YouBet said:
I would add one more. They just want to win and are ultra competitive.
My boss is owner/CEO of our company. I suspect he's wealthier than probably anyone that regularly posts on this thread. His biggest driver is doing what we do better than anyone else.
He doesn't care about free time. The dude never sleeps and is constantly generating ideas and changes. I have to put the brakes on him at times so I can get his first idea done when he's already on idea #8. He's a classic entrepreneur in that he's fearless and failure doesn't impact him. He's had companies that failed spectacularly and just starts over with the next one.
Thankfully, he's a down to earth, cool dude who you would never really know was all that wealthy because he doesn't talk about it and doesn't really flash it.
This is an interesting breed.
Every entrepreneur I know has a natural competitive streak. I'd also say
ambitious. However, when it comes to work, the ones I look up to I'd describe them as more
idealistic than competitive.
They have a vision of how great things could be and they stay in relentless pursuit. Not necessarily perfectionists, but they have high standards and always seem room for improvement. At least the ones I find inspiring.
Folks I personally would classify as unhealthy are driven less by their own vision -- more by chasing the next dollar, a bigger house/better stadium suite/nicer boat than their peers, beating their competitors (or customers), or some other version of keeping up with the Jones. These folks can be real tyrants. (Doesn't sound like your boss is in this category)
Here's another way to describe it --
The entrepreneurs I admire are grateful and happy people. Yes, they always want something better, but they're moving toward something they want.
The ones I see as cautionary tales also always want something better, but on some level they seem kinda miserable. They're not really grateful -- they're pushing hard because they're inherently dissatisfied and envious. Like they won't be happy until ______.
Just my opinion.