I wish I got paid a looney every time a newcomer asks me this question: Can an Immigrant build a successful business in Canada?

My answer is a definite yes!

Yes, you can succeed and build a business in Canada – especially as an Immigrant. You have an edge most people don’t. You are hungry for success, and you desire to live a good life as a New Canadian. Over time, I identified similar traits that make Immpreneurs admirable. These superpowers of successful Immigrants marry well with the characteristics of successful Entrepreneurs.

1. YOU ARE A RISK-TAKER!

You chose to leave all you knew behind and made the decision to move to Canada as an Immigrant. This decision was a risk-taking adventure from the get-go. Entrepreneurs are risk-takers and solution providers. They take a risk to solve problems that their ideal customer may not be aware of in the first place.

To succeed in life, you have to be willing to take the risk, and you can strike this off your checklist. All you need to do is to take the next step to create a new chapter of your life – it’s your life and story. Go for it!

2. YOU ARE ADAPTABLE.

You are able to develop new skills or improve on yourself to serve an original purpose. As immigrants, you know firsthand that you must be open to learning new things to settle down in Canada. You may have to learn new languages, learn how things work here in Canada. As Jim Rohn said “Work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you work hard on your job, you can make a living. If you work hard on yourself, you can make a fortune.”

Learn the rules of conducting business in the industry you want to embark on. You could read the 5 mistakes immigrant entrepreneurs make when opening a business in Canada and learn how to avoid making such mistakes.

3. YOU ARE FLEXIBLE

Successful Entrepreneurs are proactive and flexible to change. The same applies to you as an Immpreneur. Being able and willing to learn how things work – and doing them right sets you apart. Being flexible sets you are on the right path to building a successful business in Canada.

4. YOU ARE RESILIENT

Resilience is the ability to recover from difficult and challenging situations. As an Immpreneur, the future may feel unknown and frightening.

But, your resilience enables you to recover from the mistakes you make along the way. Your perseverance enables you to press forward towards your goals.

To be an ‘overnight success’ takes time, and it could either be a long journey or a strategic one. Yet, you are willing and ready to put in the work to develop and bring your business idea to life.

How you make use of your time determines if you a – ‘whatever it takes’ or a ‘whatever happens – immigrant. You are in charge of building your narrative as an Immpreneur.

5. YOUR HERITAGE MAKES YOU UNIQUE.

As a vibrant economy, Canada celebrates diversity and inclusiveness. She encourages immigrants to be innovative and goal achievers. Canada celebrates what makes you different yet one with the country – your heritage. As a newcomer, you have a start at life, but you have a rich history.

You can build a business that shares your heritage – food, music, craft, and art. Most Canadians are open to learning what makes you unique. Your history touch lives in many ways than you know.

Knowing where you come from makes you appreciate the wins you achieve along the way. Embrace your heritage and lay a foundation for your future, your children and your legacy.

6. YOU ARE NOT AFRAID OF THE WORD ‘NO.’

To succeed as an Immigrant, you must seek to achieve personal growth, which has its challenges.

Personal development requires you to gain Canadian experience in a working environment. And I bet, along your journey, you must have gotten the feedback that you lack the ‘Canadian experience.’

You will come across some prospects, sponsors, or investors who will give you the ‘No’ response. Still, as Les Brown preaches, “Make ‘No’ Your Vitamins.” Every ‘No’ brings you one step closer to learning what your ideal customer wants.

7. YOU ARE NOT AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP.

From your arrival as a newcomer, organizations seek to help you settle in Canada. The same goes for when you decide to start a business. Some organizations help entrepreneurs succeed with financing, mentoring and support tools. It does not matter if you are a youth, an immigrant or a woman. Canadians love supporting local businesses, so does the Government.

Last but not least, being an entrepreneur can be a challenging and lonely journey. The good news is, you do not have to do it alone. Reach out to a business coach to support you with strategies to grow your business. You have superpowers, be bold. You have what it takes to build a business in Canada and be a successful Immpreneur.