The Case for ‘Made…

If you don't have these four traits, maybe you weren't born to change the world after all.People often wonder how the kid who rarely talked or wasn't particularly popular in class went on to become a start-up genius. What was it about that person that helped him or her blossom into an icon of entrepreneurship? And how can you make sure you have what it takes?It's a combination of factors. Start with these:Passion Passion is the fuel that drives the creation of dreams. This is a no-brainer

Should you work for a big company first, or stay as far away from them as possible? Read the debate and weigh in.As an Inc.com columnist it's my job to take a position. (Columnists who don't have opinions also don't have readers.) The result, though, is a one-sided conversation where the natural exchange of ideas between people gets lost.Sometimes I'm right. Sometimes I'm wrong.Mostly I'm a combination of the two, because in business for every rule there's an entrepreneur who proves the exception to that rule. My way is not your way, and neither is the right way..

Need a little inspiration? Check the creative spark behind these socially conscious business models.A new generation of consumers, influencers, and entrepreneurs has come of age--and its outlook on doing business is revolutionary. Millions of children born between 1980 and 2000, commonly known as Generation Y, have matured into adulthood with a unique worldview that is firmly entrenched in the beliefs that anything is possible and anyone can make a difference. This is a generation that had front-row seats for the crumbling of "secure" institutions such as Lehman Brothers and Washington Mutual, people who saw firsthand how the greed-mongering practices of jerks like Bernie Madoff ruined the lives of thousands.Gen Y fundamentally knows that there is a better, more ethical way to do business--and its everyday behaviors reflect this mindset.From college dorm rooms to apartment "offices" across the country, Gen Y entrepreneurs are building new businesses with social responsibility infused directly into the DNA of their business model--as a forethought, not an afterthought.Thousands of these businesses launch every month--all with the goal of making a difference and a profit.5 That Inspire MeAs founder of Roozt.com, I sell products from some of the most inspiring social entrepreneurs across the country.