When you look at the world’s top startups and then at their CEOs, you find similar characteristics across the board. Startup CEOs are crazy enough to start a company from scratch and strong enough to build a rock-solid team around their idea.
As a startup CEO, you’ll likely feel that your company’s weight is on your shoulders, while every decision you make can have a profound impact on your success. Made the wrong hire and now feeling scared to fire him/her? Too bad. Just one bad player could ruin the culture you’ve spent months building, so firing is probably your best choice.
Decided to target the wrong market? Better make a pivot before it’s too late.
Startup CEOs need to think on their feet and adapt to every situation. And, if you’re a young CEO, your startup is likely almost an extension of you. You think about it constantly and always need to be ready to pitch.
So, if you’re thinking of starting a company or already started one, see how you fit with the most common characteristics of startup CEOs described below.
Perseverance
When times get tough, the tough get going. As every startup CEO knows. that journey to success will be a roller coaster. But even if you’re the CEO, and you start going downhill, you won’t be willing to quit. Regardless of how bootstrapped they may become, true entrepreneurs need to know how to get by with what they have.
For an example, look to Josh Anton of