If you own a small business, you are an entrepreneur by definition. But all entrepreneurs aren’t created equal.

As with anything else in life, those with more entrepreneurial abilities—plus solid business know-how—have a better chance of succeeding. Those who don’t will fail.

“Successful entrepreneurs are like a dog with a bone,” says Susan Gilbert, owner of Upper Crust Consulting in San Diego, which helps people focus on the essentials in creating success. “They are purpose- and focus-driven. They are passionate and creative, yet they stay focused on their idea or goal, and their intensity increases with the obstacles that arise.”

That applies whether your ambition is to build a huge company that will make the big guys whine for mercy or just want the independence that comes from a small business of your own.

The scale of your dream isn’t what makes you a true entrepreneur. It’s what’s in your gut. If you’re an entrepreneur deep inside, there’s nothing you’d rather do. Play is work. Work is play.