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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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