Entrepreneurs use their Visionary qualities to implement ideas that become the businesses that revolutionize the way we think and live. While they put great stock in ideas and their own imaginations, they also have the ability to bear down for long periods until things work. In referring to his own history of trial and error, Henry Ford said, “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again.” And Thomas Edison famously referred to genius as only one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.

But all the hard work in the world can only get someone so far. Entrepreneurs, whether Roy Kroc of McDonald’s or Martha Stewart, have to be able to read what’s in the air in the same way designers do but often on a much more mass scale. The common and pervasive problems of thunderstorms and aging inspired Benjamin Franklin to invent and market lightning rods and bifocals. Levi Strauss saw the need for a peculiarly casual American form of work clothes. Louis B. Mayer, and Walt Disney harnessed a specific American hunger for entertainment. None would have gotten as far as they did without the fervor that comes with conviction.

Today, in the footsteps of our Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg types, Visionaries abound in every field, from lingerie’s Sarah Blakely, creator of Spanx and a self-made billionaire, to Howard Schultz, whose vision of better coffee for Americans gave us Starbucks. Of course, when it comes to entrepreneurial invention, there is nothing like tech culture as a hotbed. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, puts it well. “You don’t choose your passions, your passions choose you.”  

Other Examples
Anita Roddick, Russell Simmons, Milton Hershey, Sergey Brin, James Dyson, David Karp

Strengths
Often successful at an early age (at least these days), entrepreneurs have a spirit of exploration and adventure that makes them inspired company. 

Weaknesses
Obsessive behavior when it comes to making things work can make entrepreneurs remote and irritable.

Passions
Networking, emerging technologies, studying, and participating in popular culture.

Reading

Words
“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” -Steve Jobs

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