The problem with most people is that they devote their entire lives developing their professional or career skills. Very few people devote their time developing business leadership skills, which are most required for successful entrepreneurship.

Some people just resume for work on schedule and close on schedule. Nothing more. Their disciplines have imprisoned them. Their education has become their limitation. What they called job description has been responsible for their entrepreneurial depreciation.

You need to constantly ask yourself the relevant questions as to the destination that your present job is taking you to - can this job lead to your financial independence or poverty?

You should see yourself as an apprentice on your current job and keep looking for opportunity to learn basic skills for a successful future.

Six basic skills to learn on your current job for use in your own business.
1. How to sell yourself, your product and your services.
2. Communication skills - spoken and written. There is the art of presentation in interpersonal relationship and the fine art of writing. For instance, it is better to learn how to be a "Best Selling Author" than to be a "Best Writing Author".
3. Management of people.
4. Management of cash flow
5. Management of time.
6. Management of self and domestic life.

Entrepreneurial check lists
If most people would learn and master one more skill, their income would jump exponentially. Sad to say, most educated people have only one skill away from wealth.

To assist you further in cultivating your entrepreneurial skills, you need to ask yourself the following questions.
1. How organised are you?
2. Do you have a competitive spirit?
3. Are you a risk taker or risk dodger?
4. W hat experiences/skills have you gained
5. Are you in good health?
6. Can you lead people?
7. Do you have a high energy level or do you get tired easily after 2 -3 hours?
8. Are you self confident? Do you know what it takes to keep going when things go wrong?
9. Are you prepared to make short term sacrifice in return for long term
successes?
10. Can you delay gratification, postpone pleasures and consider luxurious life such later in life?
11. Is your spouse in support of your going solo?
12. Can you make people see the benefits of your product or services at once.
13. Do you have natural flair for business?
14. Do you enjoy mixing with people?
15. Have you developed or conceived a winning business idea, product or services?.
16. Do you enjoy good health for most part of the year?
17. Do you save money on a regular basis?
18. Do you have enough resources to finance your idea; if not, do you know where to source for help? Check the chapter on 12 ways to raise fund without going to the bank.
19. Are you enthusiastic about your product or business?

Don't seek to be over specialised that you are not skilled enough to fire your boss. Avoid the danger of developing a skill that is valuable only in the industry or profession you are involved.

This is the reason why quite a lot of highly educated people nose dive in their first business adventure. Sometimes experience as a managing director in a bank is not a necessity or surety for success in managing a supermarket or factory after retirement.

The reason for this is obvious. He had spent all of his life specializing and developing skills relevant majorly for the banking industry. Be broad based in your journey up the corporate ladder. Avail yourself of the opportunity of learning other relevant skills that make for success in business.

Which kind of entrepreneur personality are you?
There are special breeds of entrepreneurs according to Robert G. Allen the author of "NOTHING DOWN". He named them as follows.

Intrapreneur
If you are good at influencing the decision of others; if you like giving recommendations to others; if you enjoy selling, you are an intrapreneur.

Extrapreneur
If you see yourself as an artist. If you enjoy creating, entertaining; you enjoy creating solutions to problems, you are an extrapreneur.

Infopreneur
If you enjoy organising and simplifying information; if you enjoy teaching; if you enjoy writing; if you like to read; if you are an idea person, you are an infopreneur.

Autopreneur
If you enjoy seeing your money grow while you sleep; if you like to make deals; if you enjoy finding bargains; if you like to own things; if you are good at comparing differing projects and properties to make a decision, you qualify to be an autopreneur.