The 4 Types Of Entrepreneurs — Which Are You?

I read an interesting book called Entrepreneurial DNA by Joe Abraham, the founder of BOSI Global, an operating partner to venture-backed and owner-operated companies. The book is based on Joes study of over 1,000 entrepreneurs. The research confirmed the discovery that all entrepreneurs are not all wired the same way. The book suggests that entrepreneurs fall into four distinct types of entrepreneurial DNAs that leverage unique strengths, weaknesses and tendencies that are typical in each specific type of entrepreneur. Here are the four types:

1. A Builder

A drive to build highly scalable businesses very fast. When this DNA is high in an individual, they break past $5 million in revenue within 2-4 years and keep going to up to $100 million. Thats because these individuals measure success through a very unique lens infrastructure. It drives the decisions they make and the strategy they build and deploy. They arent satisfied with a certain amount of personal income or goodwill toward man. They are Pied Piper-like individuals who are master recruiters of talent, investors and customers. Builder DNA activates certain behaviors like a controlling temperament leading to a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde like demeanor in the office. Individuals with high Builder DNA tend to struggle most with personal relationships and typically have a revolving door of talent in their companies.

2. An Opportunist

Picture Sir Richard Branson and you have a pretty good idea of what Opportunist DNA is all about. Individuals wired with this DNA are highly optimistic master promoters. They enjoy marketing and selling. They are wired to sniff out well-timed money making opportunities, jump in at the right time, ride the wave of growth up and (hopefully) jump out at the peak. Opportunist DNA measures success based on the amount of money they make (or will make) when they arent working. So they are drawn to business opportunities where leverage can be used to create residual and renewal income. This behavioral preset in entrepreneurs makes them impulsive decision makers especially when it comes to money-making opportunities. A trait that can serve them very well or be the source of their demise.

3. A Specialist

This DNA activates in the experts of our world. No sooner does an individual go through years of schooling, apprenticeship or on-the-job training does this DNA activates driving the corresponding behaviors. Specialist DNA drives one to be very analytical, relatively risk averse and anti-selling. Specialists generate most of their new business from referrals and networking. They measure success based on their personal income. Their businesses tend to grow fairly well in the startup and early growth phase, but as soon as their personal income hits preset targets, their internal thermostat kicks in and they go into customer service mode. Research found that most Specialist-owned businesses plateau in revenues well below $5 million. The ones that get past this level take significantly longer to do so than Builder DNA companies, often decades.

4. An Innovator

Picture Mark Zuckerberg in the movie The Social Network and youll see Innovator DNA activating in the entrepreneur. Like most Innovators, he was doing something he loved, when a business opportunity popped up around him. The breakthrough discovery typically drives this entrepreneur in the lab of their business where they want to invent, design and tinker. They would much rather be in the lab of their business than at the cash register or in the business office. They find operating a business draining. They measure success based on the impact their product or service is having on mankind. Its not about the money youll hear them say. Id do this for free for the rest of my life if I could. Individuals with high Innovator DNA control most of the great intellectual property of our time. Unfortunately, they hide in dungeons and find it hard to engage in business discussions.

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The 4 Types Of Entrepreneurs -- Which Are You?