Are there any similarities between the characteristics demanded of an entrepreneur and those demanded of a professional athlete?

There are definitely similarities between the qualities that an entrepreneur needs and those that a professional athlete needs.  Let us look at a few of these similarities.

First, both of these groups need to be willing to take on risks.  Entrepreneurs have to be willing to risk their money on ventures that may well fail.  Professional athletes have to be willing to risk injury and, in many cases, to risk their chances at a good...

There are definitely similarities between the qualities that an entrepreneur needs and those that a professional athlete needs.  Let us look at a few of these similarities.

First, both of these groups need to be willing to take on risks.  Entrepreneurs have to be willing to risk their money on ventures that may well fail.  Professional athletes have to be willing to risk injury and, in many cases, to risk their chances at a good life.  By this, I mean that many professional athletes have to forego the schooling that would allow them to have a good fallback position if they fail to achieve enough success to make a living through their sport.

Second, both of these groups have to be willing to deal with failure on the psychological level.  Many entrepreneurs fail, some more than once.  They have to be able to keep on trying rather than give up because they doubt their abilities.  Professional athletes fail constantly.  A professional basketball player, for example, may have to accept missing a shot or committing a turnover at a key point in the game.  They have to have the psychological makeup that allows them to fail and to still remain confident that they will succeed the next time.

Third, both of these groups have to be extremely ambitious and driven.  In both cases, people have to set their sights very high.  They have to want to achieve things that the vast majority of people do not and cannot achieve.  They also have to be willing to work very hard.  Entrepreneurs typically have to put in long hours and endure great amounts of stress in order to achieve their goals.  Professional athletes are the same way.  Most of them have to train constantly, watch their diets and their sleeping habits, and cope with extreme pressure from coaches, fans, and other players on a daily basis.

In all of these ways, entrepreneurs and professional athletes do have to possess some of the same characteristics.