September 1, 2011

As an entrepreneur, you have heard repeatedly that if you follow your passion in business you can’t go wrong. I too have touted the benefits of having a passion for your business, and while it is a great thing to have, for many reasons, it is also a double-edged sword that does more harm for your business than good. When it comes to passion, it really needs to be kept in check in order to succeed.

Getting started

When you are first starting a business, passion is absolutely necessary. It is what will drive you to take the leap and set the wheels in motion. But make no mistake here, if you put a deaf ear and a blind eye to your customer, all in an effort to stay true to your passion, it may be the death of your business. In other words, passion is the spark to start the fire and get the business going. But rarely (in fact, I can’t think of it ever happening), does a business play out to be exactly what you first expected.

Passion is good for starting your business because it brings about a sense of persistence—which is the raw, natural desire to stick to it and see it through. However, with the essence of passion and persistence, you need to pay attention to and observe your customers closely in order to see what they really want. For example, it is important to make sure there is demand for your product or service before investing a lot of money to bring it to market. You can do this by testing it, which may prove that a spin-off or something closely related is in demand.

Going with the flow

Where passion in the entrepreneurial world becomes a downer is when people get so wrapped up in their passion and feeling good that they fail to realize that they are not actually succeeding on the business side of things. Just because what you are doing makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside doesn’t mean it will always pay the bills at the end of the day. Nor does it mean that it is giving customers what they need or want in order to keep them coming back for more.

This is where being able to be flexible comes into play. You start out with your passion leading the way and setting the ground work, but then you have to get out of your own way so your customers can lead you in the direction that your business needs to go. Having the ability to adjust to customer demands and desires will bring about success. What you have to realize is that it may not always match up to what you first had in mind or on what your initial passion was focused.

Choosing a route

Is passion important in business? Yes, there is no doubt about that. But it can’t be the only thing going on or what remains the focus once you get your business going. Passion can get you started, so use it to spark the flame, but don’t use it exclusively to fuel the business.

Let passion serve as the underlying current in your business. But be willing to adapt, grow and change to meet consumer demand. Otherwise, you will find yourself with an expensive hobby instead of a successful business. You have to also focus on the business side of things in order to really get ahead. Let passion guide you in getting started, but don’t let it keep you from reaching the top!

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Join the conversation ( 7 )

• Sophia Dihn 1 months ago

  

  I found your website on http://www.hearticle.com. Great post! Passion = feelings and might have some entrepreneurs take things personally.

• Ted Miller 8 months ago

  

  That's all well and good, but if you're business caters to passionate customers, it's not your passions you need to restrain, it's your business-mindedness (at least when interacting with clients). Of course it's different with different people. A collector whose primary interest is the resale value of what he collects will want that business mindedness, unless resale value is just an excuse hiding passion. Someone who is passionate about what he collects would rather buy from someone equally passionate. As a passionate collector, I know this very well, and have been known to change dealers for no better reason than that I had found one who shared my passion, while my former dealer's passion only went as far as knowing what sold well and what didn't. I don't mind having to travel a little further for this.

• iCheap Marketing 8 months ago

  

  Passion, consistency and potential strategy and implementation on it, is a great strategy for every new and existing business as you mentioned above.

• Edward Baloga 9 months ago

  

  While passion is important for operating a company, it also helps to have a good business model.

• Paul Vanderveen 9 months ago

  

  Nice article -- and it doesn't only apply to those who start a business. You can start a career based on a passion, but unless you're willing to adapt to your employer's needs then your passion won't get you to the top.New projects at any business rarely get off the ground without a passionate leader, but at some point passion has to be balanced with reality, available resources, and time.

• Jim Bur 9 months ago

  

  Passion driving you to take the leap is based on your original concept - the thing that motivated you to the point of taking the next step. Passion must remain for your original idea but must also become passion to make it successful. The passion can never leave, rather it must be channeled to the appropriate/desired end result. If niche is what you are passionate for, your passion for the original idea may still bear fruit. If passion for wild financial success is your end goal, then you definitely need to be willing to channel your enthusiasm and passion to the steps required to make that happen, including any necessary diversions from your original plan. I dont think passion is the problem...pride, fear of change (clouded by poor judgement from letting passion be your only driver) and ignorance/lack of know how or unwillingness to seek help from those who do know are the real problems. Passion and enthusiasm are contagious in proper doses and necessary to the success of any business - never let too much passion or too much bean counting get in the way of a truly great idea and the people needed to fuel it!

• Ryan Hanley 9 months ago

  

  "Let passion guide you in getting started, but don’t let it keep you from reaching the top!" This is the lesson to remember. Passion is so important but like all things have a realistic view of your current and future states and allowing passion to drive growth (if that's what you want) are a requirement as well.Let Passion Drive you not Guide you... Thanks!