Entrepreneurial Background and Characteristics

Only a few background characteristics have differentiated the entrepreneur from the general populace or managers.
Childhood Family Environment
The impact of birth order and social status has had conflicting research results. There is strong evidence that entrepreneurs, both male and female, tend to have self-employed or entrepreneurial fathers. Having a father who is self-employed provides a strong inspiration in the example of independence and flexibility of self-employment. This feeling of independence is often further enforced by an entrepreneurial mother.

The overall parental relationship may be the most important aspect of the childhood environment in establishing the desirability of entrepreneurial activity. Parents of entrepreneurs need to be supportive and encourage independence, achievement, and responsibility. This supportive relationship appears to be most important for females. Female entrepreneurs tend to grow up in middle-to upper-class environments, where families are child-centered, and are similar to their fathers in personality.

Other characteristics may be:

• Education
• Age
• Personal Value
• Work History