Entrepreneurs have a trait which I describe as “Shameless Audacity.”
In the process of running a technology startup for five years, I got to meet numerous startup founders. All of them bring something unique. Many qualities get talked about a lot. Some are stereotypes or myths, and some are true. For example, I have never met an entrepreneur who has launched something (even a small thing) that is not hard-working. You can talk about working smarter all you want, but in the end, all entrepreneurs work hard in whatever way you define it.
An entrepreneur has the ability to have no filter for what others think. They are not afraid to be exposed. They will not shy away from losing face. Most of us care about what others think and say about us, even if we do not admit it. An entrepreneur does not. I don’t mean that in a condescending way, e.g., that they don’t care about other people’s opinions, but in a true sense: they don’t have a filter for caring about what other people think about what they do. They care more about finding the truth, finding meaning, and figuring out a solution to a problem.
Reflecting on my own experience, there was a time when I wore for months four wearable devices on my wrist seven days a week as I was trying to get critical insights on a product we were building. I knew it looked silly; my friends told me, and we joked about it. I had no filter for this, though. I was trying out something and had to find the answer to what I was looking for.
Others might dismiss this trait as stubbornness. It’s not, though. One can be stubborn and care immensely about what others think; it might be why they are stubborn, like the leader who doesn’t want to change their mind to avoid losing face. An entrepreneur will shamelessly march on with the audacity to find a solution or an answer.
