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There are many things to think about when starting a business. Firstly, you need a good idea. Without a decent idea, your business is unlikely to work and therefore generate money. Secondly, you also need a rock-solid business plan, because without one no lender is going to hand you any money.
But these are obvious, so what other less obvious things could hinder your chances of starting a successful business?
You Can’t Drive
Being able to drive is not essential. Millions of people cope just fine without a car. However, if you are running a business, not being able to drive could make life very difficult, so it makes sense to have a go at some practice theory tests on toptests.co.uk before taking a practical driving test.
Sure, you could use public transport or catch a taxi. You could even pay a driver if the business is very successful. However, the freedom of having your own car and being able to reach suppliers and customers quickly and easily is paramount.
You Were Born in the Wrong Month
The month you were born in is a strong predictor of future success. August is the cut-off for school entry, so kids who are born in August are the youngest in their peer group. This means they are at a huge disadvantage.
Younger children are less mature, both physically and mentally. This has a knock-on effect through school and into adulthood. Far fewer CEOs were born in June, July or August. This doesn’t mean you won’t achieve success, but the odds are stacked against you.
You are Vertically Challenged
It is deeply unfair, but taller people are perceived to be more competent. Various studies have found that, the taller you are, the more successful you are likely to be. So if you are on the short side, luck is not on your side, and if you are challenged in the looks department also, you really did draw the short straw!
You are Too Nice
Being nice is good, but not if you want to succeed in business. Psychometric testing has found that people who are nice all the time tend to be less analytical and logical. In fact, to be successful in business, it helps if you score highly on the narcissistic scale.
You Went to Private School
You probably consider yourself very lucky if your parents could afford to send you to private school. Indeed, on the face of it, kids who go to private school have the edge on their peers because they enjoy a better education and more social advantages.
What you may not realise, however, is that kids who go to state schools often outperform children from private school. The reason for this is not down to money. Rather, teachers at state schools are better at teaching maths and they are also more up to date with the latest teaching methods.
Ticking all of the above boxes does not mean your business is doomed, but it does mean you need to work a little bit harder than the average Joe.