What’s the ‘Tell’ of a successful entrepreneur/adviser?

When you first meet an entrepreneur/adviser, how can you tell within the first few minutes whether s/he is likely to be successful/helpful? And worth spending the time to learn more and/or considering mentoring? And particularly so if the introduction is not via your trusted network.   It’s not difficult. Look for one critical trait: Curiosity.

Why curiosity? Some time ago, an article in Time extolled the virtue of curiosity, noting that it “is the engine of intellectual achievement – it’s what drives us to keep learning, keep trying, keep pushing forward.”  The key to successful discovery and entrepreneurship!

George Loewenstein wrote a seminal paper in 1994 noting the critical importance of curiosity. It’s “one of the most important spurs to educational attainment.”