Recently, I was flipping channels and happened to come across a dramatized documentary on the History Channel called The Men Who Built America . It's a mesmerizig account of the early titans of American industry, and is hands-down one of the best documentaries I've ever seen. It tells the story of men like Cornelius Vanderbilt and John D. Rockefeller, who built massive business empires (and mindboggling fortunes). Setting aside their sheer ruthlessness in many instances, the men in the documentary display certain characteristics that I believe are necessary for success in just about any business endeavor, whether it's a Fortune 100 company or simply your own self-publishing business. Passion You have to have passion for what you're doing. It should incite and excite a fervor in you. Thus, if you're an author, the thought of writing a book - having a finished tome out there - is something that should get your blood pumping. I'm not saying that every part of the ...