To understand the conditions under which an enterprise is transferred from the first to the second generation, it is necessary to analyze the specific conditions under which the entrepreneur developed his or her "vocation." The new entrepreneur who has achieved exceptional professional success can choose between a dynastic approach and a meritocratic one. This diversity in attitudes refers back to the social, psychological, and family-related conditions in which the founder’s drive for success was born. Furthermore, it explains the diversity in experiences and paths observed.