DNA or Destiny? How to Know if You’re Built to Be an Entrepreneur

Let’s face it: sometimes a person has to be built for their career. A professional jockey can’t be too tall. A doctor can’t be afraid of blood. A schoolteacher needs to be loaded with patience. An engineer needs to be good at math and a chef had better enjoy food. But some people follow their dreams only to find they’re not really cut out for them. They hit a rough patch and realize, this isn’t for me. I’m not built for this.

What about entrepreneurs? Are some people simply better built to fill that role from the start — to launch new products and new companies, potentially lose it all, and be driven enough to start all over? Look at the daunting failure rate of startup businesses: 97% are destined to crash and burn. Since I’m often the one who helps startups take off or land safely, I decided it was worth investigating what gives someone the potential to be an entrepreneur. I decided to look into it from both Western and Eastern perspectives, given my background. I was raised by a conservative Indian family and forged a career in global ventures in the UK, US, Spain, and France.  

The Western Mindset

First, a look at the Western mindset, which uses studies and scientific analyses such as DNA research to arrive at definitive, reductionistic answers: 

• A combination of genes. 

Dr. Michael Baird, the chief science officer of DNA Diagnostics Center, suggests there may indeed be an entrepreneurship gene. More specifically, his research suggests that a person could inherit genes that predispose them to entrepreneurship; that a combination of genes may contribute to an individual’s leadership qualities, inclination for risk-taking and entrepreneurial traits. 

 • Proven genetic factors. 

A 2016 study, “Entrepreneurship and Its Genetic Basis,” explored the genetic factors that may influence entrepreneurship and accounted for up to 42% of entrepreneurial tendencies. While environmental factors undeniably played a substantial role in determining entrepreneurial success, the genetic makeup of the founding team emerged as a significant factor. The study proposed several mechanisms to explain the role of genes in influencing entrepreneurial tendencies, including brain chemistry, extraversion, sensitivity to environmental stimuli, and analyzing the entrepreneurship and professional tendencies of identical and fraternal twins. Creating a schematic summary of the genetic impact on entrepreneurship, the researchers concluded that “small and medium-sized enterprises must take into consideration this significant correlation between genetic factors and entrepreneurship and must organize educational programs for enhancing their entrepreneurial capacity by focusing on detecting and training of genetically suitable persons.”

• Measuring individual potential. 

The connection between genetics and entrepreneurship has gained significant attention, with institutions like Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam offering insights into a person’s biological makeup — which can help evaluate a person’s entrepreneurial potential based on psychographic testing and genetic predispositions. 

• DRD4-7R. 

One compelling genetic component in this realm is the DRD4-7R variant, often called the wanderlust gene. This variant is present in approximately 20% of the population and is associated with an inclination toward risk-taking, impulsivity, adventurousness, and the thirst for unique experiences, whether that involves scaling literal mountains like Everest or metaphorical ones in the business world. 

• Future due diligence. 

It’s conceivable that in the future, investors may request DNA tests as part of their due diligence process alongside personality tests and financial projections.

The Eastern Mindset

The Eastern mindset looks at it differently, focusing on destiny: 

• Written on the forehead. 

“Maathe ki lakeer,” my father would say, wiping my forehead with his index finger, which meant, “It’s written on your forehead”in Hindi.He truly believed there were multiple layers of predetermined lines embedded in our minds, established at birth, and that our life choices would gradually bring these lines to the surface, etching them onto our foreheads over time.

• Hidden patterns.

Numerology is a system that seeks to uncover hidden meanings and patterns in the universe. It employs mathematical principles to assign numerical values to letters of the alphabet and specific words. A person’s name, in this framework, serves as the foundation for calculating various numerical energies that impact that person’s life. I was highly skeptical: How could a simple name, which can be shared by thousands, even millions, bear a unique imprint on one’s potential destiny? To understand this more holistically, I had to quiet my Western mind and be open to Eastern possibilities.

Numerology at its essence is based on the principles of sound — the moment one’s name is uttered and merges with the vibrations of the universe. It’s decoded using Hebrew glyphs, visually shown as the Star of David. The three intersecting triangles represent our karma, talents, and goals. As I read my own numerology description, I was intrigued by the overlap with my own lived experiences and self-perceived traits.

I decided to compare my numerology results to my astrological reading since both draw from the details of my birth date and time. I wondered: If I had been given these descriptions fifty-five years ago, would any of these predictions have validated maathe ki lakeer? Both the numerological conclusions and my Vedic astrological chart (15 pages long) were so complex I felt that I was decoding the human genome. But they did indeed overlap — with an astounding degree of specificity. Both described many of the traits and life circumstances I had encountered thus far. 

Meeting in the Middle

What if we don’t have the genes researchers are pinpointing, or the numerology that indicates our potential? New research into epigenetics — a new field in DNA biology — suggests that we possess the capacity to actually reshape our genetic destiny from external influences. Epigenetics studies how our behaviors, environment, and life experiences have the power to modify the expression of our genes. 

Epigenetics studies epigenomes: a set of molecular levers, switches, and chemicals that instruct our genes. Researchers are finding that our DNA is not locked in place; that external forces and actions can change how the body reads a DNA sequence from outside the cells — without changing the DNA sequence inside the cell. 

In other words, perhaps we can still be the builders of our own destiny — and we may be disposed to entrepreneurial roles after all, a perfect meeting of East meets West.  

This guest post was authored by Ashwin Gulati

Ashwin Gulati has launched international ventures, helped start-ups take off or land, and copiloted complex transitions for over 100 companies in various industries in the UK, US, Spain, and France. With 30 years in the trenches, he has identified the hidden pitfalls, unspoken truths, and personal twists that ultimately determine a venture’s success or failure. He holds a BA in Economics and Mathematics from Claremont McKenna College and studied at King’s College and the London School of Economics. His new book is Soul Venture: A True Life and Death Journey into the Startup Culture. Learn more at soulventurebook.com.