1.Step 1. Listed below are several qualities that experts suggest are required to be a successful entrepreneur. Rank the items from 1–8 in order of what you personally think is most important to least important for successfully starting a business.

1. ___ Be motivated to the point of sacrificing your finances and lifestyle for several years.

2. ___ Enjoy all aspects of running a business, from accountant to receptionist.

3. ___ Have support from a mentor, business partner or significant other who can supply a sympathetic ear or expertise you don’t have.

4. ___ Be personally persuasive and well-spoken.

5. ___ Have an idea or concept you are absolutely passionate about.

6. ___ Be a self-starter who can’t wait to make things happen.

7. ___ Be comfortable making decisions on the fly without good data.

8. ___ Possess a track record of successful implementation of your own ideas.

Step 2. In groups of three to five students, each person shares his or her individual ranking and reasoning.

Step 3. Discuss rankings as a group and arrive at a single ranking for the group as a whole.

Step 4. Discuss the following questions in the group: What accounted for the differences in rankings by group members? Would the ranking differ depending on the type of business to be started? Does the ranking vary by gender? What would motivate you to start a business? Which quality on the above list would be your strongest?