subject: Why Passion is NOT enough to be successful in Business [print this page] Why Passion is NOT enough to be successful in Business
I know Some of you maybe shocked to hear me say this - Passion is NOT enough for being Successful.....? And let me add, if anyone who tells you any different, I would have to question whether they really know what they are talking about. That's right folks, when I hear - 'passion is all you need' mantra, it makes me cringe. Because it may sound good in theory but it's not how real and practical advice.
Now before you get all mad at me for making such a statement, let me clarify -
See, I am not saying Passion is not important, it is very important, infact it is a necessary ingredient in the entire recipe for success (personal and professional). But if one thinks - Passion is all you need and money and success will follow automatically - I don't believe that is true and that is where my problem comes. Now why do I feel this way? First hand experience.
Back in the late 1990's early 2000, when I started my journey into the Spiritual/ Personal Development arena, I read books, came across people who preached - passion is all one needed, as if this was some magic pill, that once you found, automatically would lead to doing well. Maybe it was the Truth for them, I don't know, but what I experienced following this advice was much different.
For me your Life's Purpose trumps Passion. Why? Because you could be passionate and be talented in many things, yet you only have 1 life's purpose. And if you discover and learn how to translate that purpose and make it into your life's work, your odds for doing well increase. How? See you were born to do something, you came here for a reason and when you pursue that, the Universe will lend you a helping hand. So you get additional help. You won't have to struggle.
Now I am not saying that once you discover your purpose, that's it, you can sit down, close your eyes, chant - Om, Om, Om and everything will begin happenning on its own. No, not saying that; discovering your Purpose and pursuing it does make things easier and provide personal satisfaction but you still have to do the work; in terms of learning, preparing, marketing (if you are in business for yourself), networking, executing, and so on, in order to succeed.
Let's take an example -
Let's say you have followed the advice - Passion is all you need - you have identified what you would like to do, and you register your business. Once you have done that, you would get into aspects of running a business - pricing your product/service, how to get customers, where to find them, how to scale your business, how to run your business administratively, how to be the sales person, the admn. person, the service provider, the boss etc. Are you equipped for the life of a business owner, something you may not be used to or aware off - these are just some of the things, where practical aspects and know-how will come into play. You maybe an artist or a creative person at heart but are you a business person?
Doing well in business doesn't mean you just follow your passion, open your shop and voila that's it. If you are not prepared, planned and really ready or cut out for being in business, your success will be limited.
Based on what I have experienced and have come to believe, if someone asked me what advice I would have for those thinking about turning thier passion into business , I'd say before" _mce_rel="nofollow" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);" href="http://http://www.innerveda.com/index.php?link=ebook-sale">before">http://http://www.innerveda.com/index.php?link=ebook-sale">before you launch your business - Be Realistic ! If building a life of meaning, substance and prosperity is really important to you, then start by discovering your purpose and passion, that is indeed your starting point, but don't just stop there. Supplement it, INVEST in what else you will need to prepare, plan and execute this well.
