I am not sure what it is about entrepreneurs and startup folks. They seem to be a different breed altogether in the way that high level martial artists are a different breed from regular people. They seem to be able to have a stick-to-it-ness and maintain a high energy level to always overcome whatever obstacles they face. For most people, the only time you ever hear about these people is when they’ve already made it big. You look at them, and they make it look so easy that you think you could probably do it too. I mean, if they could do it why can’t you? Heck, Tim Ferriss seems to think all you need is 4 hours a week.

What they don’t tell you and what you don’t know is that often times, going at it by yourself and starting something from the ground up with no help and infrastructure is hard grueling work. So hard that the statistics for startups and small businesses is very depressing to look at. Most rational people would look it and say, “you know what? I’m perfectly happy with my 9 to 5.” Most any person I know would rather get out of work by 5, come home and relax with a movie, tv show or a book. What compels a person to pull insane hours working for very little pay (if any) and hope that there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. Doesn’t the prospect of having squandered away precious days of your life enough to deter you to undertake such a grand endeavor? The alternative is so much more seductive. The dark side, the easy road - just veg on the couch and hold that remote. Just turn on that Xbox. Every little thing beckons you from your goal.

Take for example bloggers. The majority of bloggers earn less than $100/month. Heck, in my first month, I made the equivalent of 12 cents and hour. Yet they keep on writing. Why in God’s name why? Either they are all narcissists who want to see their own words published on the internet or they hope to eventually make a decent buck out of it. Sadly, for the majority, this will never happen. Same is probably true with most startups. They’re better off taking a second job. I know many people who do and have made decent money over the years supplementing their income with a second job. These people are yet another breed different from entrepreneurs, but I won’t get into that.

My question is, what makes them different. What compels them to propel? How do they do it? Where do they find the will and energy? Why?