As far as Sean McDonald, president of consulting firm Your Full Potential, is concerned, there is no such thing as trying. He lives by Yoda's words, "Do or do not."

For McDonald, it's how people handle failure that sets them apart and ultimately defines their character.

"From when I was a kid, it was instilled in me that if you want something bad enough and work hard for it, you'll get it," said the latest Trailblazer 40 Below. "I try to live by that and put my mind to accomplishing something by working as hard and passionately as I can. If it comes to fruition great, if not then it's a learning experience, and at the end of the day I'm grateful."