透视企业家是一个在线社区，美国创业界最睿智、最有影响力的大咖会在此及时回答与创业和职场有关的问题。今天的问题是：优秀的创业者应该具备哪些素质？回答者是有机食品公司Caveman Foods的创始人兼首席执行官克里斯·润宁。

妻子不只一次问我抱怨：“你就不能像别人一样找份正常工作吗？”可她很清楚我会怎么回答：不能，因为我要创业。

记得有一次创业间歇，我有两个选择，一是出任知名大企业的首席执行官（我觉得对家人比较好），另一个机会则是新开公司创业。为此我向妻子征求意见。

结果她支持我创业。她知道，要是去大公司当高管，不出两周我就会很痛苦。她宁可我抓住机会创业尝试新方向，哪怕最后失败也无所谓，总比做一份不喜欢的工作苦苦煎熬要好。她没看错。

企业家生来就不同于常人，他们自己也知道，很可能小时候就发现了。真正优秀的企业家总会冒出新点子，考虑如何付诸现实。同时他们也了解自身的缺点，将聪明的能人召至麾下，分享激情、努力工作的态度和美好愿景。他们热爱学习新鲜事物，且知之为知之，不知为不知。

最优秀的企业家擅长寻找导师请教智慧，也精通与其他企业家结交，学习别人身上的长处，日后有机会投桃报李。他们为人谦逊，总是将成绩归功于团队。他们深知己所不欲勿施于人的道理。他们日复一日地兑现承诺，向着目标不懈奋斗。

优秀的企业家往往不屈不挠，为了获得成功矢志不渝。他们不留退路，竭尽所能实现目标。同时，他们也很务实，讲求实效，会衡量风险与回报。他们能灵活应对，必要时迅速拍板，也能及时调整战略。他们能全方位考虑各种战略选择，了解竞争形势、市场趋势、客户情况和偏好。他们高瞻远瞩，始终走在潮流之先。

最重要的是，杰出的企业家深谙领导之道，擅长鼓舞士气。他们知道怎样招徕适合的人才（往往是某个领域的资深人士），每天激励团队成员。他们懂得逆境中满怀勇气显示实力多么重要，哪怕恐惧难免，也要努力安慰团队成员风暴总会过去，一切都会好起来。

创业绝非易事，当个优秀的创业者更是难上加难。创业者得全天候保持永不放弃、永不言败的心态。好也好坏也罢，创业者就是这样，幸运的是创业道路上我们每天都在追求梦想。（财富中文网）

译者：Pessy

审稿：夏林

The Entrepreneur Insiders network is an online community where the most thoughtful and influential people in America’s startup scene contribute answers to timely questions about entrepreneurship and careers. Today’s answer to the question, “What qualities make an amazing entrepreneur?” is written by Chris Running, founder and CEO of Caveman Foods.

More than once, my wife has asked me, “Can’t you get a regular job like everyone else?” But she already knows the answer: I can’t, because I’m an entrepreneur.

I recall one time when I was in between entrepreneurial ventures. I was trying to decide between a CEO position with a large, established company (which I felt was the best thing for my family) and a new entrepreneurial opportunity. I asked my wife for her advice.

She told me to pursue the entrepreneurial deal. She knew that in two weeks, I’d be miserable in my new company. She’d rather I try and fail at an opportunity I was excited about than be miserable at a job I hated, because then we’d both be unhappy. She was right.

Entrepreneurs are just wired differently, and they know it. They probably knew it from a young age. Truly amazing entrepreneurs constantly consider new ideas and think about how they can turn them into reality. But they are also aware of their shortcomings and surround themselves with smart, capable people who share their passion, work ethic, and vision. They love to learn and admit to what they know and what they don’t.

The best entrepreneurs seek out and take advantage of mentors and build meaningful relationships with other business leaders they can learn from, and who they can help in return. They are humble leaders who deflect credit to their teams. They don’t ask others to do what they aren’t willing to do themselves. They back up their words with actions every day and work tirelessly toward their objectives.

Amazing entrepreneurs are also unwavering and relentless in their commitment to succeed. They don’t have a Plan B, but instead do whatever it takes to meet an objective. But at the same time, they’re realistic, pragmatic, and calculating in measuring risk and reward. They’re nimble and able to make quick decisions to shift strategies as necessary. They think about their strategic options with a 360-degree approach. They know their competition, market trends, customer profile, and preferences. They remain ahead of the curve.

But most importantly, amazing entrepreneurs know how to lead and inspire. They know how to attract the right talent (oftentimes people with lots of experience in a particular field) and motivate their teammates every day. They understand how important it is to show strength and bravery in the face of adversity and assure their teams that everything will be all right — even if they’re privately terrified.

It’s not easy being an entrepreneur, let alone an amazing one. It takes a 24/7, never-give-up, never-fail, attitude. But it’s who we are, for better or worse, and we’re fortunate to have the opportunity to pursue our dreams every day.