The Truth?

Contrary to popular belief, most successful entrepreneurs are actually risk-averse and rely heavily on data and careful planning.

Research from the University of California, Berkeley found that entrepreneurs are more likely to have the "smart risk-taker" gene, which is associated with balanced risk-taking rather than impulsive behavior. This means:

1. They calculate risks meticulously before making decisions

2. They often start their ventures while still employed elsewhere

3. They tend to bootstrap rather than seeking large investments upfront

4. They pivot based on market feedback, not just intuition

Famous examples include:

• Jeff Bezos, who kept his day job for almost two years after founding Amazon

• Sara Blakely, who sold fax machines while developing Spanx on the side

The lesson? Success in entrepreneurship often comes from methodical planning and calculated risks, not blind leaps of faith. So next time someone tells you to "just go for it," remember that the most successful entrepreneurs probably wouldn't.