Three keys to entrepreneurial success: curiosity, creativity, and commitment

Why are some entrepreneurs more successful than others? This question is foundational to entrepreneurial education but answers remain elusive. It is argued here that three Cs in part hold the key: curiosity, creativity, and commitment. The world’s most successful entrepreneurs are curious about improving society, they are creative in developing innovative ideas, and they are committed to their task. This commentary develops an initial model of how basic personality traits lead to these three core characteristics which in turn can help lay the foundation for entrepreneurial success. Theoretical perspectives and empirical findings are integrated to provide proof of concept for this entrepreneurial model. Educational programs that can enhance curiosity, creativity, and commitment in the context of business learning and practice are outlined. Limitations in the degree of support for this model are outlined, together with directions for future research. A major gap in our understanding of entrepreneurial success which needs to be addressed consists of the need for experimental research to demonstrate causality in both research and educational contexts. From an educational standpoint, development of training programs to operationalize success by enhancing these core characteristics will be critical for developing a new cadre of successful entrepreneurs.