Serial entrepreneurs thrive on the high-pressure excitement of starting a business from scratch, but invariably leave the company at some point to start another. For them, the thrill comes from taking an idea to market and making it happen, not the day-to-day aspects of running the business.

Approximately 43 percent of the current Inc. 500 companies say they plan to start another company after leaving their current one. Some deliberately include an exit strategy in their business plan, some lose interest when the company gets too big, some don't have the skills to manage a large business, and others leave after an acquisition or initial public offering.

The most common reason is probably boredom. After the start-up phase, a company becomes more stable, less-hands on, and more supervisory. That holds no interest to the serial entrepreneur. Those who stay often regret it due to the slower pace.

Even when the company fails, the serial entrepreneur tends to see it as an opportunity to try something else.