Passion, Persistence and Performance: Entrepreneurial Traits among MSME Stakeholders in Virudhunagar District of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) serve as the backbone of India’s economic architecture, contributing significantly to employment generation, industrial output, and regional development. This study investigates the entrepreneurial traits specifically passion, persistence, and performance exhibited by MSME stakeholders in Virudhunagar District of Tamil Nadu. Using a structured questionnaire administered to 200 respondents selected through stratified random sampling, the study examines how these traits interrelate and influence business success. The research employs descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis to derive inferences. Findings reveal that entrepreneurial passion and persistence are statistically significant predictors of business performance. Virudhunagar’s distinct commercial identity marked by its fireworks industry, agro-based enterprises, and trading clusters provides a rich context for understanding trait-based entrepreneurship. The study concludes with policy implications for strengthening MSME ecosystems and nurturing entrepreneurial culture in semi-urban districts of Tamil Nadu.