The Most Successful Entrepreneurs Have These 5 Traits In Common

culled from:inc.com

1. They Have Passion

Perhaps the most important of all traits for successful entrepreneurs is passion. Despite many opinions on the matter, passion isn't really excitement some get at the chance to jump on a trend or fad in order to make a quick buck. It's more about the belief in your product or service; the idea that it may have a positive impact on your community or the world in some way. Even if your passion project doesn't come to fruition, it's enough to keep you motivated day in and day out, during all the ups and downs. When you love what you're doing, you're going to fight hard each day to build a product that has what it takes to grow strong.

2. Ability to Bounce Back From Failure

Some say this is the most important entrepreneurial quality. It's one thing to take a risk and be willing to fail; it's a completely different trait to dust yourself off and get back on that proverbial horse. This is what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the ones who failed. Take Bill Gates and Paul Allen for example. They failed with Traf-O-Data before they made a fortune with Microsoft. Just imagine if they couldn't handle the stressful and challenging time following the collapse of Traf-O-Data and quit. The world might be a drastically different place. Failing isn't easy. But if you want to be successful it's something that you must experience and bounce back from.

"People don't want to talk about him because of the disgraceful way he eventually left the White House, but you have to look at Richard Nixon's ability to bounce back after multiple failures," says longtime entrepreneur Jordan Kasteler. "He was not only defeated by John F. Kennedy in the presidential race, but lost a California governor's race soon after. Several years later he rises like a phoenix from the ashes and wins the presidency. If that's not the perfect demonstration of bouncing back, then nothing is."

3. They Are Just Likable Enough

There's a fine line that entrepreneurs must walk when interacting with people. They can't always be that charismatic, outgoing individual that everyone seems to love. However, they also can't be that socially awkward person who refuses to socialize either. Remember, as an entrepreneur you may be the face or top executive of a startup. You have to be taken seriously as an executive, but also sociable enough when networking or trying to develop your brand's reputation. Mark Zuckerberg is a good example of an entrepreneur who has cultivated a good amount of likability over the years. Sure he can appear awkward while speaking publicly, but he has improved because he does it often. His recent awkward but endearing ice bucket challenge video shows he is a work in progress, and that makes him just likable enough to many people.

4. They Know Their Strengths and Weaknesses

The most successful entrepreneurs have a pretty solid understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. What this means is that successful entrepreneurs are comfortable and confident in their set of skills and talents. They've evaluated themselves to some degree and know business tasks and roles they aren't good at as well. Take the "Steves" for example. Without Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs wouldn't have had a computer to sell. And, without Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak may have never sold the Apple 1. Both men complemented each other's strengths and made up for their weaknesses.

5. They Are Serial Innovators

Not only can entrepreneurs spot a problem, they may also try, and often succeed, at finding a way to fix the problem somewhat quickly. In fact, fixing problems is what drives most entrepreneurs. They are always observing and listening to the world around them and then developing ideas that can innovate. Take light bulbs, for example. They were pioneered to some extent by British chemist Humphry Davy in the 1800s, but have become associated with Thomas Edison because he made them last-longer. Successful entrepreneurs realize that they don't have to invent the wheel. They just have to make the wheel better or more accessible.