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Small Business Articles from Make-it-Fly®
 Passion
and Profit – Can We Have Both?
By Victoria Munro
Printable version
“Ordinary people
become extraordinary and produce extraordinary results
when they align their
passion with a meaningful purpose.”
– Theresa Szczurek, Ph.D.
We’re inspired by stories of
wildly successful entrepreneurs who turned
a hobby – or a passion – into a thriving
business and realized their dreams. It’s
encouraging to read about those who started with little
and seemed unlikely candidates for business success
but, driven by passion, worked absurdly long hours and
surmounted enormous difficulties to beat the odds and
make it big.
Passion is
a powerful emotion. It ignites energy, enthusiasm
and creativity, and brings meaningful purpose to life.
We can’t just drum up
passion when we need it. It comes from within.
In his outstanding book Good to Great, Jim
Collins writes, “You can’t manufacture passion
or ‘motivate’ people to feel passionate.
You can only discover what ignites your passion and
the passions of those around you.”
What Are You Passionate about?
It may be helpful to take time and
find out. If you’re totally stumped and don’t
know what it is, think back to your childhood dreams.
What did you enjoy as a child? Your passion should certainly
line up with your values and personal goals.
Some know what they are passionate
about, but have a hard time stepping out to pursue it.
Fear, faulty beliefs or negative self-talk may be stopping
them. Sometimes, just recognizing what’s holding
you back is all you need to change and move forward.
Will Passion Lead to Business Success?
Experts disagree on the importance
of passion for business success. Some insist that solid
business know-how is all you need. Others, especially
those who have successfully followed their dreams, disagree.
We have Make-it-Fly®
board members who are successful entrepreneurs and enjoy,
but are not passionate about, their businesses. However,
their companies afford them the freedom and financial
resources to do what they love – perhaps devote
extensive time to family, or to a sport or hobby that
they are passionate about. They
reap profits from their businesses and pursue
their passions.
The Pluses of Passion
Starting a business is stressful.
When you’re passionate about the company and what
it stands for, you are more likely to weather the small
biz start-up storms. It still requires a lot of effort,
but it’s certainly much more fun and rewarding
to work hard for something you’re passionate about.
Passion is
highly contagious. If you’re madly enthusiastic
about your business, you will naturally inspire that
same enthusiasm in others: your employees, vendors and
clients.
Passion can motivate you to persevere
when the going gets tough, but passion
alone isn’t enough. It will still take
hard work and self-discipline. You must do the needed
research, make a realistic plan, set goals and decide
on strategies to achieve your goals.
Points to Ponder:
| 1. |
You
can’t do it alone. Be sure to get encouragement
and support along the way. Find and join a like-minded
group of entrepreneurs, or hire a coach or mentor. |
| 2. |
Your
role could change. If the business grows,
you may find yourself managing others who are doing
what you love to do. |
| 3. |
Plan
time away to stay balanced. The temptation
to work seven days a week increases when you’re
doing what you love. |
| 4. |
You
may love what you do, but do
you love to sell? Will selling be an overwhelming
challenge? |
| 5. |
Be
realistic. Ask yourself if this will still
be your passion when you have to work at it. |
| 6. |
Learn
all you can. Talk to others who have successfully
done what you want to do, read books and take classes. |
Pursuing
our passion energizes us. It brings joy and a
sense of purpose to life. What is your passion? Are
you pursuing it through your business? Or does the business
enable you to do what you love? When your business is
your passion, or the business allows you to pursue your
passion, you can enjoy
both passion and profit.
(655 words)
© 2005-2007 Victoria Munro.
Click here for
printable version.
About the Author: Victoria Munro is
co-founder (along with husband Dave Block) of Make-it-Fly®
LLC, a company dedicated to creating success for
small-business owners through creatively designed programs
and tools. Victoria has started and run nine different
businesses. To receive FREE business success articles
with tips to help you with your business, sign up for
their award-winning ezine, “In-Flight Refueling,”
at: www.Make-it-Fly.com,
and receive a free copy of the eBook, Get
More Done in Less Time: 101 Quick and Easy Time Tactics
& Tips.
You’re welcome to “reprint”
this article in your ezine, print publication
or on your website, as long as it remains complete and
unaltered (including the “about the author”
info at the end). Please send a copy of your reprint
to info@make-it-fly.com.
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