Are You A Successful Entrepreneur CEO?

Particularly in this era of marketing technology and ad:tech start-ups related to digital/mobile advertising and marketing, a key question is…do these start-up CEOs have the entrepreneurial “chops” to successfully build and scale their businesses?

The reality is the vast majority of these CEOs do not have what it takes. So what are the key differentiators between the CEOs that make it and the ones that don’t?

We came across an interesting Gallup survey in the September 2014 issue of Inc. magazine’s issue on the 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies. Gallup polled over 2,700 entrepreneur CEOs (including the Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies) on ten crucial personality traits.  Fully 16% of the Inc. 500 CEOs ranked as exceptional on these personality traits:

1. Risk Taker – 85% of Inc. 500 CEOs enthusiastically take on challenges, have a highly optimistic perception of risk, take a rational approach in decision making to mitigate risk (vs. 22% of larger entrepreneur sample)
2. Business Focus – 72% emphasize profits, goals, metrics, and align employees with company goals (vs. 20% of larger entrepreneur sample)
3. Determination – 71% have a tremendous work ethic, confront and overcomes obstacles, and are undeterred by failures or roadblocks (vs. 23% of larger entrepreneur sample)
4. Delegator – 61% readily delegate authority and responsibility, proactively collaborate, and recognize and draw upon others’ abilities (vs. 22% of larger entrepreneur sample)
5. Knowledge Seeker – 58% acquire business-relevant, in-depth information, use knowledge as a competitive advantage, anticipate information needs (vs. 23% of larger entrepreneur sample)
6. Creative Thinker – 56% think past boundaries, generate ideas, explore options, think through problems (vs. 23% of larger entrepreneur sample)
7. Confidence – 54% present well, take initiative, believe in ability to build businesses (vs. 21% of larger entrepreneur sample)
8. Promoter –  53% speak boldly on behalf of the company, communicate company vision effectively (vs. 23% of larger entrepreneur sample)
9. Independence – 50% are self-reliant, handle multiple tasks well, have a strong sense of responsibility (vs. 20% of larger entrepreneur sample)
10. Relationship Builder – 46% have a high social awareness, develop mutually beneficial relationships, and are open and have a positive demeanor (vs. 22% of larger entrepreneur sample)

It’s clear — to be a successful entrepreneur CEO requires personal DNA that separates you from others. Not surprising, Risk Taking is at the top of the list…the ability to take on risks and challenges and then combine optimism and rational thinking/decision making to mitigate business risks. Then there are a number of other personality factors… determination, creative thinking, confidence, promotion, and relationship building…that are key to evangelizing your vision and attracting the customers, investors, and talent required to scale your business.

If you are a CEO (or want to be CEO) of an early-stage, entrepreneurial business, how does your personality measure up against this Gallup scale of CEO personal brand differentiators?  

If you see yourself scoring exceptionally high on these indexes, what’s holding you back from starting a new business or succeeding in the business you already started?