As I walked around Castle Island yesterday, I was in awe of the Kite Surfers skimming the 40 degree waves of the South Boston shoreline. Immediately I thought about how similar the rush of that sport is to starting a business as a first time woman entrepreneur. Let me explain:

First, entrepreneurs have a hunger to turn their idea into reality. Women entrepreneurs, particularly, must sidestep the naysayers who believe that their desire is more of a whim than a serious vision. Their motivation comes from the desire to achieve a goal without concern of potential consequences.

Psychologists report that some people are turned on by pushing themselves beyond what they and others believe they are capable of. Once the adrenaline starts flowing, extreme sport enthusiasts and some entrepreneurs, continue with the activities that repeat those feelings.

The successful entrepreneurs I know are uncomfortable with the status quo in their business. When things get comfortable they explore ways to grow. So, why is it, you might ask, do some people keep pushing, never feeling quite satisfied with meeting their goals? The answer seems to be the rush they receive by competing with themselves.

Think about it...when you are interested in working to be the best you can be without worrying about competing with those around you, you are in control. The tunnel vision required to take you in business, or in sports, to the next level is what separates you from those who sit back in comfort and expect success to come to them. In other words, the only bar that matters is the one you set for yourself.

I found myself fixated on the surfers flying as high as 10 feet out of the water doing somersaults in the air. Each landed gracefully, as if on wings, onto the bumpy surf without repercussion. I engaged a passerby with my excitement and was brought back to reality with a tale of her friend's broken hip from such a ride. As the conversation brought me back to earth and reality I realized that my own entrepreneurial climb was all built on the rush I continually felt from pushing myself forward.

The fact is a woman entrepreneur does not have to want to jump out of airplanes (I did it once) or parasail in the Caribbean (I did that too) or kite surf (not for me). She just has to have the confidence and drive to compete with herself and keep challenging herself to continue to grow personally and professionally. Once you have accomplished your goals the only way to continue the rush is to push yourself harder and raise the bar higher.