New study reveals why only 2% of businesses succeed

a new study reveals why only 2 of businesses succeed can be used as an inspiration for others

Headlines typically suggest that all you need to start a business is an inherent killer drive and opportunistic luck, and you’re destined for success. Yet, if that’s all that’s required, why do only 2% of businesses succeed? Our research reveals that it’s the distinctive attitudes of highly successful entrepreneurs that hold the key to venture success.

In a world-first 20-year study of highly successful entrepreneurs and business builders, we examined founders who started and exited businesses within five years for between $6 million and $1.2 billion, and those who profitably grew their business over 10-15 years or more.

We were able to measure 48 individual attitudes (the intrinsic preference you have for business-related activities) and identify the patterns that correlated with entrepreneurial success. According to our research, business success relies on more than a general drive to succeed; you also need the right combination of personal attitudes if you’re going to make it to the 2%.

Awareness of blind spots key to avoiding startup failure.

When looking at the most successful entrepreneurs, we discovered that while they had diverse businesses and backgrounds, their work preferences were surprisingly similar. Drilling down, we were able to benchmark the sweet spot for entrepreneurial attitudes: the ‘fingerprint for success’.

The study confirmed that when an attitude or motivation is too high or too low in a specific area, you’re exposed to business blind spots that could lead directly to failure. Much like the blind spots you check in your car, they’re often invisible and can be catastrophic.

Fortunately, attitudes can be adjusted with awareness, allowing founders to compensate by managing their or their team’s behaviour, consciously dialling motivations up or down as required to maintain a steady pace towards success.

A closer look at avoiding business failure.

For each of the 48 attitudes, our research identified an optimum level that correlated with success at multiple business stages, from startup to scale and exit. Some of the critical attitudes of successful entrepreneurs were:

  • Higher focus on money: not just on receiving a return for great ideas, but taking the time to reflect on the benefit to margins, profit and other financial aspects, and measure over time.
  • Higher focus on big picture thinking and a low focus on detail: rather than get tangled in the ‘how’, successful entrepreneurs quickly grasp the gist and plough forward. A higher focus on detail was linked to delays and failure.
  • High level of initiation to take action and reflect: rather than waiting for the right time to start, successful entrepreneurs are more likely to just want to get things started, and iterate as they go. Fail fast, fail often!
  • Low focus on structure: they don’t plan things out first, but instead get clear on their ‘why’ and create structure as they go along.

How to predict venture success.

With the results of our findings, F4S has created a technology platform that allows aspiring entrepreneurs to visually assess their intrinsic attitudes against those of highly successful entrepreneurs and business builders.

Armed with a clear understanding of their attitudes, founders can align their focus with those of proven successful entrepreneurs, and compare their natural talents – and blind spots – with co-founders and team members.

It seems the formula for success might be closer than we thought…

Want to be a better entrepreneur? Find out how you can align your motivations to maximize your chances of venture success today.

AI-powered coaching will help you and your team change the world.

Our programs were designed by world-renowned coaches. Sessions only take 5-15 minutes. Get started for free with your personalized program now.

My coaching Plan:

Our expert coaches have designed hyper-effective programs that will help 

you change the world.

Coach Marlee (your amazing AI-powered personal coach) will analyse your unique traits and goals to let you know which program to start with (and if there are any you should skip)!

Your recommended programs include:

Show more programs
Hide

My Coaching Plan:

Our expert coaches have designed hyper-effective programs that will help you improve your mental health, wellbeing, productivity, leadership and more.

Coach Marlee (your amazing AI-powered personal coach) will analyse your unique traits and goals to let you know which program to start with (and if there are any you should skip)!

Your recommended programs include:

Show more programs
Hide
A group of people representing team building

Team Building

Take your teaming to the next level in this high impact 9-week team coaching program with Coach Marlee. Discover and optimize complementary strengths and unique talents with your team, reach decisions together quickly, enjoy team cohesion, high energy and motivation as a bonded team.

icon of time
5 - 15 minutes
 per session
icon of a calendar
2 sessions per week
a person with a magnifying glass and sirkel representing attention to detail

Attention to Detail

Impress yourself and others with your attention to detail! Develop a genuine appreciation, energy and stamina for detailed thinking to execute your vision, measure performance in yourself and others while also accelerating your ability to learn and change.

icon of time
5 - 15 minutes
 per session
icon of a calendar
2 sessions per week
illustration of a person wearing a crown representing personal power

Personal Power

In this high impact eight week program Coach Marlee will help you increase your comfort and confidence to be in positions of influence and leadership, navigate organizational politics and also help you develop greater confidence to compete and influence at the top of your industry or field.

icon of time
5 - 15 minutes
 per session
icon of a calendar
2 sessions per week
illustration of a person with floating icons around representing multiplying your impact

Multiply Your Impact

Multiply your impact by embracing the experience and genius within others. During this eight week program Coach Marlee will help you to develop a genuine appreciation for experimentation and data and a willingness to empower the opinions, feedback and insights within your team and others in your life.

icon of time
5 - 15 minutes
 per session
icon of a calendar
2 sessions per week
illustration of a person thinking of a problem having a gut feeling about the answer

Trust Your Gut Feel

Explore, strengthen and stand by what you believe in at work and in life. Trust in your ‘gut feel’ and point of view is especially helpful for influencing, starting your own business, having your personal needs met and for living an authentic and meaningful life.

icon of time
5 - 15 minutes
 per session
icon of a calendar
2 sessions per week
illustration of a person looking on things with a wider persepective representing big picture thinking

Big Picture Thinker

Inspire yourself and others to see the bigger picture! Increase your comfort and use of abstract and strategic thinking to gain a broader perspective in work and life. Big picture thinking is key in communication, leadership, businesses, selling, marketing, and situations where you need to get the gist of things quickly.

icon of time
5 - 15 minutes
 per session
icon of a calendar
2 sessions per week
illustration of a woman sitting down and reflecting representing reflection and patience

Reflection & Patience

Develop ‘step back’ mastery for increased self-awareness and developing mindsets and tools for constant improvement. Reflection and patience is core to consolidating learning, development, strategic thinking, recharging and living an authentic and meaningful life.

icon of time
5 - 15 minutes
 per session
icon of a calendar
2 sessions per week
illustration of a person empowered for a fast start

Start Fast

Close the gap between your great ideas and starting them. Energy and drive for starting is key for inventing new things, starting businesses, selling, marketing, socializing or in situations where you need to think on your feet.

icon of time
5 - 15 minutes
 per session
icon of a calendar
2 sessions per week
illustration of a person cheering with hands in the air representing EQ increase

Increase EQ

Explore, develop or strengthen your emotional intelligence (EQ). Awareness of your and others’ emotions is at the heart of influencing, ‘reading people’, impactful communication, deep relating and authentic connection at work and in life.

icon of time
5 - 15 minutes
 per session
icon of a calendar
2 sessions per week
Person with a dart aiming at a target representing Goal Catching

Goal Catcher

Inspire yourself and others to see and achieve grand visions and goals. A focus on goals is especially helpful for inspirational leaders, starting your own business, impactful communication, or for achieving awesome outcomes at work and in life.

icon of time
5 - 15 minutes
 per session
icon of a calendar
2 sessions per week

Testimonials

Keppie
This is some text inside of a div block.

“Our fast-paced society pushes us to neglect our very human need to take a moment to pause and reflect. Marlee helped me get back in touch with that, and it has done wonders for my mental health!”

Mike
This is some text inside of a div block.

“Always thought-provoking and well worth my time”

Show more testimonials
Hide
Kelly
This is some text inside of a div block.

“I learned how to chunk up and see the bigger picture before turning to the details”

Mike
This is some text inside of a div block.

“Always thought-provoking and well worth my time”

Courtney
This is some text inside of a div block.

"Great experience overall! The 'Attention to detail' coaching program really helped me a lot as it opened up a new way for me to see things. This is very useful in my approach to work."

Soledad
This is some text inside of a div block.

“Mind blowing! The Team Building program helped us resolve long-standing friction and misunderstandings in the team. Great experience for everyone involved!“

Samuel
This is some text inside of a div block.

"With attention to detail program, I learned a whole new way to see and approach projects"

Brian
This is some text inside of a div block.

“Marlee creates momentum and feels good to move ahead”

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname

Position, Company name

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname

Position, Company name

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname

Position, Company name

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname

Position, Company name

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname

Position, Company name

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare."

Name Surname

Position, Company name

Head that contains a heart with line beating line.

Hack your wellbeing, productivity and goals

. . . with personal (or team) coaching!

Programs are created by expert coaches & delivered by our incredible A.I. Coach Marlee. Sessions only take 5-15 minutes and are 100% personalized to fit your unique traits and goals.
Try coaching for free
^ Click to chat with your AI coach!
v  CLOSE