Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I think lots of people believe that the difference between professional and amateur is that professionals make (or charge) money for what they`re doing. That`s actually not true, when you get right down to it.

Professionals offer a great product or service regardless of their being "in the mood to work" or not. Amateurs many times determine whether or not they`re going to work, based on how they feel at any given moment.

When I played onstage, professionally as a musician, there were lots and lots of times when I wasn`t at ALL in the mood! Yet it was my job to create "the party." All those kids you see in life, running around screaming "woo woo" and "parteee" just assumed that if they went to some club, by golly....there`d be a party.

How? Who creates that party?

Some of it`s the club design, some is the management, some is the location, and some is the entertainment. But a party doesn`t "just happen." People have to make that party happen. Night after night after night and night. It`s no different than a great company, excellent service, quality products, and professional transactions.

So you`re not in the mood? Who the hell cares? Certainly not your customers, bankers, service providers, partners, consultants, or anyone else. You either get in the mood, or leave.

I`ll propose that although financial obligations are strong reasons to continue working---like paying the rent or mortgage, or keeping food on the table---they`re not enough to "get you into the mood." More often than not, your passion is what changes your attitude from going to work, to getting into the mood and enjoying what you`re doing.

How many times have you finished your morning caffeine injection, realizing that you don`t at ALL "feel" like working? Then  you think about how you *have to* start working, and wonder how you`ll pull it together. But then, as you start working on your business, you begin to change. You start feeling the excitement, interest, curiosity, and your brain starts working again.

Nobody cares if you`re "in the mood" to work or not. But I wonder---how many starting-out entrepreneurs get confused, thinking that if they don`t feel "up" and "excited" about their business idea, they`re doing something wrong?

In our situation, there are many areas and aspects of the business that reach out and grab our attention. It doesn`t matter if we`re in the mood or not, when we start work, it takes only a little time and we`re "in the zone" again. How about other folks? Do you find yourself being drawn in to your business?

There might be lot of differences that one can list between a professional and an amateur. But nobody has thought about this one. It was good to read this. It surely set me thinking. When I`m in the office the mood clears off after I plunge into serious work.
But during weekends when I have time to think about my ideas, initiate my own projects etc.
I don`t do it because I feel that the mood isn`t right.
Now I realise that`s it`s just one way of putting things off forever.

 


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Geexoo - All Geek Feeds @ One Page
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That`s the ticket :-) Realize that your "mood" is up to you, it isn`t some cloud of external influences that descend on your mind, forcing you to live a certain way.

I work 9-5 as a mainframe programmer...  and you talk about not being in the mood!  There are days I`m bored to tears (you know when you get tired and your eyes are all watery?)  This post opened up some images of myself that I didn`t want to see! 

Thanks CraigL, *wags finger* now I`m going to have to try harder to be more motivated and look more like the professional I play on TV!

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www.HelpMePayOffMyDebt.com - Donate to the cause without giving money!

:-D Either that, or get a different job...or start a business.