Do You Have What it Takes to be an Entrepreneur? – Part Duex

Back in February, I wrote about a quiz published in the Washington Post that purported to gauge whether someone had what it took to be a successful entrepreneur. At the time, I noted that I wasn’t sure the authors of the Post quiz had their criteria right for who would make a good entrepreneur.
But in researching a “Question of the Day” yesterday, I stumbled across another worksheet that I think really could be useful for anyone contemplating going out on their own—either in a small way or a big way. It was compiled and released by the Canadians … the provincial government of Alberta, to be exact. Who knew Alberta was such a Silicon Valley-like hotbed of entrepreneurism? But the questionnaire covers some really pertinent areas, from “what are your motivations” to “what is your management knowledge?” It also has a detailed worksheet for figuring out whether you have a solid financial plan for self-employment or a new business, including a way to figure out such potentially confusing numbers as “debt ratios” that will determine a bank’s willingness to loan you money. 
There’s even a summary quiz at the end that asks “Do You Have The Stuff To Be An Entrepreneur?” that I think covers some very important personal qualities any entrepreneur needs to have, from persistence and the ability to bounce back from failure … to curiosity and the ability to adapt, focus, and learn from mistakes. If you’re even thinking about another career path, or a new business venture, it’s worth checking out. (The references are in French, but the body copy is all in English.)
Lane Wallace is the Editor and Founder of No Map. No Guide. No Limits.