Personality and Entrepreneurial Behavior: Relations among Entrepreneurship-Relevant Traits and Entrepreneurial Status, Intentions, and Prior Venture Experiences

Abstract

Increasing investments in incubators, accelerators, and academia coincide with current and historical perceptions of the United States as a world leader in creating new businesses, as well as an economic force dependent, in part, on entrepreneurship. Research identifies various personality characteristics related to entrepreneurship, however, entrepreneur-specific personality measures have rarely been studied. This study investigates relationships between the 11-factor Entrepreneur Core Characteristics Profile and entrepreneurial outcomes in a sample including students, working adults, and current entrepreneurs. Results expand our understanding of how entrepreneur-specific measures may be useful for predicting entrepreneurial outcomes, with implications for practitioners who work with entrepreneurs.

Keywords

• entrepreneurship
• personality
• entrepreneurial intentions
• business sale