Many shy away from the business world as a result of the popular misconception that it is only for those individuals passionate about buying and selling. An industry of greed that's driven by hard, cold-blooded monsters like Edward Lewis, Richard Gere's character in Pretty Woman. It is only when he sees the evils of his business ways that his heart thaws and he can escape to find true happiness. Pretty Woman was a movie and the idea that all businessmen are heartless is just as ludicrous as Julia Roberts playing a streetwalker. What the business world does require is a cunning dedication to information, research, analytical and critical thinking, and most importantly, decision making. If you're a sports fan and find yourself meticulously studying every statistic you can get your hands on you are conducting similar research that goes on in the offices of some of the world's most successful businesses. If you regularly take it upon yourself to select the location for group dinner plans, you are exemplifying a quality that is strong suited for an MBA. It is important to know exactly what is required to succeed in the world of business because many times you will have these character traits and not even realize what your true calling is.

1. Facts are facts and opinions should be based on educated research.

   It is important to be able to distinguish between what is a fact and what isn't. It might seem trivial but the ability to distinguish between a primary source and other types of information sources is not shared by all. If you're the type of person who is fact driven and relies on raw data and statistics then you have the type of attitude that is well suited for an MBA. Business decisions can result in great gains or losses and many individuals are placed at risk as a result. To be able to make decisions based on accurate information minimizes the risk and leaves as little as possible to chance.

2. You're not opinionated, you're critical.

   If you find yourself regularly questioning just about every piece of information that you come across you're not being difficult you're just very critical of what you will define as a substantiated fact. This, believe it or not, is an amazing quality shared by very successful individuals. Being able to distinguish between a rumor and a fact can mean the difference between a good decision and a bad one. The GMAT exam, one of the top measuring tools used by B-schools to assess analytical and critical thinking, is designed to allow critical thinkers to showcase their abilities. If this is how you view the world then you will fit right into the business world and be validated for what comes natural.

3. There's nothing wrong with winning.

   More and more are last place trophies becoming the norm. When you watch a football match you root for your team and you celebrate when they win. Just like we are now taught that there is nothing wrong with losing, we need to remember that there is nothing wrong with winning. The drive to win is important for success and if you feel that you want to win, you want to set and regularly reach goals, you have the right qualities for the business world.

A majority of the world's largest corporations began as small businesses by individuals who were ambitious, meticulous, and fearless in their decision-making. It wasn't a mystery why they succeeded. If you are a tactician who thrives on being informed then you have the same attitude shared by individuals such as Steve Jobs and Sam Walton (founder of Walmart). These are also the same qualities as shared by Joe Coulombe (founder of Trader Joe's) and Larry Page and Sergey Brin (founders of Google). They are perfectionists who take pride in their database of knowledge. They are forward thinking and only fear stagnant growth. It is important not to compare yourself to these particular success stories, only the qualities you have in common. It is these qualities that create new success stories, possibly your own.