If you think entrepreneurs are simply sprung from the womb bursting with ideas, resilience and motivation, you can think again.

Becoming a successful entrepreneur is not an overnight thing and although some geniuses such as Bill Gates seem to have it wired in their DNA, for the most of us, it’s something that takes dedication and time to build.

Saying that however, studies have shown that the top entrepreneurs do seem to have a collection of shared characteristics that seem to push them above and beyond the average Joe steering them directly towards success.

Here we give you a list of those traits that make these successful minds stick out from the rest...

1.  Vision

An entrepreneur will be able to see opportunities and innovation in every direction they turn.

They have this remarkable skill allowing them to see the future before it’s happened and remain several steps ahead of the market in their mind.

Though they will be faced with many disbelievers along the way who simply can’t see their vision in the way that they do, successful entrepreneurs will have faith in their vision and continue forward nonetheless.

2. Passion

To face all of those naysayers, successful entrepreneurs need to be highly passionate and confident about their idea, ready to ignore those who try to bring them down along the way.

Most will believe that they can actually change the world with their idea or invention. And that right there is the kind of mind that’s needed to get them through the hard times, bringing them out into the light on the other side of the tunnel.

Steve Jobs' passion drove technology company Apple above its peers

3. Risk-taking

All successful entrepreneurs know that taking risks is an inevitability when not only starting a business but is also continuous along the way.

There’s no time for faffing about, they know not only how to be decisive and take action but, more importantly; when. They know when to take a risk but of course, they always know the rules and regulations before diving in.

4. Resilience

A successful entrepreneur will not accept defeat. No run is going to be smooth sailing, it’s inevitable that there’ll be highs and lows which is something that some people just can’t seem to handle.

It’s only those who persevere, roll their sleeves up and put in the hard work that will remain with their heads high above the water.

You’ll need to be honest with yourself and realise that if something isn’t working, it’s time to take a new direction but to most importantly never, ever, give up.

5. Self-Motivated

Any entrepreneur knows there are many hurdles to leap over before becoming profitable and self-sustainable. They will know the right questions to ask themselves when starting a business that will get them on the right track. Deep down they know that if they want something done, they will have to make it happen themselves.

While others can help, at the end of the day, it’s down to them to make the decisions and get the ball rolling - it certainly won’t happen on its own.