Last week I was talking with a successful entrepreneur. He’d sold two companies and never had to work again. Even with the financial success he continues to work hard on a new startup. Of course, I had to ask why he’s still chugging away. Here’s his answer:

I have a desire to win. Personally, I love the game of business. It’s such an incredible thrill to build a winning company.

Thinking about it, I really like this answer. The desire to win and build a great company drives me. Also, there’s an element to proving the naysayers wrong (every successful business I’ve been involved in I’ve had someone tell me it wasn’t a good idea or market).

The next time things are getting tough, figure out how important the desire to win is to you.

What else? What are some other thoughts on the desire to win?