9

Personal Background

Goals:

• Answer the question, "Why do think you can be successful in this business?"

Skills:

• Self-assess the personal qualities and experiences that reflect an ability to voluntarily accept challenges and to follow through with long-term commitments
• Self-assess personal business and trade-specific knowledge/skills that enhance the probability of success

Overview:

Many first time entrepreneurs lack "resume" experience when they start their business. For most, success will be based on a passion to succeed combined with a solid foundation of subject/technical knowledge.

For many students, this chapter provides their first opportunity to self-assess their personal experience and skills. Students become aware that they have personal qualities they can nurture to achieve goals. In fact, most students realize they have already demonstrated many of these personal qualities through family, school, and/or community activities. This chapter provides students with an opportunity to self-assess their abilities and to present these abilities in a clear, objective, and confident manner.