2 ms·

They are: Self-Motivation Persistence Plays Well With Others Attention To Detail Quick Thinking

SlyShy 17y ago
My question to you is: Are these ever not good traits for someone to have? I chuckle whenever I see this kind of post, because saying "having <positive trait> makes you better for <something>" is a non-statement--that's the definition of a positive trait. These analyses would be more interesting if they were about qualities that aren't pure benefit. Would having a short attention span be of benefit, because you constantly work on the most profitable venture and never get stuck on something without potential? Or are the drawbacks too great? Is it good to be controlling of employees, because you want something done exactly right, or is it too annoying?
jacquesm 17y ago
Self motivation could simply be greed or envy. You can be an entrepreneur just fine when you think slowly, are sloppy and do not play well with others. I don't even think it is a measure of success. For me that leaves persistence. Another one that is hard to define is 'start-up', I've seen it used here from one end of the spectrum (where I would use 'hobby project', 'trial balloon' or something like that) all the way to million dollar+ in turnover, funded and now self-sustaining entity (something that I would call a mid size company).
- spencerfry 17y ago
  In no way can you be greedy, sloppy, slow, and not play well with others. Those are all traits that are going to lead to your eventual downfall. They're all negative traits that will prohibit your company from growing and ultimately being a success.
  - jacquesm 17y ago
    I can cite you off-hand at least 10 examples of not-so-nice people that made it big in business, I have a real problem finding more than 3 that I think are or were successful and that are very nice people. It may be just my experience. But the Dilbert series has to ring true to so many people for a reason.
    - gvb 17y ago
      Dilbert lives in a cube farm in a large corporation. Neither he nor his co-workers are entrepreneurs. Dilbert rings true because so many people live in cube farms and many entrepreneurs have escaped cube farms. Based on your other comments, it appears you live in or escaped from a cube farm yourself. Your comment "people that made it big in business" is telling... at the point someone has made it big in business, their business is likely to be big and they are not likely an entrepreneur any more.
      - jacquesm 17y ago
        > Based on your other comments, it appears you live in or escaped from a cube farm yourself. Hilarious :) Would you mind citing the comments that gave you the impression I live in or have escaped from a cube farm ? > at the point someone has made it big in business, their business is likely to be big and they are not likely an entrepreneur any more. So, someone who has a large business is not an entrepreneur ?
        gvb 17y ago
        Would you mind citing the comments that gave you the impression I live in or have escaped from a cube farm? You said you were a boss and appreciate Dilbert. Good predictors, but apparently not flawless. ;-) So, someone who has a large business is not an entrepreneur? That is not a disjoint set, but it is a very small set. The qualities spencerfry talks about, I associate with small businesses. Spencerfry (now) says this explicitly in a comment on his web page.
        jacquesm 17y ago
        I've seen one or two Dilbert episodes, and I typically relate it to how large companies are being run where-ever I go. I've been a boss, the last time more than five years ago, it is a frustrating experience when compared with the freedom I've got as an independent. The last time I was actually employed is ages ago and it never was in a 'cube farm', nor did I have to escape (in fact, I had a really nice boss, but he definitely was the exception). Small businesses and large businesses are completely different beasts, but entrepreneurs are found in all businesses by definition.

My question to you is: Are these ever not good traits for someone to have? I chuckle whenever I see this kind of post, because saying "having <positive trait> makes you better for <something>" is a non-statement--that's the definition of a positive trait. These analyses would be more interesting if they were about qualities that aren't pure benefit. Would having a short attention span be of benefit, because you constantly work on the most profitable venture and never get stuck on something without potential? Or are the drawbacks too great? Is it good to be controlling of employees, because you want something done exactly right, or is it too annoying?

jacquesm 17y ago

Self motivation could simply be greed or envy. You can be an entrepreneur just fine when you think slowly, are sloppy and do not play well with others. I don't even think it is a measure of success. For me that leaves persistence. Another one that is hard to define is 'start-up', I've seen it used here from one end of the spectrum (where I would use 'hobby project', 'trial balloon' or something like that) all the way to million dollar+ in turnover, funded and now self-sustaining entity (something that I would call a mid size company).

spencerfry 17y ago
In no way can you be greedy, sloppy, slow, and not play well with others. Those are all traits that are going to lead to your eventual downfall. They're all negative traits that will prohibit your company from growing and ultimately being a success.
- jacquesm 17y ago
  I can cite you off-hand at least 10 examples of not-so-nice people that made it big in business, I have a real problem finding more than 3 that I think are or were successful and that are very nice people. It may be just my experience. But the Dilbert series has to ring true to so many people for a reason.
  - gvb 17y ago
    Dilbert lives in a cube farm in a large corporation. Neither he nor his co-workers are entrepreneurs. Dilbert rings true because so many people live in cube farms and many entrepreneurs have escaped cube farms. Based on your other comments, it appears you live in or escaped from a cube farm yourself. Your comment "people that made it big in business" is telling... at the point someone has made it big in business, their business is likely to be big and they are not likely an entrepreneur any more.
    - jacquesm 17y ago
      > Based on your other comments, it appears you live in or escaped from a cube farm yourself. Hilarious :) Would you mind citing the comments that gave you the impression I live in or have escaped from a cube farm ? > at the point someone has made it big in business, their business is likely to be big and they are not likely an entrepreneur any more. So, someone who has a large business is not an entrepreneur ?
      - gvb 17y ago
        Would you mind citing the comments that gave you the impression I live in or have escaped from a cube farm? You said you were a boss and appreciate Dilbert. Good predictors, but apparently not flawless. ;-) So, someone who has a large business is not an entrepreneur? That is not a disjoint set, but it is a very small set. The qualities spencerfry talks about, I associate with small businesses. Spencerfry (now) says this explicitly in a comment on his web page.
        jacquesm 17y ago
        I've seen one or two Dilbert episodes, and I typically relate it to how large companies are being run where-ever I go. I've been a boss, the last time more than five years ago, it is a frustrating experience when compared with the freedom I've got as an independent. The last time I was actually employed is ages ago and it never was in a 'cube farm', nor did I have to escape (in fact, I had a really nice boss, but he definitely was the exception). Small businesses and large businesses are completely different beasts, but entrepreneurs are found in all businesses by definition.