4 Must-Have Characteristics for Entrepreneurs Want to be a successful entrepreneur? Start acting like one.

Martin Zwilling, an angel investor and startup mentor in Phoenix, recalls an event he attended where recently laid-off workers were inquiring about entrepreneurship. When they started going around the room making introductions, he could tell within a few seconds who had a chance at success—and nine out of 10 didn't.

"They typically said something like, "I've had this job for 20 years, and I would love to be my own boss, but I don't know what it takes to do it,'" Zwilling says. "There was only one person who said, "I've been working on this project on the side for a while, and now that I don't have a job holding me back anymore, I'm raring to take this opportunity to start my own business.' Having the right mindset means a lot."

Making the transition from everyday employee to enterprising business owner doesn't happen by simply hanging up a shingle. You must also embrace a new way of thinking to thrive in the unpredictable world of startups. Below, we've outlined the characteristics you'll need to adopt—if they're not already inherent to your personality—to make it on your own.