ASSESSMENT: Business Ownership Preparedness Index Step 1 of 42 2% Date MM slash DD slash YYYY A Hypothetical Model and Study in Process Before We Begin... This website was born out of a passion for both testing and measurement of both teams and individual performance. This study is designed to evaluate if there are personality traits, characteristics, or situations that an individual must possess before entering the world of the self-employed. We plan to accomplish this by first conducting a random sample of people who have taken this journey to better understand what went right or wrong along the way. • The first questionnaire contains 12 questions pertaining to how prepared you were (or would be) if starting your own small business. • The second questionnaire is a 12 question scale that has been used for many years which will indicate your personal support from friends and family that may influence your overall business results. • The final set of 12 questions is an existing scale to evaluate how important grit and determination is to overall business owner success. Completing all 3 questionnaires should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete. Agree to Terms and Conditions(Required) By agreeing to the Terms and Conditions of this form, you are giving consent for the person or persons who requested you to complete this assessment. The three (3) questionnaires will be populated with others (without reporting identifying information such as your name and email) to generate a statistical report for the Harvard University Psychometric Theory and Assessments graduate course. Your information WILL NOT be used in any other way than for the purpose of the development of our assessment nor will it be distributed or made available to any 3rd party. I Agree PLEASE NOTE: The purpose of this survey is to evaluate many things including validity (does the test do what it's supposed to do) and reliability (will repeated tests yield similar results). When building a new parametric test, it is important that all participants are treated equally. Without knowing personal information about each participant (such as age, gender, race, and nationality to name a few), the test could unintentionally generate unfair advantages to one group and not another. For this reason, we do ask that you honestly answer a few personal questions before you begin. The email you provide now will be used to register your access to content on this site and cannot be changed. Please make certain to enter the correct information before submitting.Your Name(Required) First Last Your Email(Required) Background InformationWhen conducting research, it is extremely important that our research is fair for all groups and does not unfairly discriminate because of gender, relationship status, sexual orientation, or race. For this reason, we ask that you answer the questions below honestly and without hesitation. For concerns or questions, please call 281-752-6565 or email info@self-worth.org.Relationship StatusNot in a committed relationshipIn a committed relationshipGender IdentificationFemaleMaleOtherRaceAmerican Indian or NativeAsianBlack or African AmericanHispanic or LatinoHawaiian or Pacific IslanderWhiteResident Country(Required) AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyria Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, the United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiyeUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaViet NamVirgin Islands, BritishVirgin Islands, U.S.Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweÅland Islands Country Is English your primary language? Yes No Work Status Employee Self-Employed Unemployed Other Your current occupation:Please choose the best choice from the options below. Insurance Agent Franchisee Realtor or Real Estate Agent Other Business Ownership Experience I've never owned a business I own a business now or used to How long have you lived in your current community?(Required) Less than 2 Years 2 - 3 Years 4 - 5 Years 6 - 9 Years 10 Years or Longer Education Level Masters or PhD Bachelors Associates High School Diploma Did Not Finish High School Current AgePlease enter a number from 18 to 99.Age When Started BusinessPlease enter a number from 18 to 99.Number of Years Owning a Business Prior to Starting Current Business 0 - Never owned a business 1 - 5 years 5 - 9 years 10 -19 years 20 or more years Total Years in Current Business 0 - Never owned a business 1 - 5 years 5 - 9 years 10 -19 years 20 or more years Type of Insurance Agent Contract Captive Independent in Group or Association Independent Agent Capital Available at StartupWhen you first started your business, did you have the capital to invest, or were you struggling from month to month financially? Does having money to invest really matter in the early stages of business ownership? Some would argue having money helps while others believe coming from nothing is the highest motivator. 0 - $4,999 $5,000 - $9,999 $10,000 - $24,999 $25,000 or more Performance in Current Job(Required)When compared to others who do your job, please be honest and rank your performance at work. I am a top performer I am an above average performer I am an average performer I am a slightly below average performer I am a below average performer N/A or unknown Preparedness QuestionnairePLEASE NOTE: You may have been asked to complete this survey because of your experience in being a business owner. If this is the case, please think back to the time before you started your current business and respond the way you would have prior to startup. There are no right or wrong answers; however, it is EXTREMELY important that you answer the questions honestly. Your responses will not be evaluated individually. Once enough participants have completed the survey process, if this questionnaire proves to be statistically significant, companies may use it to determine if a candidate has what it takes to become a successful business owner. In other words, the results could significantly impact another person and/or family's lives. Please take your time to read through each question and select the best answer before moving to the next question. When ready to begin, click "Next." Business Ownership Preparedness ScaleIf you own a business now, please answer the questions now as you would have before starting that business.1. I am diligent. I never give up.(Required) Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 2. I am a competitive person.(Required) Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 3. I am concerned with the financial risk that comes with business ownership.(Required) Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 4. I am someone that friends come to when they are in need of help.(Required) Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 5. I often stay late at work to get the job done.(Required) Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 6. My significant other is excited about my decision to own a business.(Required) Strongly disagree Disagree N/A Agree Strongly Agree 6b. If I had more support from my significant other, I would be able to achieve more at work.(Required) Strongly disagree Disagree N/A Agree Strongly Agree 7. I can count on my friends when things go wrong.(Required) Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 8. There is a special person who is around when I am in need.(Required) Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 9. I often seek advice from others who have been successful.(Required) Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 10. I finish whatever I begin.(Required) Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 11. The closest people in my life are concerned that owning a small business is NOT the right career for me.(Required) Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree 12. I routinely overcome setbacks to conquer an important challenge.(Required) Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly Agree Social Support ScaleBy G.D. Zimet (1998)br The next set of questions pertains to your support network at home. IMPORTANT: If you are a current or previous business owner, please think back to the time when you first became self-employed. Answer the questions now as you would have back then. 1. There is a special person who is around when I am in need.(Required) Very Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Neutral Mildly Agree Strongly Agree Very Strongly Agree 2. There is a special person with whom I can share my joys and sorrows.(Required) Very Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Neutral Mildly Agree Strongly Agree Very Strongly Agree 3. My family really tries to help me.(Required) Very Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Neutral Mildly Agree Strongly Agree Very Strongly Agree 4. I get the emotional help and support I need from my family.(Required) Very Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Neutral Mildly Agree Strongly Agree Very Strongly Agree 5. I have a special person who is a real source of comfort to me.(Required) Very Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Neutral Mildly Agree Strongly Agree Very Strongly Agree 6. My friends really try to help me.(Required) Very Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Neutral Mildly Agree Strongly Agree Very Strongly Agree 7. I can count on my friends when things go wrong.(Required) Very Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Neutral Mildly Agree Strongly Agree Very Strongly Agree 8. I can talk about my problems with my family.(Required) Very Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Neutral Mildly Agree Strongly Agree Very Strongly Agree 9. I have friends with whom I can share my joys and sorrows.(Required) Very Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Neutral Mildly Agree Strongly Agree Very Strongly Agree 10. There is a special person in my life who cares about my feelings.(Required) Very Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Neutral Mildly Agree Strongly Agree Very Strongly Agree 11. My family is willing to help me make decisions.(Required) Very Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Neutral Mildly Agree Strongly Agree Very Strongly Agree 12. I can talk about my problems with my friends.(Required) Very Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree Mildly Disagree Neutral Mildly Agree Strongly Agree Very Strongly Agree Grit ScaleDuckworth AL, Peterson C, Matthews MD, Kelly DR. Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2007;92(6):1087–1101. 1. I have overcome setbacks to conquer an important challenge.(Required) Very much like me Mostly like me Somewhat like me Not much like me Not like me at all 2. New ideas and projects sometimes distract me from previous ones.(Required) Very much like me Mostly like me Somewhat like me Not much like me Not like me at all 3. My interests change from year to year.(Required) Very much like me Mostly like me Somewhat like me Not much like me Not like me at all 4. Setbacks don’t discourage me.(Required) Very much like me Mostly like me Somewhat like me Not much like me Not like me at all 5. I have been obsessed with a certain idea or project for a short time but later lost interest.(Required) Very much like me Mostly like me Somewhat like me Not much like me Not like me at all 6. I am a hard worker.(Required) Very much like me Mostly like me Somewhat like me Not much like me Not like me at all 7. I often set a goal but later choose to pursue a different one.(Required) Very much like me Mostly like me Somewhat like me Not much like me Not like me at all 8. I have difficulty maintaining my focus on projects that take more than a few months to complete.(Required) Very much like me Mostly like me Somewhat like me Not much like me Not like me at all 9. I finish whatever I begin.(Required) Very much like me Mostly like me Somewhat like me Not much like me Not like me at all 10. I have achieved a goal that took years of work.(Required) Very much like me Mostly like me Somewhat like me Not much like me Not like me at all 11. I become interested in new pursuits every few months.(Required) Very much like me Mostly like me Somewhat like me Not much like me Not like me at all 12. I am diligent.(Required) Very much like me Mostly like me Somewhat like me Not much like me Not like me at all CommentsOur preliminary findings from 1,963 interviews conducted reflect there are several factors that significantly contribute to entrepreneurial success. Contrary to popular assessments being used today, it's not education, credit history, an extroverted personality type, or even experience in owning a prior business. The most important factors contributing to new business success are perseverance (grit) and the length of time in your community. Furthermore, while not required for success, when a significant other is NOT supportive of his or her partner, the failure rate is a whopping 92%. We would love to hear your comments! If you have been declined an opportunity because of the failure of a personality test, credit, or another reason, OR you have been in a relationship that has prevented you from achieving success, please let us know. Your comments will be strictly confidential and very helpful in developing our future research.Ready to Submit? Yes HiddenPreparedness ScoreHiddenSupport ScoreHiddenGrit ScoreHiddenLimra ScoreHiddenRef IDHiddenHidden Name First Last HiddenHidden Email
