⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

5 Personality 'Flaws' That Are Entrepreneurial Gold If you're often chided to be nice and fit in, it might be a sign you should follow your own path.

By John Rampton

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Not everyone is cut out for the corporate grind and nine to five, and yet it's a system that the majority of Americans find themselves in. Square pegs smashed into round holes? Check. Having your 30 minute lunch be the highlight of your day? Everyone else is doing it. There are major personality differences between entrepreneurs and employees, and understanding that what others (or yourself!) may consider "flaws" are actually great building blocks for entrepreneurial success.

This doesn't mean you can excuse horrendous qualities for the sake of entrepreneurial quirkiness. However, it does mean that criticisms don't necessarily mean you should go against your instincts. Complaints about your habits or tendencies aren't always commands to force change. Take a look at some common "personality flaws" that are actually fantastic qualities of entrepreneurs.

Maybe it's your career, not your personality, that you need to change.

1. One track mind.

This could be dubbed "obsessive", "overachiever" or another word laced with negativity. However, ask any successful entrepreneur what it takes, and they'll often tell you it's an unstoppable need (not want) to succeed. Those 100+ hour work weeks, major sacrifices and sleepless nights aren't going to be fueled on anything but a one track mind. Work-life balance is an oxymoron for many entrepreneurs.

Related: 18 Things to Know Before You Date an Entrepreneur

2. Problems with authority.

Have you always been told you can't follow directions, you dove right into class assignment before teachers gave the go-ahead, or questioning authority (like refusing car searches when you get pulled over) is your MO? What others see as a rebellious streak or inability to follow orders is actually exactly what you need to be an entrepreneur. Sheep don't become the next Steve Jobs. As long as you keep things legal, it might just be a sign that you're more entrepreneur than worker bee.

3. A series of failed relationships. Or none at all.

This comes back to that whole work-life balance thing. Just because you've never had a long, successful relationship doesn't mean you "can't commit." For entrepreneurs, they're more ready for commitment than Leonard Hofstadter -- it's just that they've committed to their careers. It doesn't necessarily mean you're not growing up, are destined to be a perpetual playboy (or woman), or that you haven't found "the one" yet. What your friends and family don't realize is you're madly, passionately in love with the one. It just happens to be an entrepreneurial venture.

Related: 10 Habits That Will Dramatically Improve Your Life

4. You're an introvert-hermit-recluse.

Not all introverts are Jeff Bezos' in the making. However, just because you're not a social butterfly, that doesn't mean there's anything "wrong" with you. Many successful entrepreneurs have been called quiet, introverted, anti-social and other terms that may have made high school a struggle. While it's always a good idea to hone your networking and public speaking skills, many alleged "introverts" are actually highly skilled at observing, planning and executing great things.

Related: From Selling Water on the Street Corner to a Multi-Million Dollar Online Business

5. You're arrogant.

Have you been called arrogant or told that someone needs to take you down a peg or two? Humility and false modestly are traits that don't necessarily serve entrepreneurs well. As the founder of a startup, the first person who has to believe in you and your project is yourself. You're likely your first investor, cheerleader, fan and support system. The more you say or act like less than you are, the more you'll internalize it.

A small percentage of Americans are successful entrepreneurs—but many more have the personality traits of them. Are your "bad qualities" actually entrepreneurial boons in disguise?

John Rampton

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® VIP

Entrepreneur and Connector

John Rampton is an entrepreneur, investor and startup enthusiast. He is the founder of the calendar productivity tool Calendar.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Business News

Costco CFO Reveals Uncertain Fate of $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

CFO Richard Galanti reveals that the price will stay the same — but only "for a while."

Business News

The Most Unexpectedly Popular Side Hustle of the Decade Has Low Startup Costs and High Markups

A new report shows that vending machines are a popular investment — and the industry is set to grow up to $3 billion by 2031.

Marketing

Ever Wonder Why Certain Websites Rank Higher Than Yours? This SEO Expert Reveals The Secret to Dominating Search Results

It's often the smart use of SEO, now supercharged with AI, particularly in keyword optimization.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.