If you’re thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, there is one simple truth you need to hear right away: passion matters.
When you start a business around something you truly care about, that passion becomes one of the main reasons you will keep going, even when things get hard. And they will get hard.
You’ll face long hours, unexpected problems, and moments of doubt. But when you care deeply about what you’re doing, you’ll have something most people don’t—inner fuel that keeps you going.
Passion gives you focus when things feel scattered. It gives you energy when you’re tired. It reminds you why you started in the first place.
You could say passion is your built-in support system. It doesn’t just help you survive as an entrepreneur—it helps you thrive.
Steve Jobs once said, “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.”
That’s not just a nice quote. It’s real-life advice. Especially for entrepreneurs.
When you’re building something from the ground up, you’ll run into challenges. If you’re only doing it for the money, those hard times will make you want to quit. But if you love what you do and believe in the mission behind it, you’ll find a way through.
In Entrepreneurial Leap, Gino Wickman shares story after story of entrepreneurs who succeeded not just because they were skilled, but because they were passionate. Passion gave them the strength to overcome setbacks, stay motivated, and keep growing.
Think about this: You’re going to work long hours. You’ll make sacrifices. You’ll be pushed and stretched in ways you’ve never been before.
Now imagine doing all of that for a business you don’t even enjoy. That’s a recipe for burnout.
But what if all of that effort was going toward something that actually lit you up inside? What if you were building something that mattered to you?
That’s the difference purpose makes.
The most successful entrepreneurs don’t just chase money. They chase meaning. They build businesses around problems they want to solve or communities they want to serve. They build around their purpose. That’s how they stay in the game year after year—and enjoy it.
Read related article: 10 Steps to Get Started as an Entrepreneur
If you want to start a business but don’t feel 100% clear on what it should be, try this short exercise. It will help you look for clues in your own life.
Take ten minutes and write down the answers to these three questions:
This reflection can reveal a lot. It won’t give you a perfect answer right away, but it might point you in the right direction.
This is one of the many exercises in Entrepreneurial Leap designed to help you get clarity before you dive in. Because if you’re going to build something, it should be something that matters to you.
Finding your purpose isn’t something that happens in one moment. It’s a process—one that requires curiosity, reflection, and a little patience.
In Entrepreneurial Leap, Gino Wickman outlines several ways to get clarity on your purpose and the kind of business you’re meant to build.
Here are a few simple but powerful steps to help you get started:
Think about your childhood, your teenage years, or even your early jobs. What were you naturally drawn to? What kind of work made you feel excited? What did people say you were good at?
Gino often says that your past holds clues. Sometimes your purpose has been with you for years, you just haven’t noticed it yet.
Believe it or not, frustration can point to purpose. What problems do you see in the world that make you think, “There has to be a better way”?
Many businesses are born this way. Entrepreneurs notice something that doesn’t work and decide to fix it. That feeling of “this could be better” is often the first spark of a great idea.
You can find this tool at e-leap.com/tools. It’s designed to help you figure out the right kind of business for you, based on your personality, interests, and goals.
Do you prefer selling products or services? Do you want to work with other businesses or direct to customers? Do you want a small, high-end brand or a large, budget-friendly model?
Your answers can help match who you are to the business you’re meant to start. When there’s a fit, everything works better.
This is one of the most important things you can do.
Notice what types of work make you feel energized. What would you gladly do even if you weren’t getting paid? What kind of problems do you love solving?
Your energy is a signal. When you feel excited and engaged, that’s usually a sign you’re getting closer to your purpose.
If this blog post sparked something in you, go deeper. Read Chapter 10 of Entrepreneurial Leap, “Discover Your Passion.” You can also find helpful tools like the MyBiz Match and MyVision Clarifier for free at e-leap.com.
They’ll walk you through how to match your strengths and passions with the right business.
You’re not just starting a business. You’re creating the life you were born to live. Make it count.
