If you react to a negative situation by thinking, “what did I do wrong?” that is a natural entrepreneurial ingredient.  It illustrates that taking responsibility is very important to you.  In fact, you probably think you have too much control over situations.  But that edgy behavior is necessary when starting a small business, especially with minimum capital.  It’s all about control.  You’ve really got to believe in your gut that you can succeed.  That conviction is the source of great energy!

If, on the other hand, your inclination is to look around first and blame someone else when something goes wrong, then you belong in a big company.  That is why I enjoy working with small business owners.  It boils down to accountability.  Being in the game!  They know that as a small business owner too, if I didn’t deliver on my promises then I wouldn’t be in business for 34 years.  In fact, since I started a company with only $300 and have generated millions of dollars in profits over the years for many other companies and my own, I am uniquely qualified to write on this topic.

In conjunction with the above, all too frequently a small businessperson will hire someone from a big company because of their alleged expertise.  What a mistake!  Within about six months both parties inevitably discover the cultural and environmental differences between small entrepreneurial companies and big businesses. In a small company a good question you can ask a prospective employee is how he or she reacts to a negative situation.

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