Self-confidence, however, is not a personal trait that either you have or you don't. A person can have high self-confidence in one situation and totally lack in another. This is one of those skills that can be developed by training.

4. Ability to get things done

Successful entrepreneurs are persistent and hardworking. They master self-discipline to such extent that if a work is important and related to their goals, they will, eventually, complete it.

Getting things done is vital link between motivations and their outcome. At times, entrepreneurs force themselves to choose work over fun, a boring job against a pleasant one, working on tax papers rather than reading a glamour magazine. This requires a self-control that many people simply fail to develop in them.

5. Creativity

Creativity is ability to use your insights and come up with new solutions to old problems, get things done in a different way or find a totally different approach for conventional things to work together. Entrepreneurs need creative thinking ability virtually in everything. Each new product, each new marketing method, each business decision - all these are fertile ground for creative thinking.

Often, entrepreneurs become immensely successful thanks to one single creative idea!

6. Ability to lead

Successful entrepreneurs are capable of leading people and get work done by them. They use a combination of various methods - effective motivation, planning, coaching and evaluation - to lead people. They are concerned about wellbeing of others and easily get along with people.

7. Self reliance

Successful entrepreneurs try to take full responsibility for their actions. They know that what they are today, and what they are going to be tomorrow, depend solely on themselves, as it is outcome of their own choices and decisions. They are proactive people, who set goals, walk an extra mile to achieve them and rely, primarily, on their own resources and abilities.

If you would like to check out if your personality fits typical entrepreneurial profile, following site has questionnaire that will help you asses your entrepreneurial skills:

http://www.rateyourself.com/subject.cfm/Subject_ID/2

If, even, you have all these great qualities and you feel quite confident about yourself, you will never know how good an entrepreneur you are, unless you give it a try! So, best way to prove your abilities, is to jump start a new venture!

The best option, as I believe, is based on The Universal Standard Products and Services Classification (UNSPSC), which is a global coding system that classifies products and services. This categorization scheme covers broadest collection of industries and commodities available today, and designed to facilitate e-commerce transactions by providing geography-independent common nomenclature system.

Product search capability within marketplace and e-catalog Members of emarketplace should be able to locate any product or service, whether in auctions, marketplaces, or in catalog with ease. Advanced search function should allow finding required items using precise query.

Supply chain process, i.e. request for quote, quotation, purchase order, billing system, etc. Efficient supply chain management is number one strategic priority for many businesses. In 2001, Cisco System alone had to write off US $2.5 billion in excess inventories due to poor management of its numerous outsourcing contractors. E-marketplaces can help streamlining your supply chain process if required features are embedded in their system.

Directory of members Usually most emarketplaces incorporate a searchable directory of their members. The members get an added opportunity of creating new business relations and increasing sales thanks to this feature.

Product content adding and editing interface In order to make product content adding and maintaining easier for sellers, marketplace must have an uncomplicated tool. The tool could be a wizard-based combination of simple forms. To integrate larger catalogs speedily and efficiently emarketplace should have XML based interface.

Ability to promote products and services The process of posting an offer for sale of a product or a service on marketplace should be simple and easy but sophisticated enough to create dynamic offer, offer with time limit, variable pricing based on quantity, etc.

Apart from above mentioned functionalities that facilitate conducting e-business, other key characteristics of a quality e-marketplace should include:

Simplicity – An emarketplace should be easy to learn and use. Large Community – The quantity of members should be big enough, so that new participants can expand their business. Flexibility – Emarketplace functions should be flexible enough to modify or add with new features when necessary. Neutrality – The emarketplace should be an unbiased venue for both sellers and buyers. No member should have any privilege at expense of others. Providing an open and transparent market for all participants is an important constituent of value proposition of an emarketplace.

Cost of doing business through e-marketplace

In general, thanks to large member base, e-marketplaces charge a reasonable subscription fee if you would like to participate in it. Many emarketplaces also charge a nominal fee for each trade made using their facilities. Other costs involved, that you should consider, are internal workforce needed to handle business via emarketplace, catalog integration and maintaining, etc. In any case, cost of doing business through emarketplaces is negligible for most businesses compare to gains they make.

Get your partners involved

If you just build a corporate website and don’t spend required time and money to promote, it won’t bring any business. Same goes for emarketplace! Mere participation in an emarketplace also will not produce any significant benefit if you don’t convince your existing buyers and suppliers to work with you through your chosen emarketplace.