[glangdale]

I have met a few people who are determined to be entrepreneurs and don't seem all that picky about the content of their entrepreneurship. It doesn't seem like all that great a path.

IMO it's a bit of a cliche, but you should find an idea that you're passionate about (that's also a plausible business plan, naturally :-) ) and follow it. Deciding you want to be an entrepreneur first, then casting around for ideas, seems desperately contrived. I know it's worked for some people, so there's no hard-and-fast law, but I personally can't see how one gets through the general grind of a startup motivated only by an abstract and rather extrinsic goal of "being an entrepreneur".

[tonyarkles]

I’ve seen this go both ways, and I find it really interesting. I’m, personally, solidly in the “passion” camp. I’ve got a few friends though where “building the business” is the passion for them, and what the particular business is doesn’t matter all that much. Seeing the business grow and knowing that they’ve got staff that they’re providing a good life for... that seems to be enough for them, even if they’re not particularly passionate about the specific businesses.

[Beldin]

Naah, I can totally see that happen. Ideas are the proverbial dime a dozen, getting them to a profitable stage involves a lot of effort that has very little to do with the core idea and a lot to do with attracting an audience, establishing cash flow, marketing, ... basically, running a business.

Someone who's intrinsically motivated to run a business only needs an idea. Someone who's intrinsically motivated by the idea only needs to run a business.

Neither is easy. Which is why plenty of businesses fail.

Of course, folks who have neither business sense nor killer ideas but still want to start a business face a very uphill challenge.