The guiding theme of my current vacation is to meet entrepreneurs from the world over. As my travels take me from New York to Paris, London or even Buenos Aires, I am meeting entrepreneurs to hear their stories, aspirations, dreams and be inspired by their passion.

Here is a sample of the companies whose founders I have met or am meeting:

• Xanga — online blogging and social networking
• The Ladders — job search with a twist – job seekers pay
• Mobissimo — travel search engine
• Brandalley — Overstock.com equivalent of Europe focusing on luxury goods
• Meetic — largest online dating site in Europe, second largest in the world
• Photoways — Shutterfly of Europe
• Cityvox — Citysearch of France
• 2xmoinscher — Half.com of France
• MilleMercis — online marketing in France
• Un77 — online marketing in France
• Deremate — eBay of Latin America

In hearing so many inspiring stories, I cannot help but be reminded of one of my favorite quotes by Goethe: “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”