George Deeb on the 7 traits defining successful entrepreneurs

Welcome to another episode of The Small Business Show. Today, we welcome back George Deeb, Author, Forbes contributor, and Managing Partner of Red Rocket Ventures, to break down the big question: Is entrepreneurship learned or wired into your DNA?

To answer it, Deeb outlines seven core skill sets that consistently show up in successful entrepreneurs and evaluates whether each is primarily learned or embedded in one’s DNA:

1. Intellect – The ability to learn, analyze problems, and build expertise over time
2. Imagination – Seeing opportunities others miss and thinking beyond established models
3. Passion – Sustaining motivation and resilience through setbacks and uncertainty
4. Communication – Clearly articulating ideas to customers, partners, investors, and teams
5. Persistence – Continuing forward despite obstacles, doubt, and external pressure
6. Experience – Applying lessons learned from past roles, industries, and failures
7. Risk tolerance – Willingness to make uncertain decisions and commit without guaranteed outcomes

Deeb identified intellect, communication, and experience as skills that can be developed over time. He said that knowledge can be acquired through education and repetition, that communication improves through practice, and that experience accumulates through past roles and failures. Together, these traits make entrepreneurship accessible to those willing to put in the work.

Other traits, however, lean more heavily toward natural wiring. Deeb pointed to imagination, passion, persistence, and risk tolerance as qualities that are difficult to teach. He notes that entrepreneurs often face skepticism from family, financial pressure, and repeated setbacks, making internal drive and resilience essential for survival.

“At some point, the market’s going to get saturated and there’s going to be a major shakeout.”

When weighed together, Deeb said innate traits narrowly outweigh learned skills, four to three. Still, he emphasized that entrepreneurship is not reserved for a select few. Many founders succeed by compensating for natural limitations through preparation, partnerships, and experience.

The conversation also turned to timing, as economic uncertainty continues into 2026. Deeb cited high market valuations, geopolitical instability, affordability concerns, and rapid advances in AI as factors creating a cautious environment for new businesses. While AI presents opportunities, he warned that the sector is crowded and may face consolidation as enthusiasm cools.

Access to capital remains a challenge, as Deeb mentions that venture capital firms have become more selective in their funding, leading many entrepreneurs to seek financial support from friends and family or from retiring baby boomers with liquid assets.

Despite the uncertainty, Deeb said there is never a perfect time to start a business. Success, he notes, comes from aligning personal strengths with market opportunity and entering with clear expectations rather than waiting for ideal conditions.