“An important question to answer yourself”
A fundamental question that we should all ask ourselves is; ‘What am I really passionate about?’
If you’re not happy with what you’re doing now, and you’re not building anything of value to yourself as you continue to do it, then a change should be seriously considered.
As I have said in previous writings, everyone has the right to be happy. That usually means finding something you’re passionate about and making money doing it.
However, the question of passion is delicate. Many people make significant mistakes when getting into a business that has to do with their personal interests. They are passionate about the subject and feel that they can make money by jumping into a related business venture. They might enjoy doing it for a while because of that personal interest, but if there isn’t a strong business case for that decision, they often fail or end up spending time on their ‘hobby’ and never find anything close to true success.
The result is not just a failed or very marginal business, but usually a loss of passion for what was a personal interest in the first place, so it’s a double loss.
“The question of passion is complicated”
People who can cook go to restaurants, people who like sports go into sports-related businesses, people who dress well go to fashion retail, and they all fail to achieve the success they deserve. because they followed their heart instead of their head. The reality is that if you are successful in business, you build the resources and freedom to indulge your passions, not the other way around, unless you are very lucky.
I doubt the owner of the nut factory is really passionate about nuts, but he saw an opportunity to build what he wanted to build. He now enjoys his personal interests and passions to the fullest.
Likewise, I doubt the guy who figured out that sheep dung made a good fertilizer was really passionate about sheep dung.
Personally, I don’t really have a passion for debits and credits, but the knowledge I gained from becoming a CPA created a significant opportunity for me to build my own business. He also created resources to go after whatever you want.
“I doubt that the owner of the nut factory is really passionate about nuts”
Frankly, I don’t have a deep passion for the real issues of telecommunications, business services, or energy. We have many subject matter experts in the company who handle those subject areas with great skill. However, I am passionate about the opportunities it presents to me by allowing me to build a business around it to create wealth and freedom.
Many people will look for a ‘dream’ position or a ‘dream’ business and never make any changes. They continue to wallow in their current situation and never really achieve the happiness they deserve because that ‘dream’ opportunity never presents itself.
That makes me think about what I’m passionate about, and I’m proud to include the following items as my drivers:
1) Create a great business for myself and my family in order to earn the money I want and build an asset that will be very valuable in the future. The important niche need of the business market allows it.
2) Operating a professional business and the respect that comes with that profession in my community and beyond.
3) Being able to help other businesses increase their profits and knowing that I could advise them to be more successful is tremendously rewarding. The fact that the topic is telecom, business services and energy isn’t really that relevant to that equation: this is how I help them reduce costs so they can increase their success.
4) Trading in a business-to-business market where there is a significant need for what I can do for other businesses.
5) Creating the freedom and flexibility – and control, to do the things I want to do. Of course, it’s hard work, but I’ve never held back from it, and yet I never have to miss any event or function with family or friends if I don’t want to.
These are just words to provide some food for thought when you get to the point where you choose your own path. Many people stay in jobs they don’t enjoy and don’t have a real chance of creating happiness because they simply can’t pull the trigger for change. They are also affected by the multitude of detractors that surround us all, which is actually the subject of another article I wrote some time ago.
My advice is don’t fall into that trap. So whatever you decide is the right thing for you to achieve the things you want out of life, just do it and with enthusiasm.
I did it years and years ago, and I have never regretted it for a minute. It doesn’t mean there aren’t ups and downs, but I really look forward to each and every day in my business. It all stems from the items I listed above that satisfy me and are motivated by my true passion.
“Everyone has the right to be happy”