When I start working with entrepreneurs, I always ask them about their personal vision.
In the beginning I was impressed if someone was honest enough to tell me that they just want to grow the business, sell it and then do … and their eyes would light up while they told me about the plans they had for their life after the sale.
As I said, in the beginning I was impressed by that. Not any more. Now I put a lot more emphasis on focus. Outstanding entrepreneurs seem to be doing exactly what they are passionate about. They build a company around their passion and use it as a vehicle to push their personal agenda.
Surely, they need the smarts as well to make it profitable. But I do not think that earning money as an ultimate goal carries enough power to make someone successful long-term.