If you haven’t noticed, the job market is changing. From a renewed emphasis on high-skilled jobs, like machine operators and registered nurses, to the growing number of opportunities for freelance work, there’s no doubt that the traditional path to career success has transformed.

For many, the route to achieving their dreams will be through entrepreneurship. The question for anyone considering making the jump to being a business owner is simple: Do I have what it takes?

Knowledge
Starting a business from the ground up is difficult enough, but if you don’t have knowledge about the product, service, or industry that you are getting into, the odds are increasingly against you. One of the wisest investments to make during the initial stages of entrepreneurship is growing your knowledge of the venture you’re about to undertake.

Whether that is learning more about the process of starting a small business, including loans and any licenses needed, or discovering how franchising works, having a solid foundation of information is fundamental to your success.

Do you understand everything there is to know about the product you’d like to sell or the problem you’d like to solve? If not, it’s probably not the right time to invest the energy and money needed to become an entrepreneur.

Passion
No matter the business you want to begin, you’re going to need an almost reckless desire to make it happen. With purpose and a passion to succeed, you’ll be able to overcome the various obstacles and trials that will come your way. Without that desire, the road to entrepreneurial success will be a dead end and leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth and a sense of failure.

There may be people in your life, even close family and friends, who think you’re crazy for taking this leap into the unknown. But, if you begin the journey with an unrelenting desire to see your idea through to the end, there’s no one who can stop you from achieving your dream.

One surprising reason the most successful entrepreneurs have a genuine passion for what they do: failure.

No matter the industry or the time period, from Henry Ford to Colonel Sanders to Soichiro Honda to Richard Branson to Oprah Winfrey to Elon Musk, the passion-filled pursuit of success through the adversity of failure has led the world’s greatest entrepreneurs to their accomplishments.

Support
Finally, one of the most common denominators among entrepreneurs who have what it takes is a support system. This group of people and the organizations that surround you during the entrepreneurial process play a vital role in both your short and long-term success.

Whether it’s a spouse who puts their trust in you, a friend who invests money in your venture, or a mentor who has been through this already, each are an important member of your support team. Not only are they needed to help you get through the challenges of starting your own business, but the saying really is true, ”Victories taste much sweeter when they are experienced with others.”

Find out if you’re ready to become an entrepreneur and which path is right for you. Check out this quiz from the Express Franchising blog.

Have you ever considered starting your own business? Are you currently an entrepreneur? Let us know in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.