成功创业者必须具备的9个特质

摘要：2012年至今，无论国内还是国外都在热炒创业概念，创业真的那么容易？国外创投公司红点创投创始合伙人Geoff Yang在一篇文章中列出了成功创业者需要具备的9个特质，希望能帮助创业者早日获得成功。

近几年创业逐渐成为一个很火热的话题，无论国内还是国外都一样。

那么，什么样的人才能够创业成功？创业成功有哪些先决条件？

红点创投创始合伙人Geoff Yang在《So You Want to Start A Company? Here’s 9 Attributes You’ll Need》中给出了答案。

以下为译文：

成功的创业者——那些最后成为知名企业家的——有着天生的特质。在经历了多年参加会议、参与合作以及培训一些知名创始人的过程中，我发现，有一些属性往往都能帮助一些创始人活动成功。

没有普通的创始人，某种程度上他们都是非凡的，最成功的创始人通常都有自己的特质。也许他们的成功故事描述了他们获得今天的成就的原因（神童、天赋等等因素），也许是他们的激情是他们走上了更好的道路——但我更倾向于一些特质造就了他们的成功，使他们成为优秀的创始人。

如果你现在有创业的想法，那么，为了领先别人一步，你有必要来看看成功创业者必须具备的九条特质：

1. 动机积极

我们常常会发现一些人念叨着要开公司、要创业，但实际上，他们并没有创业愿景。这肯定是不够的。最成功的创业者一定有改变世界的激情。我接触的那些能够接二连三创业的企业家们，他们都有一种改变世界的激情，并且，他们对公司都有一个清晰的愿景。创建公司的愿望绝不是一个简单的动机（比如想创业），对于有这样企业文化的创业公司来说，绝对很难生存下去的。创业公司需要有远见、有激情，相信自己能够改变世界。我保证，如果你建立了一家伟大的公司，汇报一定会随之到来。

如果你没有一个想法或者激情，那么我建议你先到一些公司去学习工作一段时间。学习如何指导一个工程师团队，学习如何激励和管理员工，学习如何将一个概念变成实际产品推出。这也是你拓展自己网络的机会，适当时，你将很容易的就能够启动自己的项目，建立起创业团队。

2. 有远见

作为一个风险投资者，我的首要工作就是在企业模式还不清晰的时候去看清它们。我会从宏观层面上去观察发生的事情，然后选择合适的方向进行投资。优秀的企业家不仅仅在于能够看到机会，还要有能力在别人还模糊时看清楚市场模式。机会就在于别人看清楚模式之前。一旦大家都看清楚了，每个人都可以去做。模糊不清有时也是好事，在混乱中，伟大的企业往往都能看清楚未来。

3. 信念坚定

创业之初，想法只是想法，其它的什么都不是。但所有的创始人，要有股信念，相信自己的想法是正确的。他们不能对自己的想法存有疑问，否则，追随者也会产生疑问，就无法鉴定的追随创始人。一旦你创业，如果在你心中有一丝的疑问，你将很难组织出优秀的团队与你一起前进。你需要向别人展现你的信念，让别人相信你，还有你的团队一定会成功。

这是创业者需要克服的一个大障碍，对于仅仅有激情和了解企业模式的创业者来说，他们还需要向人们阐述他们正在做什么，你必须像一个布道者一样，清晰地阐述你的思想，你的信念。因为，你希望公司能够成功。

4. 把握细节

创业时，许多人会说这样一句话：“市场还没有出现的情况下，我该如何做市场分析？”我认为，当你把时间、精力和荣誉投入进去创业时，你要知道，你已经投入了很大很大的投资。在此之前，你需要自己做好功课：你需要知道竞争者在做什么、市场有多大、成功之前你需要克服的障碍有哪些，以及，你凭什么能够成功。

如果把握不好这些细节问题，你凭什么成功？

5. 做好表率

并非所有企业家都是伟大的领袖。只会讲战略讲目标的人，一般只是表面上的领导人。优秀的企业领导人一定能起到表率作用：如果你每天最后一个到公司，最先一个离开，而你的员工则加班加点，那你的公司命不久矣。但如果你的团队看到你比他们更辛苦，他们也一定愿意随你一起努力，将公司做好。

6. 不与团队争功

成功的创业者需要铭记：你的成功并非“你”的成功，而是团队的成功。找到优秀的人，给他们足够的信任，并承认他们的成功。永远不要与你的团队争功。伟大的人希望与伟大的人一起工作，如果你只是想要一个平庸的公司，那么找一帮凡夫俗子，坐吃山空吧。

7. 征求意见并作出决定

最成功的创始人往往都能够在关键问题上吸纳别人的建议，然后作出正确的决定。“兼听则明，偏听则暗”，一个伟大的CEO会从不同的角度征求意见，然后处理收集的信息，并作出决定。最关键的是，在很多相关的信息中，挑选出正确的信息，并及时作出决策。还有需要明白的一点是“不作出决定也是他的一种决定”。没有人永远都是正确的，但重要的是要作出决策。如果错了，那就在短时间内尽快解决，然后继续前进。

8. 企业愿景

我在很多公司看到一些惊人的成果，这些公司的创始人和CEO将自己企业的愿景作为企业文化渗透到员工身上。Sonos创始人兼CEO John MacFarlane就是其中之一，他希望一座房子中每个房间都充满音乐，他希望人们在房屋的任何一个地方都可以欣赏想听的音乐。他在全球各地聘请了许多优秀的人才，这些人纯粹是为了John所承诺的愿景而来的。

9. 永远、永远、永远不要放弃

最后一点，很俗气，但很实际，那就是坚持：永远、永远、永远不要放弃，坚持！路走对了，就不要怕远。

英文原文：

So You Want to Start A Company? Here’s 9 Attributes You’ll Need

Entrepreneurial activity is as fervent as it’s ever been. As a venture capitalist, I’m constantly meeting people who tell me they want to start a company.

Successful founders – the ones that eventually become serial entrepreneurs – are a breed of their own. After almost 28 years of meeting, partnering with, and coaching some of the most amazing founders of today, I’ve discovered a pattern of several significant attributes that lead to success.

There are no ordinary founders, they are all extraordinary in some way, and the most successful founders are usually exceedingly extraordinary. Whether it’s their personal story about how they got to where they are (child prodigy, perhaps? Or a unique personality that overcame the odds?), or their unequivocal passion to change something for the better – there are unmistakable qualities that define the founders I am more inclined to back.

If you have an idea and want to start a company – you’re one step ahead of the pack. To get even further, I’d suggest applying these 9 key attributes into your founder’s toolbox.

1. Have a positive motivation

You’d be surprised the number of people who come to me and say, I want to start a company — without an idea for a company. This isn’t enough. The most successful founders have a driving passion and are compelled to change the world. Time and time again I’ve found the serial entrepreneurs are the ones who have this desire to change the world and have a clear vision on how to do it. The motivation cannot simply be a desire for the prestige of starting a company or the success. This is the foundation for a horrible company culture that will never survive. It has to be about having the vision, the passion, and the belief that they will change the world. I promise you, if you build a great company, the rewards will follow.

If you don’t have an idea or a passion – then my advice is to go work with someone else for a while. Learn about how to steer an engineering team, how to motivate and manage people, or how to spec a project on from concept to launch. The ability to do this on someone else’s dime is an incredible luxury. It’s also an opportunity to expand your network (which you’ll need when you eventually start that company).

2. See patterns where others see chaos

Part of my job as a venture capitalist is to identify patterns before they become clear. I try to see what’s happening on a macro level and identify the right themes in which to invest. The best entrepreneurs are the ones who come in and not only see but also articulate the patterns in the market when around them is chaos. Opportunities arise out of emerging patterns before others can see them. If the path were clear, everyone would do it. Chaos is a good thing. In the midst of confusion, great entrepreneurs see the future as clear as day and they feel compelled to realize that future. They’re the ones who come in and complete the sentence, “Imagine a
world where…”

3. Contagiously believe

In the beginning, there really isn’t anything but the idea. All founders have is their belief that their idea is right. They can’t have any doubt, because if they do, people won’t follow them. If there is one inch of doubt in your mind, you won’t be successful at assembling a team of people to jump on board with you – from investors, to rock star individuals that likely already have a better paying job. You have to show them that without a doubt, this company and this team will be a success.

This is a big hurdle to overcome, and it only comes with having a passion and clearly understanding the pattern (vs. getting lost in the chaos). You need to convince people that what they’re doing isn’t nearly as exciting as what you’re doing. You have to have to clearly articulate your vision like an evangelist. You have to will the company into existence.

If someone comes in to meet with me and says, “I’m not sure I’m gonna do this. Are you interested in it?” (Which, believe it or not, happens), I know it won’t work. I have to get infected by their passion. I have to want to be on their team.

4. Sweat the details

All too often people will say, “How do I do market analysis on a market that doesn’t really exist?” In my opinion, when you’re putting your time, energy, and reputation into starting a company, arguably you’re making as large an investment if not more, than I am. You owe it to yourself to do your homework. You need to find out what the competition doing, how big the market is, what the 20 obstacles that you must overcome for success are, and, of course, why you will succeed. It’s important to put together the whole landscape of what you’re counting on for this to be a successful venture.

If you don’t do that, you’re cutting yourself short. I mention this because it’s kind of amazing to me when I meet entrepreneurs and they really haven’t done any homework on how big the market size is. Or, you ask them about what is this person doing, or what is this company doing, or have they heard of this or heard of that, and they say, “No, I haven’t really done any of that research.”

5. Lead by example

Not all entrepreneurs make great leaders. The ones who clearly articulate a strategy and a purpose are the ones who generally surface as long-term leaders. Great leaders and leadership happens by example. If you take off for a three-hour lunch or leave everyday at 3:00pm to hit the gym while your team toils away through all hours of the night, you’re not setting a good example and it’s a short-term recipe for disaster. If your team sees you working just as hard or even harder than they are, they’ll be more willing to put in the long hours and support you on your journey.

6. Never compromise on the team

As the saying goes, there’s no “I” in team. You’ll also note there’s also no “I” in founder or entrepreneur. However, the most successful founders recognize that they win when the team wins. I can’t stress how important it is to be able to understand that you win as a team and are productive as a team.

Hire great people, give them the responsibility to succeed, and recognize them when they do. Don’t compromise on people. Great people want to work with other great people. If you want a mediocre company, just hire a few mediocre people and step back and watch it dwindle out. Great companies come from great people and great teams. It seems obvious, but I’m amazed how often CEO’s don’t act on marginal performers. They can become a cancer to an otherwise healthy company.

7. Solicit advice and be decisive

The most successful founders are the ones who ask for advice on key decisions and come back with their own, well-reasoned decision. The ones who end up being less successful are the ones who either ask for advice and do as they’re “told,” or on the flip side, are the ones who don’t ask for any advice at all. A great CEO will solicit opinions from differing points of view, process the information and make a decision. The key, ultimately, is to make clear, timely decisions with as much relevant information as possible. It’s important to also understand that not making a decision is in itself making a decision. You won’t always be right, but being decisive
is important. When you’re wrong, fix your mistake as quickly as possible and move on.

8. Commit to the vision

I’ve seen some amazing results that have carried the culture of a company simply from founders and CEOs committing to the vision. John MacFarlane, the CEO and founder of Sonos (one of our portfolio companies) has a vision of filling every room in the house with music. He is passionate about wanting people to rediscover the joy of music.

John is incredibly committed to the vision and is willing to do whatever it takes to fill the Sonos customer value proposition. He’s able to hire some of the best people around the world purely based on his commitment to the vision. Despite having been extremely successful as a company, it all happened because John is determined, focused on the vision and leads by example.

9. Never ever, ever give up

There are so many reasons why a start up company should fail. Larger companies have the resources, the people and the money to survive. The reason why start-ups do succeed is because someone has a nugget of an idea, a passion to make it work, and the people who are dedicated to the vision, as well as dedicated to adjusting along the way to make it work. It’s rare that a company we invest in turns out exactly the way the original business plan envisioned.

The most successful founders are the ones who, when up against a wall, will stay up all night trying to figure out how to get through it, and when they wake up in the morning they’ve scaled the wall and figured out the solution.

Exceptional founders are those who go on to become serial entrepreneurs. They are able to do so because these essential attributes afford them the skills and practice to be successful for the long haul. They are the visionaries, evangelists, innovators, leaders and team players that make tomorrow better.

参考推荐：