Although the everyday entrepreneur isn't likely to have brain wiring similar to Musk or Jobs, that doesn't mean that they don't have what it takes to start up a company. We know that being an entrepreneur isn't for all, but a few qualities will set you on the right path.

1. Taking abstract thoughts and making them linear

It seems like everyone has an idea that's the next universe denting concept, yet very few of those people ever take the steps to execute. You need to be able to take your idea and visualize the entire process, from creation through sales and beyond in order to have a real chance at executing it effectively.

2. Don't bask in failure, learn from it

You're going to fail a lot, and you have to be able to look at these failures as learning experiences, without emotion, so that you can learn and move on.

3. Talk less and do more

It's shocking how often you hear about an idea from a colleague that just never gets moving. Successful entrepreneurs talk less and do more.

4. Function better under stress

You need to be comfortable being a bit out of control because there isn't a playbook for what's to come -- most of what you're going to do is learned along the way.

5. Comfortable taking (smart) risks

The plan is generally that you'll take on the risk of building a business in exchange for a potential payout down the road, but if you're not comfortable stepping off the ledge and away from your stable life, entrepreneurship is most definitely not for you.

6. Enjoy and excel at puzzles

You must have the mentality that each and every decision on technology, verbiage, imagery or sales is part of a highly complex puzzle, where the outcomes are heavily affected by the decisions you make on how you want your puzzle to fit together.

The above is from one of the many articles I wrote at Entrepreneur.com. I've summarized the (much longer) article here and updated as needed for relevance.

You can find the full article here at Entrepreneur.com.