Though quite a bit of attention is paid to small businesses and startups in tech, it’s impossible to deny that most profits and power still belong to tech’s big names: Microsoft, Apple, Google, etc. Thus, tech entrepreneurs and tech small-business leaders must be more driven and inspired than entrepreneurs and small-business leaders in other fields – and most go above and beyond in this respect. In fact, most create paragons of diligence and determinedness, and few ever seem to back down once they’ve made up their minds.

However, seeming isn’t necessarily being. Most small tech leaders, even those who appear undaunted, require motivation every day, and not all their inspiration comes from within.…