Hi Dylan,

You have some excellent questions!

> I’m Dylan 22 yrs old.
> Having read few motivational books and
> reading most of the post from this great
> forum, I’m just wondering:
> - does successful entrepreneurs /
> businessmen have similar characteristics,
> habits or principles?

I think the main trait is tenacity, or persistence. Most successful people don't give up easily.

I also believe in having multiple projects - or multiple streams of income, as some say. The reason why is that one or more of those projects may not work, for reasons outside your control. Maybe nobody's interested in the service or product, or you have supply problems, or some other reason.

However, if you have several projects going, it's more likely that at least one of those projects will succeed - and then you can (if you want to) abandon the "losers" and stick with the "winner(s)".

> - Is it important to cultivate them?

If you mean contacts, yes, it's very important! Contacts are important in EVERY part of life, if you want to succeed!

Contacts can be a substitute for knowledge.... If you need to know how to create web pages, and your friend Joe happens to know how to do it, you can make your learning path much shorter by talking to Joe.

Contacts can help you get business. Outside of business, they can help you get jobs too. I know of someone who is very highly qualified - but can't get a job in his area. The reason why? It's because he never cultivated contacts outside of his small circle of friends. So other people, who are less qualified than him, are getting the jobs because people *know* them, while they don't know him.

The principle is the same everywhere - contacts are VERY important.

> - If yes, how do we go about cultivating
> them? Any suggestions?

Simply talk to people. Participate in forums like this one. Email people questions, if you have any. The internet is GREAT for building contacts. :)

> I would love to start my own business and
> start on the entrepreneur path, but it seems
> like something is lacking inside me. Is
> there anybody who share the same problems
> with me and how did you conquer them?

WHY do you want to start on the entrepreneurial path? I think you have to figure that out....

Many people become entrepreneurs because they love their independence, and they hate working for a boss.

Others simply know that, statistically speaking, you'll probably make more money (in the long run) as an entrepreneur than as an employee. Though maybe not when you first start out! It usually takes time to learn the skills, and build up a customer base.

> Thanks a lot for your time and response!
> Really appreciate that!

No problem, Dylan! Thanks for a stimulating post!

- Dien