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5 Ways You Know You Are Ready To Be An Entrepreneur

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Not everyone has what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Some are waiting for perfect timing. Others have a need for security. But the most common reason is the wrong mindset.

If you want to step out you’ll have to conquer all of the above. Entrepreneurship is neither simple nor easy, but for you it may be necessary to your sanity.

Here are 5 ways to know you are ready to be an entrepreneur:

1. You don’t fit in

If you are working in a job and making good money then you should be happy. That’s what all the normal people think. “Just be glad you have a job.” But you aren’t glad. The thought of working at the same place, with the same people, on the same schedule for the next 20 years is enough to make you ready to throw in the towel.

Having a job doesn’t work for you. It’s not just that you don’t fit in, it’s that you don’t want to fit in. If you don’t fit in working for someone else, then it’s time to work for yourself.

 

2. You think differently

Apple made the phrase “Think Different” into the calling card of a generation. For you thinking differently means that your mind is constantly solving problems. Ideas for new ways of doing things come to you unbidden. You can’t understand why everyone just keeps moving along the same path without considering how it could be improved.

Sometimes you wake from a dead sleep with a new plan and have to write it down. When someone comes to you with a dilemma or you see an unsolved situation on the news you start brainstorming. Your mind tends to jump from topic to topic, always looking for the innovative answer. If you think differently then you may be ready to become an entrepreneur.

“Let’s go invent tomorrow instead of worrying about what happened yesterday.” – Steve Jobs

3. You’re always pushing for change

Facebook used to have a simple mantra for developers, “Move fast and break things.” Although CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently updated the motto to deal with bugs in code, the principle is still valuable. You’re the one at work who keeps giving the boss new ideas. You know there is a better way and you won’t be happy until you try it.

Most of your family has told you more than once, “Just leave well enough alone” or “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” Seriously. It drives you crazy. Well enough is ridiculous. You want the best possible! If you’re always pushing for change then maybe it’s time to become an entrepreneur.

 

4. You can’t stand having a ceiling

You have a manager. They have a manager. Next possibly a president or CEO. Perhaps your corporate infrastructure is more complex. The point is you’re not the person at the top. You want to make the decisions, call the shots. Your need to push for change keeps getting thwarted by people above you. Then there is your pay. It’s controlled by a union, on a pay scale or what is “applicable for the job description.” Don’t even think about asking for a raise that is above market average.

Look around you. Check out the people making the great money, running things their way. They don’t have a ceiling and neither should you. Becoming an entrepreneur can blow through any ceiling.

 

5. You know it’s possible

You’re the crazy one. The one who has tried 3, 4 or a dozen different things. Your friends and family have bought more network marketing products from you than they’ll ever admit. You’ve read the books, gone to the events and listened to the podcasts.

Your mind is primed for the top. Think and Grow Rich is on the book shelf and you’re following Sir Richard Branson on Twitter. You are in entrepreneurial social media groups, attend entrepreneur meetings and shop local businesses just to help another person following their dreams. You don’t just have belief, you have knowledge. Time and hustle are all you need for success. If you know it’s possible to have your freedom then it’s time to become an entrepreneur.

There is no security in this earth, there is only opportunity.-General Douglas MacArthur

There are a thousand reasons to stay in a safe, secure, stable job. Except you know that there is no such thing.

If any one of the items listed above is true for you then you may be ready to become an entrepreneur. But if two or more are true then you almost certainly are ready. If you don’t pursue your dreams you’ll only have yourself to blame.

Are you ready to be an entrepreneur? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

I help people develop amazing relationships and love what they do every day. I'm a writer, speaker and coach and you can read my articles on great sites such as the Huffington Post, Addicted2Success, the Good Men Project and Lifehack. Happiness in life and passion in your work are my goals. Meet me at TroyStoneking.com and Troy Stoneking on Facebook.

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Business

The Entrepreneur’s Reading List That Transforms Ideas Into Empires

These must-read titles and writing insights reveal how entrepreneurs turn bold ideas into empire-level success.

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top entrepreneurship books for business growth
Image Credit: Midjourney

Entrepreneurship is powered by stories—of accomplishment, failure, and decision moments that define businesses. Books are maps, providing insight from individuals who’ve traversed the road ahead. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

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Bridging the gap between employees and employers
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In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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Entrepreneurs

What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators

Inside the mindset of entrepreneurial leaders who transform risk, passion, and vision into world-changing results.

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entrepreneurial leadership skills and traits
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When you think of Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), and Ted Turner (CNN), one thing becomes clear: they are not just entrepreneurs, they are entrepreneurial leaders. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

Building a Business Empire: Lessons from the World’s Boldest Entrepreneurs

Learn essential lessons, success strategies, and mindset shifts every aspiring entrepreneur needs to overcome challenges and build a thriving business.

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how to build a business empire
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Back in July 2017, I attended a business seminar on entrepreneurship in India. With my appetite for learning and meeting new people, I wanted to explore the latest developments in the entrepreneurial world. (more…)

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