Starting a business: What it takes

What attributes suggest someone’s a good candidate to start their own business?

A college degree doesn’t hurt — though dropping out didn’t stop Bill Gates from launching the world’s biggest software maker. Being rich would solve the problem of start-up financing — yet Sam Walton got his start in business on not much more than a wing and a prayer.

There are no definitive answers, but the entrepreneurs, private investors and academics USA TODAY’s Jim Hopkins talked with suggested these experiences, traits and skills.

Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/2006-07-30-starting-your-business_x.htm