Beardy Like Branson? Tall Like Peter Jones? Or Young Like Zuckerberg? The Physical Characteristics That Link Entrepreneurs

Which Characteristics Do YOU Share With Entrepreneurs?

Have you ever wondered if you've got what it takes to be a world-class entrepreneur?

Well wonder no more - research from several quarters suggests it could all be down to how much testosterone you have in your body.

Characteristics such as excessive body hair, strong bone structure, longer ring fingers than index fingers and having an addictive personalities are all traits regularly recognised in business high-flyers, but are also symptoms of high testosterone levels.

A book by Hannah Holmes called the Well Dressed Ape also states enhanced hand eye coordination, aggressive tendencies and even learning disabilities - particularly in men - are key traits often seen in entrepreneurs.

Virgin's Richard Branson famously sports a beard and suffers from dyslexia - he's also comfortable with figures and rarely suffers from illnesses - also common in entrepreneurs.

Youth is often cited as a factor too - testosterone levels are at their highest both in men and women at a younger age. Therefore the younger you are, the more likely you are to succeed, in theory.

Other theories include blondes earn more than brunettes, and if you're statistically beautiful - that is your face is completely symmetrical - you're likely to earn more than everyone.

Height is also said to be a factor: Half of the companies on the Fortune 500 were polled about the height of their CEOs in 2005; on average, male chief executives were just under six feet tall, or three inches taller than the average man, according to Matthew Gladwell, author of Blink.

Taller people also appear to be more successful, richer and perhaps as a result, happier than their vertically challenged counterparts.

And healthy physiques do better at work than those who are overweight. Researchers believe this could be linked to lower morale among workers struggling with their size, leading to them becoming less productive in the office.

Many entrepreneurs share a thrill-seeking attitude; taking part in wild charity stunts or throwing themselves into extreme sports. This too is partly testosterone driven - high levels of testosterone lead to increased risk taking and addictive personalities.

But don't despair if your characteristics don't resemble those mentioned above. There are many examples of research which declare that it's psychological shared traits, and not anthropological ones, that dictate business success.

Having ambition, drive, determination, patience, confidence, a willingness to keep learning, perseverance and bravery are all listed as key ingredients for entrepreneurs.

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