During the crisis, while economists explained why it had occurred and tried to predict when it would end, talk of a “crisis of values” emerged, which was blamed for the economic recession and numerous other calamities. It became popular to talk about how bad “things” were and how it was necessary to return to values ​​to emerge from the crisis stronger.

But what values ​​are we talking about?

We recently emphasized the importance of defining a startup’s mission, vision, and values, and of adhering to them strictly. But it’s not just companies that should remember their values; business owners and professionals in any sector, including entrepreneurs, should also remember them.

What are the most important values ​​for an entrepreneur? (Although many of them could apply to an employee.) This has been discussed in numerous articles and even in reports and studies, but the truth is that, in general, these are universal values:

Honesty

Honesty means being honest with oneself, without self-deception. This is something that others will be able to perceive. A professional who is honest with themselves and with others will be trustworthy and will prosper much more.

Consistency

Consistency means aligning your thoughts and words with your actions and feelings. Being consistent means adhering to your company’s values ​​and principles, even in complicated or controversial situations. Consistent people provide peace of mind in unstable moments because you know where you stand with them.

Patience

This is a rather difficult value to find. In the entrepreneurial world, when we put a lot of effort into a project and have to wait for results, it’s hard to resign ourselves to doing nothing. Even so, it’s necessary to be patient, not only with projects, but also with your team and investors.

Commitment

You must be committed to your own project, and it must be something that can be perceived from the outside. It’s important that this commitment be evident, especially during difficult times, when the project falters. But at the same time, you must avoid going down with the ship. You have to know when to stop.

Generosity

Selfishness is negative in any area of ​​life, but even more so in entrepreneurship. Be generous, help other projects when asked, and strive to share your experience. Not only will you be seen as valuable, but it can also lead to future collaborations.

Humility

While it’s important to believe in your project, it’s also important to acknowledge your own flaws and accept criticism. Perfection doesn’t exist, and you can learn a lot from those who know more than you.

Courage

Sometimes you’ll have to defend your project against all odds and have the courage to do things that have never been done before, or to take very risky actions. The world belongs to the brave, so go for it!

Responsibility

It’s crucial that you be responsible for your actions, ideas, and emotions. If you consistently blame the intern when something goes wrong, no one will be able to take you seriously or trust you. Being responsible is hard because it sometimes involves admitting failure, but remember that you’ll always find something enriching in every mistake if you embrace it instead of rejecting it.

As you can see, these are virtues we should all aspire to. And here comes the next question: is it possible to acquire these values, or should we be born with them? I am a firm believer that anyone can improve if they set their mind to it and have the right tools and support. So I encourage you to examine yourself and work on those values ​​you feel you’re lacking to become the best entrepreneur you can be.

Ángel María Herrera

Source: With Your Business