Avoid the Humpty Dumpty Entrepreneurs

What makes an entrepreneur a Humpty Dumpty entrepreneur? Here's Forbes' Dr. Steven Bergias:

Humpty Dumpty entrepreneurs have the kind of personality, or a particular psychological bent, that simply doesn't lend itself to entrepreneurial success. Mind you, these people aren't losers, mentally ill or doomed to fail in other pursuits. It just means that, in the same way that someone who can't jump probably shouldn't play in the NBA, Humpty Dumpties shouldn't start businesses.

There are three traits to a Humpty Dumpty Entrepreneur, he says:

Workaholics- For all their laboring, workaholics are neither addicted to, nor invested in, careers. Their toil is a socially sanctioned avoidance of social contact. By contrast, natural entrepreneurs tend to be affable charmers. How else would they lure talented employees with meager salaries and slices of potentially worthless equity?

Workaholics tend to be control freaks. Putting in all those hours regulates their (perceived) level of intimacy. Entrepreneurs are quality control freaks, driven to build their mousetraps according to Six Sigma ideals.

Narcicistic- You may ask, "What's the difference between a doomed narcissist and a confident entrepreneur with tons of chutzpah, brashness and screw-the-rules toughness?" Answer: Narcissists are committed to building a facade, while entrepreneurs are devoted to an ideal. That level of commitment neutralizes the rebuffs, insults and failures that inevitably come with running any company.

You can't buy your way into e'ship- Being a business builder is like being the parent of a child who suffers from colic: If you don't love the kid with all your heart, you'll never endure all those sleepless nights. And it's very difficult to develop a truly deep connection to a business unless you played a role in its birth.

Link: www.forbes.com/2009/01/22/entrepreneur-psychology-franchise-ent-manage-cx_sb_0122berglashumptydumpty.html