These are the knowledge, skills and personality traits that successful entrepreneurs have in common

These are the knowledge, skills and personality traits that successful entrepreneurs have in commonThese are the knowledge, skills and personality traits that successful entrepreneurs have in commonThe traits that drive startup founders forward are sometimes seen in a negative light.Entrepreneurs can be seen as aggressive, impatient, hard-headed. And yes, there are plenty of founders who fit that description.But thats only because entrepreneurs usually have a strong instinct around what products will work for people. They push ahead even when others cant see what theyre after.And not all of the traits that lead to entrepreneurial success are viewed so negatively. In fact, many of the attributes founders tend to share are essential to their success in relating to others and figuring out what people need.Heres what Ive noticed while collaborating with entrepreneurs at Y Combinator and working on several startups1. CuriosityTechnology develops at different rates and in different ways ar ound the world. Curiosity about those differences is an important attribute for any entrepreneur.Each country has their own interesting, unique economy. And although people in China, the U.S., Japan, or Korea have a common set of desires, they also have different business and social climates. So, people in each place tend to come up with solutions that are distinct from other parts of the world.Id encourage any budding entrepreneur to take a trip to China and witness how technology is developing there. Absorbing differing ideas and concepts is a valuable experience for a founder.2. A Sense of ImpatienceEntrepreneurs need impatience in order to recognize inefficiencies and capitalize on them.People often think of impatience as an unsavory personality trait. But it can actually be very beneficial for an entrepreneur whos trying to create a product that solves an inefficient situation.Part of the reason I started Spin welches because I was constantly waiting on Ubers to pick me up and work their way through the traffic around my office. I was impatient, and I decided to craft a solution for my problem rather than waiting around for someone else to solve it.On some level, most people understand theres a better way to do things. And theyd choose that better way if it were available. Taking action and pursuing that solution is what sets entrepreneurs apart.3. SociabilityIts important for any entrepreneur to have a good network of like-minded people to engage with and use for support. It helps tremendously to have people around you who are constantly looking for and solving problems.Ive noticed that great ideas often come from casual meetings and brainstorming sessions. Its not necessarily one person in a garage coming up with a world-changing idea and then championing it all the way to a multi-million dollar exit.Being social and developing that group gives you an opportunity to brainstorm and confirm your ideas and concepts with other people.4. Attention To Basic m enschlich NeedsThe basic necessities of a happy life should always be on an entrepreneurs mind. Food, shelter, companionship, entertainment, simplicity- these are all things that people either need or have a strong desire to obtain.And entrepreneurs have to learn to be perceptive about the problems and inefficiencies around them that relate to human needs.If youre paying attention to what people require, you can find opportunities to improve their experience and help in their pursuits of those needs. Those are the ideas that people will engage with and come to rely on- the ones that help them obtain the essential things in life.5. ReasoningThere are plenty of ways to solve a puzzle. For instance, some people just start picking up pieces and seeing what fits. And that can work, but the task becomes much easier when you begin to think about why each piece fits where it does.For example, bikeshare companies in China are virtually free because they are largely subsidized by two internet giants- Alibaba and Tencent. But in the U.S., Facebook and Google arent in the business of funding bikeshare companies.So, while the general idea of sharing bikes could be transplanted, we knew we had to think about what reasoning would actually make sense in the US. And we eventually had to change the business model to rely mora on per-ride revenue.6. FlexibilityEvery entrepreneur has to find the balance between stubbornness and flexibility.You have to be stubborn enough to keep persevering and working on your idea, even when people tell you its silly or you begin to doubt yourself. But you also need to have the flexibility to recognize your first attempt may have been off the mark.Thats happening right now at Spin. We began with bike sharing, but eventually we realized scooters are the better product for American cities. At the outset, we understood the problem, but we didnt have the exact solution nailed down. Were staying flexible enough to recognize a better solution when we s ee it.Theres nothing wrong with tweaking your idea or pivoting to respond to consumer demands. Its just one of several qualities an entrepreneur can benefit from.Euwyn Poon is theCo-Founder and President of Spin.This post was originally published on Quora.com.

Update Your Profile Picture to Connect You at a Glance Find Your Dream Job

Update Your Profile Picture to Connect You at a Glance Find Your Dream JobUpdate Your Profile Picture to Connect You at a Glance - Find Your Dream JobIn Day 5, you updated your professional online profile. Today, you want to make sure that your online profile pictures are just as up-to-date and professional as those profiles. Update Your Profile Picture Your profile picture is an extremely important part of your online presence, as it helps people to connect with you at a glance. You do leid need to hire a professional photographer to take your profile photo, but there are certain things you should take into consideration when taking and selecting your photo. Below are a few tips on how to take and choose an ideal photo for your online profiles. Find a Friend to Help Ask a friend or family member (who is comfortable using a camera) to take your profile picture. If someone else is notlage available to take the photo, you can take a webshot on your computers camera (if your c omputer has that capability), or take a photo of yourself using the self-timer on your camera. However, do not take the photo using a handheld camera self-photos or selfies appear unprofessional. Smile Select a photo in which you appear to smile in a natural way. A smile will make you appear friendly and approachable to those looking at your profile. Having a friend or family member take your photo will hopefully put you at ease and make your smile look more authentic. If you are deciding between a couple of photos, ask some friends or family members which photo makes you look the most approachable. Pick a Head Shot Because profile pictures often appear as small thumbnails, pick a photo that shows only your head, neck, and a bit of your shoulders. If the photo shows your entire body, viewers may not be able to see your face well, and may not be able to recognize you in person. Dress Professionally Dress in a manner that is appropriate for your career field. In other wor ds, dress as you would for an interview at your ideal company. Typically this means a dress shirt or blouse, a shirt and tie, or even a suit. Choose solid dark colors like blue or black. Avoid wearing a strapless dress or top, because a photo that only shows your head and shoulders will make you appear naked (and definitely unprofessional). Avoid wearing large jewelry or too trendy hairstyles that will distract from your face. Keep It Simple Do not include distracting props, backgrounds, or people in the photo. Your profile pictures should be of you, and only you. Stand against a solid-colored background that provides enough contrast against you and your outfit (for example, if you are wearing navy, do not stand against a navy wall, because you will blend into the background). Keep It Up-to-Date Make sure you choose a recent photo of you, so that people will be able to recognize you in person. No baby pictures Be Consistent A great way to develop your professional brand is to use the same photo in all of your online profiles, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google, and even your Gmail Profile.

What a US Army officer can teach you about spotting talented people

What a US Army officer can teach you about spotting talented peopleWhat a US Army officer can teach you about spotting talented peopleOne thing we often learn is this many companies find it incredibly easy to keep hiring and promoting people who either look or act the same way. Army officer Richard Farnell knows one way to be a great leader and mentor choose to help younger people who dont look like you.Farnell emphasized leaders responsibility to cast a wide net for mentoring in a Harvard Business Review article called berater People Who Arent Like You. The article struck a chord with us at Ladders because we keep seeing that people dont understand the value of diversity, which is a huge financial and morale boost to companies.The tough part how do you create a diverse team? Its easier to go down the well-worn path of picking people we relate to. Farnell has a response to that dont.Telling our protgs that diversity matters wont change a thing. We must demonstrate our commitment to i t by deliberately mentoring people who arent like us. Otherwise, we do whats comfortable, and we risk saying with our actions that we care about cultivating the talents of a homogeneous few. Thats the example we end up setting, the culture we end up building, Farnell wrote.You can apply certaintakeaways from the article to your career, and use them to inform the way you serve others professionally.How mentors can serve diverse talentIts not always easy for vermgen mentees toreach out.Those who look less like me might find it hard to share their concerns with me or ask for help. They might feel uncomfortable raising their pranke if they arent sure I will identify with them. And its on me, as the leader, to help close that gap, Farnell wrote.So what strategies could work once you establish a mentoring relationship with someone whose background is different than yours?TheAssociation of American Medical Colleges offers advice based on a variety of cited literature, and the steps to esta blishing these relationships are easy to understand establish trust, communicate openly and often and publicly support protgs and help them expand professional networks,There are specific ways to provide support.What mentors get in returnLeaders who decide to mentor people very different from them alsobenefit they get a view into perspectives they would otherwise never see.Mentoring across social and demographic lines is good for the mentor, as well. It has made me a more empathic, emotionally intelligent leader. Ive become better at spotting potential outside the usual mold - and better at understanding the obstacles people face when they arent part of the dominant group, Farnell wrote.In other words, good mentoring reinforces emotional intelligence - a crucial quality for leadership, even, as Farnell learned, in a hierarchy as rigid as the military.Brent Gleeson, a former Navy SEAL, has said the sameA leader lacking in emotional intelligence is not able to effectively gauge the needs, wants and expectations of those they lead. Leaders who react from their emotions without filtering them can create mistrust amongst their staff and can seriously jeopardize their working relationships, Gleeson wrote in an article in Forbes.Take it from veterans of the Armed Forces The best leaders dont look in the obvious places to find talented teammates, and theyre better for it.