There are usually two pre-requisites to starting a business. Sometimes people will attempt to start a business by fulfilling either one of the two pre-requisites (not an easy feat by any stretch of the imagination), and often people will do so without either one (and guess what their success rate is?). The two pre-requisites are motivation and skills. Often they are complementary in nature, but occasionally you need to use one to drive the other. It is different for everyone, and the effects of this is obvious when you examine the way the business is run.
Why are these two pre-requisites so important? Well, starting a business is not always the hardest part, with a large number of people finding that keeping a business going can be equally tough. Having a real motivation/drive/passion for your business will keep it going in the hardest times, while having the skill will ensure that your business will be based on something you understand. Sometimes having the skill will allow to you develop a real motivation to get out on your own and start a business. Other times, having a real motivation will encourage you to start, develop and further the skills required to consolidate your business.
An alternative to having both pre-requisites is to find someone who can complement yourself in either the motivation or skill department. However, to be able to successful work in a partnership, both parties must share the same vision for the business. This does not mean that partners in business must have the same dreams and goals, it just means that they must both see how the business will allow them to share the journey towards their own individual goals. Once one partner starts forcing their goals onto the other, the business vision will invariably breakdown. This is usually the portent to the division of the business, or in the worst case scenario, an entire collapse.
It doesn’t matter what your business is, without motivation and skills, it is not a business that is worth devoting your time, energy, resources, (and most importantly) or your dreams and goals towards.