16 Signs You’re an Entrepreneur

Last month I was talking to an entrepreneur that was going through a really difficult spell. No matter how hard he tried, it seemed like everything went wrong. After we talked about a number of challenges, I stopped, looked up, and said, “those are all signs you’re an entrepreneur.”

Here are 16 signs you’re an entrepreneur:

1. One day you’re on the top of the world and the next day you’re completely demoralized
2. Those layoffs last year were done by you personally
3. Dozens of investors have rejected your investment pitch
4. In the morning you’re writing code, at lunch you’re emptying the trash, and in the afternoon you’re on the phone doing a sales call
5. That first company credit card was really your personal card
6. Those two employees that don’t fit the culture — you agreed to their hiring out of desperation to fill the position
7. Every week you have a new idea to make the company better
8. Competitors have raised way more money than you
9. Those channel partners you expected to sell your product haven’t even hit 10% of expectations
10. Culture is valued more than anything else since it’s the only thing within your control
11. Everything you thought you’d accomplish took twice as long as expected and was twice as expensive
12. After thinking you were alone, you found 10 other entrepreneurs in the same exact spot
13. No matter how hard you try, there are never enough hours in the day
14. The original idea for the business wasn’t the idea that ultimately became successful
15. Making decisions with imperfect information gets you excited
16. When things are going well, you have the best job in the world

Being an entrepreneur is both exciting and scary at the same time. These 16 signs ring true for entrepreneurs around the world.

What else? What are some other signs you’re an entrepreneur?