The 10 D’s of Entrepreneurship were first characterized by William Graves – author of the Portable MBA in Entrepreneurship.

The 10 D’s are the ten key characteristics that most entrepreneurs tend to possess. If you dream of becoming an entrepreneur or turning your technology idea into a business on your own, you might want to consider if you possess these qualities…

Dream: Entrepreneurs have a vision of what the future could be like for them and their businesses. And, more importantly, they have the ability to implement their dreams.

Decisiveness: They don’t procrastinate. They make decisions swiftly. Their swiftness provides a key factor in their success.

Doers: Once they decide on a course of action, they implement it as quickly as possible.

Determination: They implement their ventures with total commitment. They seldom give up, even when confronted by obstacles that seem insurmountable.

Dedication: They are totally dedicated to their business, sometimes at considerable cost to their relationships with their friends and families. They work tirelessly. Twelve-hour days and seven-day work weeks are not uncommon when an entrepreneur is striving to get a business off the ground.

Devotion: Entrepreneurs love what they do. It is that love that sustains them when the going gets tough. And it is love of their product or service that makes them so effective at selling it.

Details: It is said that the devil resides in the details. That is never more true than in starting and growing a business. The entrepreneur must stay on top of the critical details.

Destiny: They want to be in charge of their own destiny rather than depend on an employer.

Dollars: Getting rich is not the prime motivator of entrepreneurs. Money is more a measure of their success. They assume that if they succeed they will be rewarded.

Distribute: Entrepreneurs distribute the ownership of their businesses with key employees who are critical to the success of the business.

How many D’s of Entrepreneurship do you match with?