Actually I don't agree that determination is personal. It boils down to love really. It's the passion that keeps every founder going and most of them wear it on their sleeve in addition to completely embodying it. They use it to hire people, to sell their idea, and to keep going. But the key is for passion to ascend into will power. The best common man analogy is when we must go pee. We do whatever it takes to prevent public embarrassment with complete focus, maximum speed, and accute intellect. For a moment we all become geniuses. Entreprenuers use this power to overcome anything. Of course not because they want to but because they are forced to... As if to avoid embarrassment.
And "what's love?" You don't choose who you love or what you're passionate about while determination is deliberate effort. I agree that love helps you do things that are hard but it's so whimsical and out of your control that I think it's not enough. Say you love video games and programming, is that enough to make a successful game? Unless you try tens of games, throw away all but one, debug the hell out the performance and manage to market it in such a crowded market, you'll always fall short I think.
> when we must go pee. We do whatever it takes
Not very convinced by your analogy. Starting a company is a long-term effort. And usually, there aren't many road blocks on your way to the bathroom.
But passion is what makes you determined and not give up. Like chasing someone you have a crush on. And imagine wanting to pee in an unfamiliar town or even a foreign country. We would get creative. Starting a company is long-term repetition of immediately threatening circumstances.
