I don’t know about you, but I’ve been a rule breaker for most of my life. I could always find a better way to do things and, in many instances, my bosses didn’t appreciate my innovative spirit. When I was in the corporate world, it wasn’t uncommon for my boss to pull me aside before unleashing a new method or requirement to get my buy-in. I’ve never been good at hiding my feelings, my face always gives me away. I don’t have to say a word to everyone in the room to know if I agree or disagree with a decision. Needless to say, that didn’t always serve me well when I worked for someone else. I grew up working in our family business. Looking for efficiencies and better ways to do things is literally in my DNA! So, it came as no surprise when I quit my job and started my own business. I actually think my boss was relieved. LOL When I think back to my school days, being an entrepreneur was never discussed on career days. I remember always being told I was aiming too low, I could be more if I just could see the bigger picture. Now, I can admit that working for someone else just never seemed like a FUN idea! Can you relate? As early as I can remember, I had an entrepreneurial mindset. What does that mean? Basically, it is a belief system that embraces the idea that you can always improve your current situation and live life on your own terms. If you’re a coach, I’m sure you share those thoughts and beliefs. You probably don’t consider what you can do to earn money, you look for ways to generate money to support the lifestyle you are striving for. Entrepreneurs succeed because they believe they can. Failure is never a consideration in their mind. They simply think they just need to try a different tactic or create a connection with the right people to get their idea off the ground. Everything is based on learning and they accept the premise that failure is a stepping stone to success. When I think about the entrepreneurs who have been in my inner circle, I have seen these 20 characteristics show up consistently:

Independence

Entrepreneurs aren’t followers. They lead the pack when it comes to innovations. They are driven to carve their own path. They let their inner drive drown out the voices of naysayers.

Responsible

They take radical responsibility for their lives. They own their thoughts and actions no matter the outcome. They don’t have time to play the victim or the blame game. They embrace every experience as an opportunity to grow.

Abundant

They understand there is more than enough for everyone. They know they can always create a new opportunity or make more money. They are open and generous with their ideas and support.

Driven

They are goal-oriented. They have BIG dreams and aren’t afraid to tell the world about them. They want to see progress so they use SMART goals as a way to measure progress.

Not afraid of failure

They embrace failure as an opportunity to grow. They don’t shy away from trying new things and forging new paths. They realize that failure means they are trying new things and pushing their own limits.

Growth-minded

They believe they can learn new things, develop new skills and grow as a person. They live life through the lens of becoming. They believe they can be or accomplish anything if they devote a consistent effort. They are obsessed with personal development because they see success as a byproduct.

Seek feedback

They are constantly on the lookout for ways to shortcut their success. They welcome feedback and input to speed up their learning. They don’t concern themselves with validation, they focus on progress and outcomes.

Lifelong learners

Instead of seeking pleasure through entertainment, they focus on growth and learning. They spend their time taking online courses, reading books, listening to podcasts, creating better processes, and evaluating workflows. They believe that the most important type of learning takes place after they get out of school.

Forward thinkers

They look at the big picture. They are concerned with long-term results. They understand that BIG goals take a long time to achieve, so they break them down into bite-sized measurable steps. They begin with the end in mind and reverse engineer the process in order to create the most efficient path to reach the finish line.

Self-acceptance

Entrepreneurs accept themselves in totality. They have an honest assessment of themselves and they work to improve themselves in a holistic manner. They know they can change and become whoever they want to be.

Self-awareness

They have a heightened sense of self. They study their strengths and weaknesses in order to develop plans that play to their strengths. They know they can invite people into their circle who can close the gaps in their weaknesses.

Collaborators

They understand they can accomplish more together than they can on their own. They think in terms of “we” or in terms of “teamwork.” They are good leaders.

Courageous

They are not afraid to make tough choices and follow through. They know that they will have to push through fears and limiting beliefs to attain their goals.

Comfortable outside of their comfort zone

They accept that growth brings about discomfort. They are willing to expand their thinking and discover what is on the other side of their discomfort.

Adaptable

They know they only need to know the next step to reaching their goal. They realize that even if they had the full blueprint, they would have to pivot and adapt to the constant changes around them.

Problem solvers

They are constantly looking for problems to solve. They embrace the idea that the best way to build a business is to solve other people’s problems.

Resilient and Tenacious

They are self-motivated and don’t let failure get them down. They have a strong work ethic and they are driven by their passion. They possess a sticktoitiveness that most of us lack.

Focused

Once they set a goal, nothing else matters. If an action or decision doesn’t support their goal, they simply don’t do it. All of their energy is channeled to achieve the goal.

Action takers

They don’t just make plans. They turn those plans into action steps. They are movers and shakers.

Decision-makers

They confront issues head-on. They make assessments and choose a path forward. They are confident in their abilities and take action.

How many of those traits do you see in yourself?

As we close out 2021 and look ahead to 2022, take some time to reflect on the past year. What worked well for you? What could use some pivoting? Was your mindset in the right space to help you achieve your goals?

Now is a great time to start prepping for your success in 2022. Take time to identify where you could uplevel your mindset. Find an accountability partner, mentor, or coach to help you get from where you are to where you want to be.