Do you have what it takes to become a highly successful entrepreneur? Many folks want to own and build their own business-and it is a great thing for those willing to work at it and make things happen. The thing is, sometimes it's also pretty easy to overlook all of the hard work that goes into earning success.

Here is what makes all of the hard work possible for entrepreneurs who frequently achieve their goals.

I call them the 7 key qualities of successful entrepreneurs:

Passion. Successful entrepreneurs know what they love and decide to follow their dream. Passion is one of the essential qualities of success. One way to test your level of passion is to ask yourself if you would be doing what you're doing in one way or another...even if your goal wasn't to do it as a business.

Drive. Also known as having ambition, the successful entrepreneur works tirelessly to achieve their objectives and then does it all over again the next day. Working 14 hour days is not unusual-but the thing is, the time flies by for passionate entrepreneurs because of the drive to succeed at something they love.

Outgoing. Being outgoing is one of the things that helps so many with the entrepreneurial spirit to get out there and make things happen. While there are small business niches that are great for those who tend to be more introverted, building a team and developing business contacts requires a uniquely outgoing demeanor. Leaders are heard!

Creativity. While many entrepreneurs don't give themselves the credit they deserve when it comes to being very creative individuals, the fact of the matter is that looking outside the box to develop business success takes more creativity than might ever be imagined. Successful entrepreneurs must be able to find creative solutions to overcome business challenges.

Patience. Unfortunately, about 99.9% of the time, success does not just happen overnight. Any experienced entrepreneur will tell you that there will be bumps in the road to ultimate success. But the common thread is that successful entrepreneurs are patient enough to achieve their goals without becoming discouraged and throwing in the towel first.

Organization. By the very nature of the job, entrepreneurs are forced to wear many hats. Especially when just getting started in a venture, an entrepreneur will likely have to play roles in the growth of the business-including everything from being CEO, to accountant, to sales manager, to receptionist, to errand-runner and beyond. Being superbly organized is a must when it comes to managing it all.

Leadership. Leadership plays a vital role in entrepreneurship in a countless number of ways. It's not just leading your company's employees to achieve their goals-after all, in many cases there won't even be any employees in the equation. Leadership in entrepreneurship most often embraces a healthy sense of confidence and the ability to bring others on board your business concept-both internally and externally.

Again, being an entrepreneur means having to work incredibly hard to realize unbelievable success. The good news is that winning is a reality for those willing to invest in the qualities that make it happen!