Introduction: Entrepreneurship
Hey everyone, Tanner Chidester here, CEO of Elite CEOs. Today, I want to tackle a question that’s often at the heart of many entrepreneurial discussions: Are entrepreneurs born, or can the essential skills be learned? My personal journey, along with the stories of countless others I’ve encountered, offers a unique perspective on this debate about “Entrepreneurship.”
Quick answer: Can entrepreneurship be learned or are you born with it?
It can be learned. Entrepreneurship isn't a trait you either have or don't. It's a set of skills and mindsets you build over time through experience. I learned perseverance from childhood sports and resilience from door to door sales. The real skill is doing the work you don't enjoy, like cold calling and DMs, because it gets you to the bigger goal.
- Entrepreneurship is a set of skills and mindsets built over time, not a fixed trait.
- Childhood sports taught me perseverance and pushing through discomfort.
- Door to door sales built my resilience and my sales ability.
- Successful entrepreneurs do the tasks they don't like, such as cold calling and DMs.
- Growth comes from taking on roles outside your comfort zone, like training a new sales team.
“My personal journey, along with the stories of countless others I’ve encountered, offers a unique perspective on this debate about “Entrepreneurship.””
The Nature vs. Nurture of Entrepreneurship
From my experience, entrepreneurship isn’t an innate trait that you’re either born with or without. Instead, it’s a set of skills and mindsets that are honed over time, often influenced by life experiences and challenges. This viewpoint stems from my own upbringing and the path that led me to where I am today.
Lessons from the Field
My entry into the world of entrepreneurship was far from a straight path. It was shaped by early life lessons, particularly from my involvement in sports during my childhood. This environment taught me about perseverance, hard work, and the importance of pushing through discomfort to achieve a goal. These lessons were further cemented during my time in door-to-door sales, an experience that tested my limits but ultimately built my resilience and sales skills.
Entrepreneurship: The Entrepreneurial Skill Set
One key trait I’ve observed in successful entrepreneurs is their willingness to do things they might not necessarily enjoy, recognizing these tasks as essential steps toward their larger goals. This could mean anything from cold calling and direct messaging potential clients to tackling the less glamorous aspects of running a business. It’s about perseverance and the ability to push through tasks that are necessary, even when they’re not enjoyable.
My Personal Evolution
Reflecting on my own journey, I’ve had to embrace many tasks that were outside my comfort zone or personal preference. Whether it’s training a new sales team or diving into unfamiliar aspects of business management, I’ve learned that growth often requires stepping into new roles and challenges that might not initially be appealing.
The Power of Perseverance
The essence of entrepreneurship, in my view, is the ability to persevere—to commit to doing what needs to be done, regardless of personal comfort or convenience. This skill, while it can be innate to some degree, is often forged through experiences and challenges that push us beyond our limits.
Embracing the Journey
For those aspiring to embark on their entrepreneurial journey, my advice is to lean into the challenges. Embrace the tasks that stretch you, and recognize that every step outside your comfort zone is a step toward growth. Entrepreneurship is as much about personal development as it is about business success.
In Closing: Entrepreneurship
Whether you’re born with a predisposition toward entrepreneurship or you cultivate the necessary skills over time, the journey is uniquely yours. It’s a path of learning, growth, and constant evolution. If you’re committed to learning and growing, the entrepreneurial path is open to you.
Remember, it’s not about where you start but how you adapt, grow, and persevere through the challenges that come your way. If you’re looking for guidance or support on your entrepreneurial journey, feel free to reach out or explore the resources at Elite CEOs. Here’s to your success, both in business and in personal growth.
Frequently asked questions
What skills do successful entrepreneurs have?
The biggest one is doing necessary work you don't enjoy. Successful entrepreneurs cold call, reach out to prospects in DMs, and handle the boring parts of running a business because they see those tasks as steps toward something bigger. Under that sits perseverance: committing to what needs doing whether it's comfortable or not.
How did door to door sales help Tanner Chidester as an entrepreneur?
It tested my limits. Door to door sales built resilience and real sales ability, which carried straight into business. Before that, childhood sports taught me perseverance, hard work and pushing through discomfort toward a goal. My path wasn't direct, but those experiences built the skills I use now.
Is perseverance something you are born with or something you develop?
Maybe a little of both, but mostly it's developed. I see perseverance as the core of entrepreneurship: doing what has to be done regardless of comfort or convenience. You build it through experiences that push you past where you thought your limits were.
How can aspiring entrepreneurs build their skills faster?
Lean into the hard stuff. Take on tasks that stretch you, even ones you don't like at first. For me that meant training a new sales team and working in areas of the business I didn't know. Every step outside your comfort zone is growth, and entrepreneurship is as much personal development as it is business.
