7 Unexpected Signs You Might Be an EntrepreneurBeing the next great innovator and business leader requires more than just being passionate and resilient.

ByRyan Holmes

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

LinkedIn Influencer,Ryan Holmes, published this post originallyon LinkedIn.

Remember Jeff Foxworthy? The comedian made a splash back in the "90s with his (slightly un-PC)"You might be a redneck"routine. Among his classic one-liners: "If you own a home that's mobile and five cars that aren't … you might be a redneck."

Well, inspired by Jeff, I've been thinking about a "You might be an entrepreneur" routine—in other words, slightly unexpected signs you've got what it takes to go through the thrilling, punishing, life-changing experience of starting your own company.

Yes, you've got to be passionate, resilient andall that other good stuff. But there are more subtle qualities needed, as well. Networking with other entrepreneurs over the years throughHootsuiteand working closely with young up-and-comers through my foundationThe Next Big Thing, I've noticed that a lot of us share some common personality traits. So, without further ado, you might be an entrepreneur if...

1. You're restless, and no achievement ever seems good enough.

When most people reach a goal they think, "I did it! Time to sit back and enjoy it for a while." An entrepreneur thinks, "Great, what's next?" Take the late fashion maven Coco Chanel. She started with a simple hat line, expanded into women's clothing, and eventually moved into jewelry, accessories and perfume. By the time of her death in 1971, Chanel had not only left behind an iconic brand, but a business empire that was bringing in $160 million annually. Entrepreneurs like Chanel don't stop with one big achievement. They're always itching to find and take on the next challenge.

2. You're a control freak.

Throughout my career, I've had to make a conscious effort to strike a balance between controlling my business and letting the talented people around me take the reins. It turns out that many of my entrepreneur friends struggle with the same challenge. It's great to have a CEO who cares about all the details of a company, but when that person needs to be involved at every level, it can become detrimental to getting things done. It can also stress out employees, who have been brought on precisely so you don't have to make each and every decision. Luckily, we can take some comfort in knowing that super entrepreneurs likeElon Musk,Steve Jobs, andBill Gateshave all been described as control freaks.

Related:5 Lessons I Learned Raising $250 Million For My Business (LinkedIn)

3. You're a masochist.

As an entrepreneur, you've got to love a little pain and a lot of risk. Consider the fact that75 percentof new startups fail. Only a masochist sets himself up to face those kind of odds, straight out of the gate. And it doesn't get much better after that, at least not at first. You'll struggle for money. You'll work unimaginably long hours. You'll be lonely, because while everyone else is out partying or watching movies, you're toiling away … often alone. Serial entrepreneurs—who start and run businesses one after another—could be considered even more masochistic, because they go into each new venture knowing what's coming.

4. You have a love-hate relationship with money.

Entrepreneurs generally fall in love with making money really early in life. A young Warren Buffett, for instance, had a paper route for the Washington Post and made money selling everything from lost golf balls to gum, stamps and magazines—all before he graduated from high school. I got my start washing windows of local businesses and selling snacks on paintball fields when I was still in elementary school.

But, eventually, many entrepreneurs are driven less by money and more by the innate thrill of launching a new venture and the freedom and control that come with it. By the time I reached college, my own attitudes had already started to shift. I was on the path to a law degree and a secure, well-paying job. Instead, I dropped out to start a pizza restaurant because it was more of a challenge and I could do it my way.

5. You're a black sheep, and maybe even a dropout.

许多企业家狗万官方将自己描述为不fitting in with the crowd. I definitely felt that way in high school. Lots of notable entrepreneurs have even ended up ditching the traditional education system altogether. Tech titan Bill Gates, billionaires Ted Turner and Li Ka-shing, Richard Branson and McDonald's founder Ray Kroc are just some examples of widely successful entrepreneurs who all dropped out of high school or college. While it's not always easy to be the outsider, it's exactly this quality— seeing things through a different lens from the rest of the world—that can help move society forward and drive innovation.

Related:How to be a Killer Marketer in the Digital Era (LinkedIn)

6. People think you're crazy.

Because entrepreneurs tend to think along different wavelengths, their ambitions can often come across as crazy to friends and family—especially before the vision has been made a reality. Take, for example, Ruth Handler, who created the world's most iconic plastic doll: Barbie. In the 1950s, Handler was met with doubt and criticism (including from her own husband) for proposinga doll that looked more like an adultthan a baby or child. She came up with the notion after seeing her own daughter playing with paper dolls that looked like adults. Handler, of course, went forward with the idea anyway, and the rest is history.

7. You're somewhat introverted.

To lead a business, you need to be super outgoing and salesy, right? Not necessarily. It turns out that roughlyfour in 10 top executives—including Google CEO and co-founder Larry Page—identify as introverts. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is also a well known introvert.Researchsuggests that introverts in the workplace foster a better team environment than their extroverted peers. And introverts are also known to be good listeners, a greatly overlooked but essential asset for good leadership. Few of the entrepreneurs I know are loud or assertive, especially not in big groups or meetings.

Wavy Line
Ryan Holmes

CEO, HootSuite

Ryan Holmes is the CEO atHootSuite.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

Kevin O'Leary Slams Anheuser-Busch CEO's Listening Tour, Says It Won't Stop Bud Light Backlash for One Huge Reason

Anheuser-Busch U.S. CEO Brendan Whitworth announced plans to hear consumers out this summer.

Money & Finance

Want to Become a Millionaire? Follow Warren Buffett's 4 Rules.

企业家是不能过度指狗万官方望太多a company exit for their eventual 'win.' Do this instead.

Business News

Netflix is Hiring an AI-Focused Role—and the Starting Salary is up to $900,000

The streaming giant is looking for a leader in its machine learning department.

Business News

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard's Family 'Stranded' at Boston Airport During 9-Hour Delay: 'We Made Quite a Home Here'

The actors spent $600 on pillows and blankets while waiting for their flight.

Business Ideas

55 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2023

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2023.