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You don't have to be born an entrepreneur.

When successful entrepreneurs talk about how they basically came out of the womb selling things, I feel like I'm not cut out for this path. It's so disheartening to see this stigma; 'you either have it, or you don't, and it comes at an early age.'

But maybe that's bullshit!

Lately I've gotten a reputation at my job for being an excellent public speaker. I used to be the WORST presenter ever. I was bottom 5%, really bad, hopeless at it.

But I just kept doing it. And now I'm known for it.

So, if we can learn to be great at skills we were born sucking at, why can't we become great entrepreneurs even if we didn't have lemonade stands when were kids?

https://www.madisontaskett.com/not-born-with-it/

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    Skills are learned and perfected but the personality traits that drive entrepreneurs all the way to the finish line are another matter... What teaches entrepreneurs to keep building, to take huge risks, to think they know better than others, to keep trying despite the failures, to work more than their fair share? People are born with the drive - and it's actually a curse for the vast majority.

  2. 2

    Hey Madison! Great article!

    I didn't do much research into whether the traits of successful entrepreneurs are genetically inherited or one gets them from the environment you grow up in.

    But just listening to Guy Raz's How I Built It Podcast or reading Founders at Work by Jessica Livingston (a very anecdotal set of evidence), it's pretty obvious that no one entrepreneur is of the same profile or build. Every single one has a unique story, a unique set of strengths, and weaknesses.

    Yes, they share similar traits: persistence, faith, self-confidence BUT all these traits can be trained if there is a strong will.

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      Thanks for sharing! This is comforting.

  3. 2

    Hi Madison. I've seen so many different cases of entrepreneurs without any experience at business before and learning everything on-the-fly.

    • I was TERRIBLE at writing. Now, I think I'm BAD at it. lol
    • I was also terrible at sales. Then, after years supporting sales team, gained knowledge and learned to sell my own product.

    If you don't have it, you definitely can learn it!

    1. 2

      "I've seen so many different cases of entrepreneurs without any experience at business before and learning everything on-the-fly." Thank you for this! I still need to hear it (and I bet others do, too).

      And by the succinct way you organized your response, I'd say you are better than a bad writer! 😉

  4. 1

    Personally, I don't believe entrepreneurship can be taught or learned. I'm one of those people that say "you either have it or you don't" 😅

    That's not to suggest skills can't be acquired overtime.

    Similar to @technopreneur, I believe it's more about personality traits and a particular "make-up" that makes someone an entrepreneur. From what I can tell, a lot of this is grit, tenacity and a general curiosity that isn't found in people who are simply talented in one arena or another.

    I read your full blog; it sounds like you're an entrepreneur to me. As far as I can tell, entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes—we don't all start out as amazing public speakers (I know I wasn't), but an entrepreneur is someone who sets aside the stigma and plays the hand their dealt. We rise to the occasion and do what it takes to acquire the skills we need to succeed.

    My 2 cents.

    1. 1

      Thanks Chris, I hadn't thought of it this way. I wonder if traits like grit/tenacity can be taught?

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        I don't want to say it isn't possible, but I don't think I've seen it personally!

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