The American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor found that passion is the driving force behind why entrepreneurs get started in business.

Four-in-ten (38%) respondents said the biggest influence in becoming an entrepreneur is passion. As an influence, passion is followed distantly by natural entrepreneurial inclination (20%) and being "born into it" (18%). Business owners are most passionate about building their customer base (34%). Turning a profit (27%) and closing the deal (15%) were of less importance. Via Open Small Business Monitor

"Long life is indeed a blessing, but maybe we overdo our concern for the length of our lives and give insufficient attention to the passion we bring to whatever time we have." - Thomas Moore