Once you’ve decided to take the leap to start your own business, your success will largely depend on whether or not your business is centered around something you are deeply passionate about. That’s why an entire chapter of Entrepreneurial LEAP is devoted to helping you discover your passion.
There have been many variations of this concept. Over time passion has also been described as your purpose, cause, calling, your why, your obsession or mission. Right now passion is a popular term for this topic. In its simplest form, you are figuring out the dent you want to put in the universe—be it a huge dent or a little one. It is irrelevant what word you use, as long as it gets your blood pumping.
The Search for Your Passion
You’ve got to figure out your reason for being, why you exist. You might already know it, which would be great, but if not, that’s okay. You have plenty of time. What follows will hopefully give you a light bulb moment.
It is important that you don’t let anyone discourage you. Your passion is going to come from you and only you. If you share your idea with someone who is not impressed, ignore their reaction. Your passion is not going to excite everyone.
Some questions to help you find your passion might be:
- What did you love to do when you were a kid, teen, or young adult?
- What do you love to do now?
- On what topics do your friends ask your advice?
- What gives you energy while thinking about it or doing it?
- What are your hobbies?
- Which of your talents or skills are you most proud of?
While helping many people discover what drives them, I have found their passions tend to fall into one of four broad categories:
- Helping and serving the customer or client.
- Building an amazing company.
- Solving problems and innovating.
- Winning: being the best or the biggest.
See which of those four broad categories you are drawn to. Not so much the words, but the category. This will help you narrow the field. You will then use your own words to help make that passion your own.
As Steve Jobs put it,
“The only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”
