Co-Founder & Managing Partner of 7Wire Ventures
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Venture capitalists invest in the dreams of entrepreneurs. At 7wireVentures, I have met thousands of people pitching ideas. Many are first-time founders, while others are experienced CEOs with multiple successes. There are qualities common and essential to those who prosper:
• Work ethic
• Commitment
• Focus
• Relationship-building skills
• Uniqueness/competitive moat
• Risk appetite
• Salesmanship
As I reflect on these seven critical skills, it evokes memories of the best entrepreneur I’ve ever known: my father. From a young age, he worked to support his ailing father, learning a trade in menswear. After his military service, still in his 20s, he went to night school at Roosevelt University. Simultaneously, he started a business that still bears his name today: Syd Jerome. To define these attributes, I refer to the context of his life.
1. Work Ethic
Work ethic is…
