Are You Meant to Be an Entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurship is often glorified on social media, with many aspiring to be their own bosses, making their own schedules, and living a life they don’t need a vacation from. However, the reality of entrepreneurship is far from the filtered Instagram posts. According to Kiki Ayers, a successful entrepreneur and journalist, entrepreneurship isn’t something that can be taught, it’s something you either have or you don’t.

In her TEDx talk, How to Know If You’re Meant to Be an Entrepreneur, Ayers breaks down the traits that set true entrepreneurs apart.

If you’ve ever wondered whether entrepreneurship is for you, this article will help you identify the key characteristics that separate natural-born entrepreneurs from those who simply admire the lifestyle from afar.

The Reality vs. Perception of Entrepreneurship

Many people are drawn to the idea of being an entrepreneur because they like the idea of freedom, financial independence, and personal fulfillment. But, as Ayers points out, most people only ask themselves perception questions:

Do I want to work for someone else my whole life?
Do I want to make my own schedule?
Do I want a career that I don’t need a break from?

While the answer to these questions is often a resounding yes, they don’t capture the full reality of what it means to be an entrepreneur. The real questions aspiring entrepreneurs should ask themselves include:

Am I willing to work 24 hours a day, instead of just 8?
Am I prepared to risk every last dime in my bank account for my business?
Am I capable of holding myself accountable without a boss to oversee my work?

The Traits of Natural-Born Entrepreneurs

According to Ayers, there are certain traits that true entrepreneurs exhibit from an early age. These characteristics are not learned in business school but are ingrained in their personalities and experiences.

1. A Relentless Drive to Make Money Independently

One of the earliest signs of an entrepreneurial mindset is the ability to generate income creatively. Many entrepreneurs started their journey as children, selling candy, running lemonade stands, doing yard work, or even engaging in today’s more modern hustles like reselling products online.

This early exposure to making money on their own, rather than relying on a traditional job, builds a foundation of independence. Entrepreneurs love the thrill of generating their own income and are rarely satisfied with conventional employment.

2. Never Being Satisfied

Entrepreneurs are notorious for never feeling content with their achievements. No matter how big the milestone, they are always looking for the next challenge. Ayers describes this as an insatiable hunger for progress.

They hit one goal and immediately set another.
They rarely celebrate their successes for long.
They are constantly pushing themselves to innovate and improve.

This relentless ambition is what drives entrepreneurs to keep building, scaling, and evolving their businesses.

3. A Strong Aversion to Authority

If there’s one thing that most entrepreneurs hate, it’s being told what to do. Ayers notes that when you ask entrepreneurs why they chose this path, the most common answer is, I don’t want to work for anyone else.

The thought of someone controlling their time, income, or work schedule is unbearable. Entrepreneurs thrive on autonomy, and the idea of a traditional 9-to-5 job often feels suffocating to them. This is why they are willing to work 24-hour days for themselves rather than spend eight hours a day working for someone else.

4. The Ability to Thrive in Uncertainty

Entrepreneurship is unpredictable. There are no guarantees, no steady paychecks, and no clear paths to success. Entrepreneurs must be comfortable with uncertainty and willing to take massive risks.

Ayers shares her own experience of becoming homeless for 16 months while pursuing her entrepreneurial dreams. She lived in hostels, carried her belongings in a single backpack, and used hotel lobby Wi-Fi to keep working. Instead of giving up, she used her survival instincts to launch her publicity company—turning rock bottom into an opportunity.

This level of resilience and adaptability is a defining trait of true entrepreneurs. They don’t crumble under pressure; they find a way to make things work.

5. A Deep Internal Motivation

Unlike traditional employees who rely on managers to set expectations and deadlines, entrepreneurs must be entirely self-motivated. They wake up every day with an internal drive to build, create, and push forward, even when there’s no immediate reward.

There’s no one telling them what to do.
No one is checking if they are working.
No one is guaranteeing a paycheck at the end of the month.

Yet, they do it anyway because they are passionate, disciplined, and committed to their vision.

Overcoming Fear: The Biggest Barrier to Entrepreneurship

One of the most significant obstacles aspiring entrepreneurs face is fear. The fear of failure, financial loss, and uncertainty often prevents people from taking the leap. Ayers emphasizes that fear is the number one reason why people don’t pursue the life they were meant to live.

She recalls asking herself the same question that a 12-year-old boy once asked her: What if it doesn’t work out?

Her answer: I had no other option but to try.

Entrepreneurs don’t let fear dictate their decisions. They understand that failure is part of the journey, but the only real failure is never trying in the first place.

How to Know If You’re Meant to Be an Entrepreneur

The answer is simple: Try.

You won’t know until you take action. Test your ideas, launch a small business, take risks, and see how you respond to the challenges.

Entrepreneurship is not for everyone. While skills can be learned, the true entrepreneurial mindset is something you either have or you don’t.

If you have:

A deep desire to make your own money

An inability to be satisfied with the status quo

A strong aversion to being controlled by a boss

The resilience to face uncertainty and failure

The discipline to work without external motivation

Then, you just might be a natural-born entrepreneur.