Entrepreneurs completely throw themselves into their work. For an entrepreneur, their job may be more insecure than most because it is often based on an idea that could succeed or fail at the whim of an investor. For this reason, their work must be their life.

Entrepreneurs do not think of themselves first. Instead they thrive off knowing that what they create may just have a positive impact on the world. The credit is not what most entrepreneurs are after, it’s the satisfaction of helping in some way – be it in combating poverty and disease, helping businesses run more efficiently, or making life more comfortable. Although running a business is a magnanimous task that potentially creates jobs and strengthens the economy, it’s also often a thankless one done on behalf of the customers.

Entrepreneurs are open-minded and hungry to learn. This is borne out of necessity for an entrepreneur who needs to continue creating new products, to stay ahead of his or her competitors and they will take inspiration from anything and everything around them.

Entrepreneurs are dogged enough to never give up. Failure is the friend of the entrepreneur and it has to be given that it happens often. So, when an entrepreneur fails at something they embrace it and take the challenge on in a reinvigorated way that ultimately gives them a better chance of success.

Entrepreneurs see the new in the old. They are the people who take an everyday inanimate object and redefine it as a hammock or a lamp or a bed or a car. Or they take an old idea and give it a modern twist that suddenly seems like the freshest idea the world has seen.

Entrepreneurs are proactive. When they have an idea, they do not simply write it down and store it for a later date. They immediately set to work on turning the idea into a reality and that reality into a something that changes people's lives in some way. This means having the passion, determination and energy to keep moving forwards.

Do you know anyone who has an entrepreneurial spirit and who is thinking of starting a business? Buckinghamshire Business First offers support to start-up business, so please forward this information to any contacts you have who would benefit from the support we have on offer.

In February 2015 we are running a Start Up Networking event at The Clare Charity Centre in Saunderton that is ideal for start-up businesses to attend. This will be a chance to make connections with other businesses or give you a foothold in the local business community. Forward the link to any contacts you think would be interested, or book you own place now if you want to spread the word about your own start-up.