[talkgold]

Entrepreneur - a strange word that is hard to spell and even harder to define. Everyone seems to have their own definition, but what is the true definition?

Entrepreneur is from a French word which simply means "to undertake." The dictionary definition tells us it is a "person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk of a business venture.

In our society, we think of entrepreneurs as ones who have strong ideas about a product or service, or an innovative way to market or manufacture a product or service. They are people who are not afraid to run the risk of being wrong and are willing to take that "road less traveled" to make things happen. If you begin a study of "famous" entrepreneurs, it will be interesting reading.

The National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Commerce and others have reported that since World War II, "smaller entrepreneurial firms have been responsible for 67% of all inventions and innovations, and 95 percent of all radical innovation in the United States." That's a pretty big statement.

When you think of the personality traits of an entrepreneur, what comes to your mind? Do you think of the adventurer? The risk taker? The visionary? The leader? The problem solver? The hard worker? The goal-driven one? All of these are probably true, and more can be added.

Are Entrepreneurs Born or Made?
However, are all of these qualities born in a person? Or are we looking at a list of skills that can be developed over time? Perhaps a little of both.

But how does this affect you? Do you have what it take to be an entrepreneur? Do you even want to be? Do you want to take an idea and run with it, making things happen and developing your own company?

The good news is, online marketing is quickly changing how we view entrepreneurs and how we define the term. Let's look at what individuals are doing online today. These make up a new breed of "online entrepreneurs" if you will.

What's an Online Entrepreneur? Instead of considering how to take an idea and build a big, new, innovative business, an online entrepreneur simply wants to take back the control of his or her life. In whatever form or fashion that may turn out to be.

First of all, you don't have to have the original idea for a product or service. Nor do you have to have all the marketing savvy. Many people are setting up their own online businesses because they don't have to do all the legwork (i.e. don't have to reinvent the wheel). Many of these are individuals who, if you gave them one of those "personality tests," they wouldn't even fit the so-called standard entrepreneur profile.

If you have been thinking about starting your own online business, but think you aren't even the entrepreneur-type, think again. Do a little research on the conventional description of an entrepreneur. Instead of shaking your head and thinking you'd never fit that mold, examine the list and determine which qualities are actually learned skills. Anyone can learn a new skill. Step out and Learn!

If you lack self confidence, read confidence-building books (or listen to teaching CDs) by such greats as Zig Ziglar, Jim Rohn, Robert Schuller, Brian Tracy, Anthony Robbins, just to name a few. And that's just one area. Whatever you need to learn, you can learn if your desire (your "why") is big enough and strong enough.

You've never lived in a better time to be able to take back control of your life in an entrepreneurial fashion. There are countless opportunities for wildly successful online businesses. You'll find direct sales, network marketing, affiliate marketing, and tools and tutorials galore.

All that is required is a will to step out of your comfort zone and learn. One of these areas is tailor-made just for you and your personality. Even if your personality falls a little short of all that is thought to be needed to become a conventional entrepreneur. So if you're wondering if you can be an entrepreneur, the answer is - it's entirely up to you. It's your choice. Go for it!

Rob Walcher can be considered as one who had determined to learn all the skills needed to become an independent-thinking entrepreneur. He shot to the top in two different direct sales companies in a matter of 18 months and has become known as the Ten-Figure Guru. Rob has subsequently helped hundreds of entrepreneurs achieve their own success. If you want to learn how to get comfortable with a few more zeroes in your income and work directly with Rob click here: http://www.10figureguru.com?t=ezine