The joy your nerd finds in his project is one of problem solving and discovery. As each part of the project is completed, your nerd receives an adrenaline rush that we’re going to call The High.
I think a lot of hacker/entrepreneur types are going to find this line very applicable. Every time I sit down at a computer, I'm seeking The High. And that high only happens when I fix a bug, write a feature, or do something that adds to Posterous.
It's an addictive cycle that actually creates value. Didn't know addiction could be a critical part of success...