Entrepreneurial Personality Quiz

Instinct: Tapping Your Entrepreneurial DNA to Achieve Your Business Goals
by Thomas L. Harrison, Mary H. Frakes

(Page 6 of 8)

Section II

A B

Which statement has been more applicable to your career? (a) "If I can believe it, I can achieve it," or (b) "The only believable victories are probably the temporary and partial ones."

If you had to organize your own daily schedule and calendar, you would (a) be fine; you're highly organized about most things, or (b) miss or be late for a lot of meetings.

If you're forced to break a promise to your best friend, would you be more likely to say to yourself (a) "I'll either find a way to keep my promise eventually or make it up to him somehow," or (b) "Well, we're good friends; he'll understand."

What you accomplish in your life defines who you are: (a) I agree, or (b) I disagree.

Which statement best describes what you do when faced with a task you dislike? (a) "The sooner I get this out of the way, the sooner I won't have to think about it anymore," or (b) "I know I've got to do it sometime - just not now."

When you use your intuition in making a decision, you (a) do so only after you've spent some time thinking through all the issues first, or (b) rely on your initial gut reaction, which usually proves to be the right one anyway.

Total for Section II

Section II: Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness examines your ability to control impulses and plan to achieve your goals. If you had mostly As, you probably have a sense of your own ability to get things accomplished and control your own destiny. Your obligations to others are important to you. You probably are considered dependable, persistent, prudent, and tend to act and/or think in an organized, methodical way. If you are extremely high in Conscientiousness, you may even be a perfectionist and a workaholic. Finally, you may have a high desire for achievement and recognition. Scoring high on Conscientiousness indicates an aptitude for actually following through on an entrepreneurial idea.

If you had mostly Bs in this section, you tend to act on your impulses, sometimes without thinking things through. People may see you as spontaneous, flexible, and free-spirited; they may also see you as inconsistent, scattered, and unreliable. You may have long-term goals but be relaxed or even indifferent about pursuing or achieving them. You may also be easily distracted by a new or different goal, or procrastinate about the steps necessary to achieve it. Entrepreneurs who are low on Conscientiousness will need to find ways to provide themselves with some impulse control, focus, planning, and organization.

Section III

A B

When you meet someone whose company you enjoy, you are more apt to (a) invite them over to your house for a social engagement, or (b) wait for them to indicate an interest in getting together.

After you've been to a party with a lot of other people, are you more likely to feel (a) energized, maybe even sorry to leave the party, or (b) tired and ready for some quiet time alone?

When a meeting you're involved in but not responsible for seems to be drifting and ineffective, you (a) try to take charge and focus the discussion, or (b) wait to see if the discussion becomes more productive and something valuable will emerge.

On vacation, would you prefer to spend more time (a) going, doing, and seeing as much as possible, or (b) relaxing, reading, and kicking back?

If you were a car, would you prefer to be (a) a Ferrari Modena, racing from Paris to Dakar, or (b) a classic Bugatti, carefully tended and pampered by your owner?

People often comment on your ability to create an atmosphere of joy and cheerfulness: (a) True, or (b) False?

Total for Section III

Section III: Extroversion

Extroversion looks at how comfortable you are with actively seeking out and connecting with other people. If you had mostly As here, you enjoy socializing and talking with others. People see you as assertive, energetic, and high-spirited; you may even be considered the "life of the party" type. You enjoy being busy and feel restless if you're not. In general, you probably think of yourself as a pretty happy person much of the time. You tend to prefer excitement and stimulation to peace and quiet. Extroversion can be an asset for an entrepreneur who must constantly sell his or her product.

If you had mostly Bs, you probably tend to be somewhat low-key and quiet. This does not mean you dislike people or are antisocial. You simply don't need as much stimulation and excitement as an extrovert does, and are less likely to seek it on your own, though you may enjoy it if someone else initiates it. You have less difficulty being alone than others, and less need to dominate a conversation. When you do socialize, you probably prefer smaller groups. People may think of you as a bit reserved. Entrepreneurs with a low Extroversion score need to understand how to make sure that their reserve or lack of exuberance is not misinterpreted as unfriendliness or arrogance.

Copyright © 2005 by Thomas L. Harrison

About the Author

Thomas L. Harrison is chairman and CEO of Omnicom Group's Diversified Agency Services, the world's largest holding group of marketing services companies.

Mary H. Frakes is an award-winning writer and editor, and the author of Mind Walks: 100 Easy Ways to Relieve Stress, Stay Motivated, and Nourish Your Soul.