ABSTRACT
SUMMARY: This study was aimed at investigating the differences between successful and less successful entrepreneurs to identify trends between the prevelance, or lack thereof, of certain characteristics and the level of business success that had been achieved. Based on the answers to a questionnaire, the respondents were divided in four groups: very successful, successful, making a living and unsuccessful. The results were collated per group and then comparisons where sought. The research findings highlighted that there are notable differences between the qualities of the four groups of entrepreneurs. In particular very successful people took direct responsibility for their failures and never sought to blame those beyond their control. The majority of the unsuccessful and less successful entrepreneurs entered their current industries as a result of opportunities that had presented themselves. Very successful entrepreneurs, on the other hand, made conscious calculated decisions to enter particular industries.
