Are You Born to Be a CEO?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Are You Born to Be a CEO?
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

While everyone wants the American dream - to make enough money to own a home and raise a family - not everyone wants to make it to the very top of the ladder. If you're thinking about that, it's time to assess whether you're truly suited to the corner office.
Are you a jerk?
Not at all
I can come off that way but I don't mean to be.
No, I'm just a WINNER. It's your problem if you think I'm a jerk.
I don't think so.
Are you creative?
A little
Extremely
Yes, and my idea is better than you idea. OK, well maybe not.
Not really
Can you make tough calls?
Yes, absolutely
Goodness no
Sometimes
Please don't make me

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Do you speak investor?
Fluently
A few words
Not as well as I hoped.
Nope
Do you know the name of the person who cleans your office?
Of course.
Goodness no, but I should.
No, it's some woman, I don't know. Why would I know?
I think so.
Do you care about the rat race?
Yes, intensely
I care about success on my terms.
Yes, quite a lot
Not at all

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Do you think corporations are evil?
No, that's stupid.
Yes, except mine.
No, they're awesome.
Yes
Do you love money?
Yes
As a way of scoring the quality of my ideas, yes.
A bit
No
Do people generally look up to you?
Yes
Weirdos do.
Sometimes
No

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How charismatic are you?
Extremely. I command the room.
Not very. I'm honestly weird.
Among my own kind, I can be.
Not charismatic and don't want to be!
Do you understand every job in your field, even if you couldn't actually do most of them without training?
Yes
I actually can do most of them.
No, that's why you delegate.
Goodness no, but that'd be cool.
Do you know how to fail wisely?
It's how I learn.
I'm picking it up right now.
Not yet.
I prefer to not try.

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Are you resilient?
Extremely. I take time to grieve a loss but then I carry on.
Yes, I bounce right back.
No, I dwell on mistakes.
Not very
Can you get people on board with your ideas?
That is my top skill.
No, even though they are great ideas, I can't sell them.
No, sometimes I just can't express myself.
I don't try.
Do you know how to mentor?
Yes, and I love it.
Not really.
Yes, but I have no time.
Definitely not.

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Do you know how to run a meeting?
Yes. Efficiently but with space for ideas, and ensuring everyone speaks.
No, we get sidetracked when I'm in charge.
Yes, I write an agenda and stick to it and I'm the only one who gets to interrupt.
Please don't make me run it.
Are you ruthless?
If I absolutely have to be.
Not as much as I should be.
Yes, that's how you get to the top.
Not at all.
How informed are you about trends in your industry?
I read the trades, go to conferences, and have a massive contact base.
I make the trends, so, a lot.
I could do better.
I don't care, I'm answering the phone.

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Do you understand the value of diversity, or is that just a buzzword to you?
It's essential to a profitable business that it taps the best talent. This cannot be done through denying our own biases. It takes proactive work and seeking out the top people where they are, not where we expect them to be.
I haven't thought about it, but it makes sense.
It's just a buzzword.
I get it but no one around me seems to.
Do you tend to hire in your own image?
I try really hard not to.
Yes, but my idea of my image isn't about some bro from the "right" frat, it's about a creative thinker who might look different and not have that fancy piece of paper, but we still get each other.
Yes, I just call whoever went to my B school.
I hire whoever seems competent.
Are you a nerd?
A little
Totally
No
Only on weekends

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Are you a showoff?
Only sometimes
Yes, except I can be nervous in crowds.
I certainly make sure I get credit.
No
How's your public speaking?
Honed by years of practice
Depends on the crowd. I can't adjust easily.
Rocky
Weak
Which matters more: your idea being chosen, or the best idea being chosen?
The best idea
My idea with input from others
My idea
I don't care, whatever the boss wants.

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Do you dwell on your mistakes?
I study them to learn.
I move right on.
I can do.
No point really.
Do you think you're the smartest person at your company?
I know I'm not. I want the smartest people, especially if they are better than me.
I probably am joint smartest.
I think so.
I doubt it.
How kind are you?
I am generous and also kind.
I am not very kind, to be honest. It's not that I'm mean, I just don't think of it.
I am generous but not kind.
I am very kind.

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Do you remember names easily - and if not, do you have a system to remember them?
I have a great system.
I have no system and I don't remember the names either, so I call everyone, male or female, "Hey guy".
I just ask repeatedly.
I am good at it but have no system in case I forget.
Do you love to work?
More than anything!
Very much
Mostly, yes
Not really
Do you mind working through the weekend sometimes?
No, but I refuse to fall into presenteeism for its own sake.
I will work every hour God sends unless someone stops me.
Absolutely! Long hours prove commitment.
Not unless they force me to.

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