A business is made up of many moving parts and entrepreneurs are expected to keep up with all of them. While it is challenging, it is clear adaptability is a personality trait every business owner needs to cultivate.

Here are 7 reasons why adaptable entrepreneurs can succeed. They:

Are teachable

Able to learn new skills

Can handle setbacks

Stay focused while troubleshooting

Can handle criticisms

Don’t blame others

Are solutions-driven

So how can you start becoming adaptable? According to Entrepreneur Magazine: “Adaptability starts with maintaining an open mind. It is about being willing to embrace change and to be open minded to new things. Without an open mind, you will reject opportunities when they come along.

“The best advice is to say ‘yes’ more often than ever before. Jump into the darkness and enter new domains more often. It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. By putting yourself in the right place to experience new things, you are going to steadily become more adaptable over time.

Also realise that this process takes time: “This is a lifelong process, and the earlier you start trying to turn your life around, the better. Keep welcoming change, and don’t see the destruction of the status quo as a bad thing. It may seem simple to alter your state of mind in this way, but in practice, you have to be bold, brave and courageous.”

When US venture investor Natalie Fratto is determining which start-up founder to support, she doesn’t just look for intelligence or charisma; she looks for adaptability. In this insightful Ted Talk, Fratto shares three ways to measure your “adaptability quotient” – and shows why your ability to respond to change really matters.

We would love to hear how you became adaptable and the challenges you faced on your journey. Email your responses to media@fetola.co.za