Listening in on a recent panel discussion at Yale University (thanks to podcasts, I didn't even have to leave my home, let alone travel to Connecticut), three successful entrepreneurs all shared one key insight into how they made their idea work: that a B- strategy with A+ execution beats an A+ strategy with B- execution every time.

So what does it take to develop A+ execution skills? Quite simply, it's passion.

Many people fall into the trap of believing that there are two types of people in life: those who plan and those who execute.

The truth is that everyone can be top level executor if they have a true passion for what they are doing and what they are trying to achieve.

How can you tell if you have the passion it will take to truly make your idea a success? Ask yourself the following questions:

• Does this idea keep me up at night thinking of ways to make it work?
• Am I excited about waking up early so that I can pursue my idea?
• When I am describing my idea to others, am I going beyond dollars and cents and talking about my dream?