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Netrepreneur Personality Traits

I have always had the entrepreneurial frame of mind - seemed to have come naturally to me. Both parents had their own businesses, so I was exposed to that environment at a young age. I actually remember in high school thinking about ways to make money rather than be in class all day. If that meant working 10-12 hour days, 3 jobs or 7 days a week that was fine by me. And, I did just that. I was raised to believe that the sky was the limit if you were willing to work for it; maybe that is why work is easy for me.

For whatever reasons, I never saw barriers. I always strove for more rather than taking the easy, consistent or predictable road and settling for less. Risk - what’s that? With the risks I have taken, I don’t view them as risks at the time. In retrospect, only then do I perceive them as the actual risks they were. Challenges - bring ‘em on! That is the attitude and history that has made me a fish in water with technology.

I think this is fun, amazing, exhilarating and a challenge every day I sit down at this desk. I never know what will be in my e-mail, what opportunity will become apparent, what client or potential new partner will call to add some new twist to my day. What a blast! Right? Right for me - but not many. . . I have found that not every personality is conducive to being self-employed, being online or having a successful online program. I can spot those with True Netrepreneur potential a mile away!

While this environment of constant flux, ongoing knowledge acquisition and consistent change is something I thrive on, many involved in technology are confused, frustrated, aggravated and wish there was a better way. A better way . . . wow. How do you help folks who feel that way about one of the most unbelievable opportunities in our history for businesses of every size, shape and methodology to gain market share, get the edge over competitors, learn new skills? I am not sure you can help. There is no “better way” other than to learn, apply and work hard. Aren’t those the very staples that build most successful businesses and by the way, this fine country?

When I first started consulting in the early 90’s I admit I was naive. It was crystal clear to me what this technology would do to our lives, in business and for entrepreneurialism overall. The floodgates had opened. No doubts in my mind! I was excited about the opportunity to bring all this wonder and opportunity to those who wanted to participate. I was willing to teach, mentor and coach anyone with the desire to succeed. I had been a corporate trainer and came into this with the skill set and patience to effectively transfer knowledge and skills. I wanted to help folks to grow their businesses, be the first with something new so they had the edge over their competitors. Something that would remain “new” for a long time. Something that was going to change the way of doing business, as we knew it - forever.

After over 9 years, that naiveté is now a thing of the past. One cannot teach those who do not want to make the effort to learn, apply, work hard - no matter what level of patience is involved by my side. So much of a Netrepreneur’s success has absolutely nothing to do with me or is within my control to change.

Below are traits and attitudes I have identified are those necessary to anyone who wants to get involved in and succeed with technology. They have proven the test of time and can be learned or acquired if one so desires. It is one thing to call yourself a entrepreneur; it is quite another to successfully become a True Netrepreneur.

1. Knowledge Acquisition: True Netrepreneurs are well versed in the amount of technology they have to understand, the knowledge and skills they must acquire to succeed that pertains directly to their program. Ask any one of them - there is no way around this and it wasn’t easy. They determined what they needed to know to run their online program effectively and if they don’t want to be an expert in certain areas, they partnered with those who are proven experts and make them a welcomed part of their team. The basics of what a business owner needs to know to participate successfully online is more than most want to embrace. Those that are True Netrepreneurs go through the frustrations of getting past any roadblocks of understanding so they can reach their goals.
2. Business Savvy: True Netrepreneurs have an innate ability to be able to make their decisions solely from a business point of view. They have strong overall business experience off-line and know certain staples need to be in place and practiced to succeed. They assume the same with their online presence and are willing to do their due diligence to ensure the decisions they make are made from a information based point of view not on how they “feel” or what they are “willing to deal with” but on what will ensure their success.
3. Relationship Building Skills: True Netrepreneurs know how to nurture their business relationships to instill open communications and an environment for their partners to have the latitude to successfully do the job they were hired to do. They prefer to engage in long-term mutually respectful partnerships rather than be classified as just another customer. Their relationship with their partners reflects this attitude. They do not challenge their partners based on non-qualified or less experienced resources. They put their trust in their partners to do their job - which is to make them successful. With all the inaccurate information and noise available about having a successful online program, they prefer to rely on their partners to tell them what they need to do, know, and think about rather than try to absorb or question every bit and byte of information.
4. Non-Egomaniacal: True Netrepreneurs realize the need to put their ego on the shelf so that they can be informed, coached and advised in areas they have no experience in. They do not want their weaknesses catered to. They don’t want issues sugar-coated. They want to get to the crux of what is required for them to succeed even if that means it may not be what they perceived. They welcome being told when they are incorrect on issues important to their program’s health. They would rather be told they are wrong and correct the situation rather than have “being right” limit their success.
5. Desire to Succeed: True Netrepreneurs have an insatiable desire to succeed. No matter the hours required, the costs involved, the time that will be required of them to be spent investigating new markets, trends, software, applications. They accept the fact that to succeed with technology will be an ongoing challenge where the only consistency is change. They make a point of listening to their partners to keep ahead of the competition and they do not piecemeal that advice when applying it to their program. This desire pushes them ahead through the frustrations, challenges and unknowns.

The above traits make the difference between unlimited potential success and frustrated settling for less. For those who are not True Netrepreneurs but only play one on T.V., the proven way to success makes working with me a sometimes unpleasant experience. I challenge them to be the best they can be with their online program only to receive excuses. My realistic methodology is taken as making things more difficult, expensive or not catering to the “customer is always right” attitude. I make each client aware of the variables and issues necessary for them to reach their goals and don’t compromise on my recommendations or standards in the guise of customer service - in the long term that would be a disservice.

The True Netrepreneurs that I partner with realize the importance of the information and recommendations I advise as many times being time-sensitive and directly relative to their level of success. They distinguish my track record, the experience and expertise that I bring to their program as a rare commodity. They don’t question advice based on less credible information that may cater to their weaknesses. They know that my only goal is to make them successful and hopefully more comfortable in a very difficult and ever changing environment. They know I am here to hold their hand and to discuss their frustrations without having to personalize issues because they feel insecure in an arena that isn’t their forte.

That is what I am here for and am proud to be part of. There is nothing like having a client who begins a bit unsure and uninformed and then to watch them blossom into one of the True Netrepreneurs I describe above. I guess I now know how parents feel when watching their children graduate from college. Pride, happiness and anticipation of the exciting things that the future holds for them.