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Have
you thought of starting a business? Well, join the increasing
number of workers who have lost jobs and want to go solo rather
than returning to other jobs. In the case of African Americans,
entrepreneurship seems particularly attractive with Black women
seemingly leading the pack. The National Foundation for
Business Women Owners' (NFWBO) landmark "Women
Owners of Color: Challenges and Accomplishments," for
example, reported that "Businesses owned by women of color
are the fastest growing of all US firms. They increased by 153%,
growing at twice the rate of women-owned businesses and
three times the number of all firms in the U.S."
If
you want to jump on the entrepreneurial fast track, check below to determine if you are
right for entrepreneurship and how to access available business
start-up information.
Look below for a few helpful hints:
ARE YOU ENTREPRENEURIAL MATERIAL?
Entrepreneurs are a special breed of people with
varied qualities. They are self starters, highly motivated,
risk takers, and hard workers. Take a few moments to take
the following quiz to determine whether you have what it takes
to become a business owner:
| Answer Yes or
No
to the following questions. Add up your score and read what it
says about your readiness for business
ownership. |
1) Are you a self-starter? Would you characterize
yourself as highly motivated?
Yes= 5; No=0
2) Are you a risk taker?
Yes= 5; No=0
3) Are you disciplined?
Yes= 5; No=0
4) Can you get the job done (complete tasks)?
Yes= 5; No=0
5) Are you a hard worker (able to work twelve to
fourteen hours per day?)
Yes= 5; No=0
6) Are you organized?
Yes= 5; No=0
7) Can you persevere despite the odds?
Yes= 5; No=0
8) Do you have a good support network (spouse, relatives, friends, etc.)
Yes= 5; No=0
9) Are you a problem solver?
Yes= 5; No=0
10) Are you a decision maker?
Yes= 5; No=0
11) Are you a good communicator?
Yes= 5; No=0
12) Do you have managing experience?
Yes= 5; No=0
13) Are you good at record keeping?
Yes= 5; No=0
14) Can you manage your finances?
Yes= 5; No=0
15) Do you have enough money saved to launch your business?
Yes= 5; No=0
SCORING:
50-75- Congrats! You are
definitely entrepreneurial material with the right
qualities to start and maintain a successful business.
This is your time! Go for it!
20-50- You have a sincere
desire to start a business, but need some more work.
Fortunately, all business-related skills such as record
keeping, managing finances, discipline and risk taking,
for example, can be learned. Take relevant classes to help
you build upon these skills.
0-20- You can
still fulfill your dream of starting a business. But
something is holding you back. Review your answers, and
ask yourself some hard questions. Remember that despite
the results, you can become successful once you dedicate
yourself to your dream.
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