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You may have a passion for entrepreneurship, but if youdon't take your core personality traits into account, your newventure could be destined for failure.
"Your personality traits will help you select the bestindustry," says Marc Becker, a business psychologist inAnaheim Hills, California, "and that will help you weatheradversity during the start-up process.'
Here are common personality types and their best businessbets.
Social Butterfly
Not content in an office in front of a computer or working solofrom home, you'll be happiest out among clients and colleagues.You'd likely flourish in sales, teaching or consultingbusinesses that require interaction. Consider any business thatinvolves networking, marketing and interacting.
Party-energizing service (people who pose as party guestsand mingle at social events, creating interesting conversation,getting people to dance and so on) Real estate sales Catering Management or executive recruiting Public relations or marketing Mobile DJ
Loner
Is working from the privacy of home your dream scenario? Then ane-business is your ideal option-and you don't need to betechnologically sophisticated to get an online business going. Butyou need to be a good decision-maker, self-sufficient and able toplay multiple roles.
Web site selling gardening tools, baseball cards,cookies-choose your product Lifestyle Web site House- and plant-sitting Chauffeur service Web site design
Nuturer
You feel best when helping others. Many entrepreneurs who don'thave strictly "nurturing" businesses are satisfied withnurturing and mentoring employees, but nurturers sometimes allowthemselves to be taken advantage of, so balance the nurturing withtoughness and authority.
Massage therapist Senior care Restaurant selling comfort foods such as peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches, meat loaf and mashed potatoes
Early Riser
Up before the sun? Being early is a trait most entrepreneurs wouldlove to have. Consider a business that provides products orserv-ices to help those who get a later start.
Breakfast restaurant or food cart offering customerseye-opening drinks and entrees Morning transportation service to make sureclients' children get to school or day care Newspaper abstracting service for companies (readingnewspapers and writing brief summaries of the key articles to keepbusy clients well informed of breaking events) Early pickup and delivery service Wake-up call service
Night Owl
Night owls do well in homebased businesses, independent consultantroles, and computer and Internet-related services allowing them towork when they're most productive: in the wee hours.
Customer service center Security service After-hours dance club, book or video store,cybercafe, etc. Food-service business targeting late-shiftmanufacturing or service operations Secretarial or administrative support services
Worrier
Unpredictable income and uncertainties about the future will bestressful. Try making a gradual transition from full-timeemployment to entrepreneurship, and focus on low-risk ventures.Consider businesses that will lessen your own anxiety.
Yoga school Manufacturer or marketer of stress-reduction products(aromatherapy, massage oils, worry beads, relaxation tapes)
Hyper-Energetic
You're best-suited to fast-paced, challenging and constantlychanging activities. Businesses that require physical exertion andtravel are also a good match for you. But stay away from solowork-at-home options.
Child photographer Adventure-travel coordinator Personal trainer Telemarketer Firm that organizes and coaches pep rallies at largegroup events Training service
Pamela Rohland writes about the joys and tribulations ofentrepreneurship for a variety of regional and national businesspublications.
