Friday, May 18th, 2012
wowdepreneur
Profits are in the case, mummy. cosmoloan.com
Alison Leith looks at her genes to see what it takes to become an entrepreneur. Is it a learned thing or are you born with it. Or a bit of both?
Since I can remember, it has always been my belief that one day I would be self-employed.
As a highly skilled tradesman my father set up his construction company in his twenties. My mother added her accountancy and administration knowledge. They worked extremely hard but we were never exactly well-off, but we had a fulfilling lifestyle.
Today my father is the director of his own successful construction company but my mother, since their separation 15 years ago, is an employee.
My fiance and I run a Web Design business together from home. He decided last year the time was right to use his talents to create a better, more satisfying home life than the 9-5 grind.
Having only basic Web Design skills myself, the business is largely centred around his qualifications. Just like my mother, I provide administrative support as well as adding my knowledge of marketing and advertising.
None of my partner’s family are self-employed. Most of them have been with the same employer for decades which begs the question, are entrepreneurs born or raised?
It is apparent that most entrepreneurs share similar personality traits, such as being extraverted, determined, organised and having leadership qualities. Entrepreneurs are more driven by progression, strive to do things better without supervision.
A UK-US study using sets of Identical and Non-Identical twins has found a link between specific genes to entrepreneurialism.
If one twin had the supposed characteristics of an entrepreneur, the likelihood of the other twin having the same characteristics was higher amongst the Identical Twins. The same experiment also underlined that genes play an essential role in determining vocation and even job satisfaction.
More recent research says nurture has as much an important role as nature: children with more positive role models, general support and encouragement are more likely to succeed.
Book-keeping and management skills can be learned, but would those without the aforementioned genes still lack that ‘spark’ associated with entrepreneurial types?
Post Script: The twin experiment also underlined that genes play an essential role in determining vocation and even job satisfaction.
What do you think? Do you need to come out of the cradle yelling “show me the money”. Or can you be coached. Comments as always welcome.
Alison and her partner are design consultants to wowdewow. We don’t know what gene would make anyone want to do that.
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Tags: entrepreneurs, genes, twins study
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