When you're considering starting a business, one of the first steps is to understand where your strengths lie.
Are you the visionary with big ideas, the manager who keeps everything running smoothly, or the technician who knows exactly how to execute tasks?
Identifying your dominant trait can help you determine not only what kind of business you should start but also how you should structure your operations to foster growth. As your business evolves, complementing your skills by bringing on partners or employees with complementary strengths is crucial.
1. The Entrepreneur with Vision and Imagination
Who They Are: Entrepreneurs are the dreamers and visionaries. They have the big ideas and the drive to change the world. Their minds are always on the future, thinking about possibilities rather than limitations.
Why It's Important: Visionaries are essential for setting the direction and ambition of the company. They inspire innovation and push the boundaries of what's possible.
Business Suitability: If you're a visionary, you might be well-suited to start businesses in industries that are ripe for disruption or where technology can play a transformative role. Examples include tech startups, renewable energy companies, or innovative consumer goods firms.
Steve Jobs was a quintessential visionary. He co-founded Apple and was pivotal in developing groundbreaking products like the iPhone and iPad, which forever changed the technology landscape.
2. The Manager
Who They Are: Managers are the organizers. They excel in planning, executing, and monitoring. Managers ensure that once the visionary sets the direction, the pathway to reaching those goals is clear and attainable.
Why It's Important: Effective management is critical for the day-to-day operations of any business. Managers translate the visionary's ideas into structured, strategic plans that can be implemented.
Business Suitability: If you're a manager, consider businesses that require a high degree of organizational skills and operational control, such as hospitality management, retail operations, or service firms.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO after Jobs, is known for his managerial expertise. He streamlined Apple’s complex operations, ensuring that the innovative designs could be produced efficiently and profitably.
3. The Technician
Who They Are: Technicians are the doers. They possess the specific skills and expertise to deliver the product or service. Whether it’s crafting a piece of furniture, programming software, or repairing machinery, technicians love the work itself rather than managing others or developing new business ideas.
Why It's Important: Technicians are crucial for the actual creation of the business's products or services. Their expertise ensures high-quality outcomes and operational efficiencies.
Business Suitability: Technicians might thrive in startups where the product is highly technical or artisanal—think specialty craft businesses, IT firms, or mechanical companies.
Mark Zuckerberg started as the technician behind Facebook, coding the original platform himself. His technical expertise was essential in creating a social networking site that attracted millions.
As the business grows, the need for balanced skills becomes more apparent. A successful business often requires at least one visionary, one manager, and one technician. This trio provides the big-picture strategy, the operational ability to implement it, and the technical skills to produce a quality product or service.
Why Diverse Skills Matter: Each role complements the others. Without a visionary, a business might lack direction; without a manager, it might be disorganized; and without a technician, it might fail to deliver quality. The interaction between these roles enables a business to grow sustainably and adapt to challenges.
Understanding your primary role in a business—whether as a visionary, a manager, or a technician—can guide you in starting a business that aligns with your strengths. It also highlights the importance of building a balanced team that can support all aspects of the business, ensuring long-term growth and success. Recognizing where you fit is the first step in building a successful venture.