Simon Cowell -- Serial Entrepreneur

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Simon Cowell, best known as the slightly insensitive judge on American Idol, is bringing his temperamental judging skills to the world of entrepreneurship. His new show, American Inventor, will uncover the best new product concept in a format similar to Idol, where a panel of judges and the public will vote on, what Cowell says in a Q&A with BusinessWeek, the "wacky, the weird, and the wonderful."

When asked whether he was a music man or an entrepreneur, Cowell said he is an entrepreneur, and went on to provide some business advice: "Work hard, be patient, and be a sponge while learning your business. Learn how to take criticism. Follow your gut instinct and don't compromise." (I'd add to that list have confidence, but that doesn't seem to be a quality Cowell struggles with.) He also noted that The Apprentice star and billionaire, Donald Trump, is one of his role models.

I wonder what a TV show with "The Donald" and Cowell would look like? Whatever it would be, I don't think I'd want to meet with the two of them in the boardroom.