The economic future of America is clearly in the hands and minds of male and female entrepreneurs. It takes entrepreneurial passion to develop new businesses which will employ people, spend and circulate money and grow the economy. All around us their are opportunities for entrepreneurs. The question is: Are entrepreneurs born or can anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur be taught?

Universities, colleges, government agencies and many other organizations are banking on the answer to this important question to be the latter.

There is no question in my mind that there very likely may be a DNA gene, a trait or characteristic, that may be inherited just like a sense of humor or better than average intelligence etc. The fact is that entrepreneurs more than likely have a parent that is or was an entrepreneur. Much research has been done on the strong likelihood that an entrepreneur is most often a first born. This is no surprise since first borns typically have their ideas encouragde heavily by their doting first- time parents. Women entrepreneurs, particularly, are more likely to flourish when they have watched a parent start and grow a business. Parental role models and mentors are the norm rather than the exception. Children pay strict attention to their parent's roles and responsibilities and little girls are strongly influenced by both their mothers and fathers. Yes, those little eyes are watching your every move and they don't miss much.

My Dad's influence had me playing office while all my friends were playing house. My Dad taught me how to talk to strangers and to build relationships for a lifetime.

This is not to say that getting an education in entrepreneurship, a business education and/or MBA will not teach you the necessary skills and abilities necessary to start, grow and exit a business. Education is critical to everyone's success and there is always something new to learn and new people to learn from.

But, the basic passion to take the risk, perhaps fail, and then get back up again often comes from a lifetime of watching others do it right in front of you.

It is a journey -- not a destination -- and it is not for everyone. Now we just need to get some scientific research on cloning the successful DNA of a Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Warren Buffett.

Good luck.