! […]

]]> By: EvanA http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-4931 EvanA Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:28:54 +0000 http://www.16thletter.com/2008/02/22/the-1-most-important-personality-trait-of-an-entrepreneur/#comment-4931 Traits of entrepreneurs? I would say stubbornness and impracticality (you have to be a bit insane to quit your job and decided to start something on your own.) Traits of entrepreneurs? I would say stubbornness and impracticality (you have to be a bit insane to quit your job and decided to start something on your own.)

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