Ten markers distilled from observation. Not harsh — useful for honest self-assessment.

1. Real entrepreneurs ship. Wannabes plan.
2. Real entrepreneurs talk to customers. Wannabes talk to other founders.
3. Real entrepreneurs fail publicly. Wannabes keep ideas private to avoid failing.
4. Real entrepreneurs track numbers. Wannabes track followers.
5. Real entrepreneurs deal with boring operational work. Wannabes want to "be a CEO."
6. Real entrepreneurs understand their cash position weekly. Wannabes don't.
7. Real entrepreneurs hire people better than themselves. Wannabes hire to feel important.
8. Real entrepreneurs know why customers buy. Wannabes know what the product does.
9. Real entrepreneurs accept hard feedback. Wannabes seek validation.
10. Real entrepreneurs compound over years. Wannabes chase the next thing after 3 months.

Most people are somewhere in between. The honest question: which column dominates your weekly behaviour?