Essay Undergraduate 406 words

Determination and Ethics in Small Business Entrepreneurship

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Abstract

This paper examines the defining attributes of successful small business entrepreneurs, arguing that determination is the single most important quality an entrepreneur can possess. While risk-taking and strong people skills are also valuable, the author contends that perseverance through adversity ultimately separates successful ventures from failures. The paper further discusses entrepreneurs' ethical and social responsibilities to stakeholders — including employees, customers, suppliers, and shareholders — and how fulfilling those responsibilities fosters innovation, value creation, and long-term enterprise sustainability.

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What makes this paper effective

  • The paper takes a clear, defensible position early — identifying determination as the most critical entrepreneurial trait — and supports it with logical reasoning rather than vague assertion.
  • It integrates peer-reviewed citations (Kim et al., 2015; Harris et al., 2009) to anchor claims in academic literature, lending credibility to an otherwise concise argument.
  • The transition from individual traits to collective stakeholder responsibility shows an awareness of the broader social context of entrepreneurship, widening the paper's scope appropriately.

Key academic technique demonstrated

The paper demonstrates effective use of comparative prioritization: rather than simply listing entrepreneurial traits, the author ranks them and provides a reasoned justification for the ranking. This technique — selecting and defending a position among plausible alternatives — is a foundational skill in argumentative academic writing.

Structure breakdown

The paper is organized into three focused paragraphs. The first introduces three key traits and stakes a thesis. The second develops the case for determination specifically, exploring its psychological dimensions. The third shifts to social responsibility, connecting individual entrepreneurial character to obligations toward stakeholders. The references follow APA format. The structure is concise and suitable for a short undergraduate position paper.

Key Traits of Successful Small Business Owners

Determination is one key trait that all successful small business owners share. Having the drive to succeed is essential when starting a business. In addition, successful small business owners are often risk-takers. They are willing to take chances and experiment with new ideas, even if there is a chance of failure. Finally, successful small business owners have excellent people skills — they know how to build relationships and cultivate partnerships.

Of these three defining attributes, the most important for a small business owner to possess in order to become successful is determination. Taking risks is easy, and cultivating partnerships can be accomplished, but persevering through the most difficult times is really what separates the successes from the failures. The entrepreneur who is determined to return to the grindstone, head down, time and time again has a better chance to succeed than the entrepreneur who lacks determination (Kim et al., 2015).

Why Determination Matters Most

Determination is an essential quality for any entrepreneur who wishes to be successful. It is what drives a person to continue working toward their goals even in the face of setbacks and difficulties. Without determination, an entrepreneur is likely to give up at the first sign of trouble. This quality allows entrepreneurs to persevere in the face of adversity and to keep moving forward even when things are not going as planned.

In addition, determination can help an entrepreneur overcome self-doubt or fear that might otherwise hold them back from achieving their full potential. By staying focused and committed to their goals, determined entrepreneurs can achieve great things. Consequently, determination is a key ingredient in the recipe for success.

1 Locked Section · 90 words remaining
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Entrepreneurial Responsibility to Stakeholders · 90 words

"Ethical obligations to employees, customers, and shareholders"

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Key Concepts in This Paper
Determination Risk-Taking People Skills Entrepreneurial Traits Stakeholder Responsibility Business Ethics Value Creation Perseverance Small Business Success
Cite This Paper
PaperDue. (2026). Determination and Ethics in Small Business Entrepreneurship. PaperDue. https://www.paperdue.com/study-guide/determination-ethics-small-business-entrepreneurship-2179199

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