There's no single, clear-cut answer within academic or business circles. Still, most experts agree that anyone can develop useful traits and hone key skills
My opinion is that one does not have to be a "born entrepreneur" to succeed, but it certainly helps. Innate tendencies seem to make certain people more likely to take risks, more able to identify and act on promising business opportunities, and more open to new experiences. We've all known extroverted people who revel in marketing and selling, activities that successful business owners must master. Individuals who do not share these traits can certainly develop them, but they will have to work harder than those for whom such traits come naturally.
My opinion aside, however, your "chicken and egg" question has recently been tackled scientifically in studies of twins (both identical, who share 100 percent of their genes, and fraternal, who share about 50 percent of their genes). Scott Shane, my fellow columnist and the A. Malachi Mixon III Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Case Western Reserve University, participated with several colleagues in the research. In academic articles and his book, Born Entrepreneurs, Born Leaders, (Oxford University Press, 2010), Shane says that the tendency toward entrepreneurship is about 48 percent "heritable," meaning influenced by genetic factors.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Are Entrepreneurs Born or Made? - BusinessWeek
Author: Karen E. Klein
