So you've got the bug, but is entrepreneurship really for you?

If you're reading articles about starting a small business, chances are good that you have the itch to start your own business, but having the desire to start a business and having what it takes to be successful can be two very different things.  Too many businesses start with the best of intentions, but later fail due to poor leadership/management, lack of direction, or simply from lack of the skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur.  Don't let this discourage you, but keep in mind that before you venture into a new small business, you should assess yourself, your goals and your abilities to make sure that you have what it takes to be successful in a new small business.

Entrepreneurial Tests
There are plenty of tests online that will give you an "entrepreneurial score" that will hopefully give you a good idea on whether you have what it takes to be successful in business.  Keep in mind as you look at these tests that many of them are created by people that are trying to sell you something (whether it be a franchise, a book that will help you succeed, or a "proven" system that can turn anyone into a successful entrepreneur).  You want to look for tests that are objective and that will assess your personality traits to see if in fact you have the drive to successfully run a business.  It's not just about having a good idea; consider that many of the most successful businesses today were started by people who have found success in several different business (examples would include the founders of Skype, Craigslist, Twitter, etc.).  The idea here is not that they got luck multiple times, but that they had what it takes to take a good idea and turn it into a successful company.

DISC Assessment
The DISC test is a tried and true assessment that takes a variety of questions and gives you a dominant and secondary trait.  Created in 1928 by psychologist William Moulton Marston, the DISC is separated into 4 quadrants, each with a specific trait.  D for dominance, I for influence, S for steadiness, and C for conscientiousness.  Nearly everyone will have a high in one area and a secondary in another, and good entrepreneurs will almost always have a high D.  The D demonstrates the ability to lead, think on your feet and often act first, think later.  While this can be a dangerous way to go through life, it also seems to be what allows good entrepreneurs to succeed time and time again because it represents the personality trait that allows someone to act on instinct.  This quick action is what allows companies to get years out ahead of the competition and it is a must for a strong leader.

Personal Assessment
Finally, it's time to get introspective.  The best tests in the world will never know you as well as you do, so doing a self-assessment can be the best way to really figure out if you're ready to take the plunge.  A few probing questions to ask would include: "Am I ready to invest the majority of my time and money into this business opportunity?", "Is my family supportive of this business opportunity?", and "If the business is not successful, will i regret having tried to make it?".  Take these questions seriously.  Get a day away from people, turn of your cell phone and computer and go be alone with just a pen and paper and spend some time thinking deeply about what it will take to start your small business and what questions and potential problems may arise.  This will help you not only figure out if the small business opportunity you're considering is a good idea, but it will also give you a good idea of whether you're cut out to be an entrepreneur.  In the end, go with your gut, give it your all, and hopefully it will all work out.