Entrepreneurship is a path that very few people have the ability to pursue and stick with. The challenge of entrepreneurship goes beyond the simple day-to-day tasks or even the skills required to achieve success. There's deep differences that separate entrepreneurs from everyone else and it starts with these 10 things that entrepreneurs do differently.
1) Go All In
Entrepreneurs are fearless. While mere mortals relish in their risk-aversity and conservative lifestyles, entrepreneurs know that there's no such thing as a risk-free proposition. So instead of putting their destiny in the hands of an employer, an entrepreneur takes their destiny in their own hands and goes all in.
2) Obsessively Pursue Perfection
Perfection is the only acceptable means to an end for an entrepreneur. They know that everything they put their name on is a reflection of them and their legacy, so they obsessively pursue perfection. While the mere mortal adopts the mindset of, "If it ain't broke don't fix it," the entrepreneur is intentionally trying to break things to find a way to make them better.
3) Work Around The Clock
"I can sleep when I die." That's the mentality of an entrepreneur. They work around the clock. Not because they have to, but because they want to. They're obsessed with the craft and the pursuit of their passion. While the mere mortal sits in their cubicle counting down the days, hours and minutes until the weekend, the entrepreneur is thinking about and looking forward to the next work day.
4) Shamelessly Promote Themselves and Their Business
Donald Trump, Sean Combs and Steve Jobs. What do they all have in common? They are relentless self-promoters. They will spare no opportunity to promote themselves and their businesses. While the mere mortal would prefer to remain nameless and faceless, the entrepreneur is constantly scoping out new opportunities to put themselves out there.
5) Smile in the Face of Danger
Just like a superhero from a comic book, entrepreneurs smile in the face of danger. Unlike mere mortals who see problems and disruptions as a sign to throw in the towel, entrepreneurs embrace murky waters. They look forward to danger as just another challenge to conquer and another great story to tell.
6) Invest in Themselves
Entrepreneurs invest in themselves. They know that in an uncertain world, the only person you can truly depend on is yourself, so that's who they invest in. While the mere mortal invests their hopes, dreams and financial security on their job, the stock market and the government, an entrepreneur diversifies their investments with the highest investment being placed in themselves.
7) Persevere Through Failure
Failure simply brings you one step closer to success. That's the mindset of an entrepreneur. They view failure as a natural part of the process one goes through while in their pursuit of success. The mere mortal has a very different outlook on failure. They are risk-averse and as a result they deviate from failure as often as they can because they're falsely led to believe that failure is a recipe for disaster. The entrepreneur knows this not to be the case, because the entire economy is built on the cycle of risk and reward, therefore without risk there is no reward.
8) Defy Conventional Wisdom
Entrepreneurs are not fond of rules or conventional wisdom. They know that conventional wisdom holds back humanity and prevents progress, so they challenge the status quo and defy those who say certain things can't be done. This is a stark contrast from the perspective of the mere mortal who embraces conventional wisdom. They ignore the history of humanity that typically gets it wrong more often than they get things right. Remember when humans thought the Earth was flat? This was conventional wisdom until Pythagoras, Plato and Aristotle came along.
9) Work With People Smarter Than Them
Entrepreneurs above any other trait are leaders. Successful entrepreneurs play this position properly and work with people smarter than them, whereas the mere mortal would more often than not prefer to surround themselves with people less intelligent and less capable than them. This approach provides an ego-boost for the mere mortal, but doesn't do much in terms of productivity, efficiency, progress and profits. Who is the mere mortal in this scenario? Often times it's a mid-level manager, V.P. or executive. An entrepreneur knows that this is an improper approach, because they know that in order to be the best, you must work with the best.
10) Build the Future Today
Entrepreneurs are forward thinkers. They're the modern version of philosophers of yesterday. They see the future, expose it to the world and react on it today. Mere mortals don't see things this way. They're perfectly content with keeping things business as usual. They're reactive as opposed to proactive. This is drastically different than the approach of the entrepreneur. An entrepreneur knows that waiting to establish Plan B until Plan A no longer works only ensures that Plan B will be unstable, hurried and incorrect.
Are you an entrepreneur? If not, don't fret. By understanding the unique approach to life taken by entrepreneurs you can begin to apply these principles to your life. Entrepreneurship above money, fortune and fame is a mindset. It's a way of life. Take these action items, apply them and watch as your life becomes more fulfilled, purpose-driven and satisfying.
Michael Price is an entrepreneur and author of What Next? The Millennial's Guide To Surviving and Thriving in the Real World endorsed by Barbara Corcoran of ABC's Shark Tank. An advocate of ideas for radical change, he has received critical acclaim for his lessons in education, career, entrepreneurship, and personal finance.