Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the leadership characteristics of successful small eBay business owners. Scholarly research has identified several styles of leadership that take place in the physical environment. However, little research had been completed on the leadership skills needed to succeed as a small eBay business owner. Determination of the leadership characteristics needed to succeed in this environment was completed through interviewing eleven eBay business owners who met the screening criteria of completing between 500 and 10,000 sales transactions per year. The interviews were then transcribed, coded, and analyzed to identify similar characteristics in the answers given. Successful small eBay business owners were found to possess characteristics of leading rather than managing, strong self-awareness and self-management, being willing to adapt to grow the business, and willing to learn.