MODERN ENTREPRENEUR
The Yin and Yang of
Successful Entrepreneurship
By Alan Manly
E
veryone has an opinion about
what makes an entrepreneur
successful. Motivated by
genuine interest or natural envy
it’s a great topic to get any BBQ
talking. The latest book on what
makes entrepreneurs tick will
surely be referenced highlighting
gobsmacking success or sorrowful
failure. But personality analysis
is not new. One concept for
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ModernBusiness
November 2016
understanding these traits that
became popular in China during the
3rd century BC is what is known as
yin and yang. Yin (dark side) and
Yang, (bright side), describe how
opposite or contrary forces are
complementary, interconnected,
and interdependent. It sounds
complicated but it makes an
interesting tool to understand the
traits of successful entrepreneurs.
Tenacity
A bright side, Yang, characteristic.
Tenacity is the favoured word for
entrepreneurs who persist and
overcome adversity. A bulldog like
spirit focused on success. However,
on the dark side, Yin, when no one
is around we may see a person
trapped by the over commitment.
Lying awake at nights on the cusp
of cutting and running if only there