Not to mention that starting and running a business isn`t at all a passive act. Entrepreneurs are, for the most part, looking to achieve something - happiness, money, recognition, flexibility, etc. (and it is usually a combination of things). The active step of finding a passion is perhaps one of the most important things one can do in starting a business.
Yes, one can wait for a passion to find them but in terms of starting a business, it might put you off for quite some time. But if we can learn what to look for to discover passion within, we can speed up the process and get more people happier with what they do for a living!
Business Forum
Methods for Finding One’s Passion
New Topic
Post Reply
Follow Topic
- Message
So another direct exercise for people looking for that great idea is to
figure out how to look into themselves at their past experience and
what brings them enjoyment and satisfaction.
Take some time to sit quietly, without any distractions and on your own. A time when the kids aren`t around, the TV and radio and computer are off, where it`s actually quiet.
Ask yourself: "If I had a million dollars right this moment, what would I do with it?"
That isn`t enough, though. As you consider what you`d spend it on, see what commonality there is in your spending.
What`s interesting is that many people would say they`d bank the money, or put it into investments. So too, they may believe they`d like to start a business, but the meditative fantasy shows they really don`t want to do so.
The overall idea is to find out what excites you in life, without the constraints of either how you`d afford it, or how "probable" it is, in terms of "actually" happening. Let your imagination run loose into a world where anything is possible.
Take some time to sit quietly, without any distractions and on your own. A time when the kids aren`t around, the TV and radio and computer are off, where it`s actually quiet.
Ask yourself: "If I had a million dollars right this moment, what would I do with it?"
That isn`t enough, though. As you consider what you`d spend it on, see what commonality there is in your spending.
What`s interesting is that many people would say they`d bank the money, or put it into investments. So too, they may believe they`d like to start a business, but the meditative fantasy shows they really don`t want to do so.
The overall idea is to find out what excites you in life, without the constraints of either how you`d afford it, or how "probable" it is, in terms of "actually" happening. Let your imagination run loose into a world where anything is possible.
Interesting thread. I am sometimes envious of those who have found their passions and say they know what they want their "life`s work" to be. I am 44 and I don`t yet and I am not sure I ever will.
I seem to have LOTS of passions....each for a short time. I don`t necessarily get bored with them but I get fired up about something else and that takes my attention. I can`t say this is the ideal type of mindset for starting and sustaining businesses or for being financially super successful but I have done alright in that regard; and I am just now learning to go with the flow and take advantage of my natural widespread curiousity instead of fighting it.
Do you believe that some people simply don`t have that singular passion that is so often talked about by the "find your passion" folks? It seems to me that alot of people like me listen to people tell them to find their passion and they spend alot of time being frustrated when they can`t find one.
Eric
Write down 25 things you love to do
Write down your 25 greatest accomplishments
Write down 25 of the world`s greatest needs
Write down 25 business ideas
The first two lists will help you identify your strengths and passions. The next list will identify opportunities to benefit the needs of the world. Find your passion by doing good and helping others and you`ll be on your way to starting the next great business.
-------------------------
Check out my blog at www.GreenCPA.blogspot.com
Jeez...25 business ideas! :-) I`m thinking of people who are looking
for 1 business idea! Even so, these four lists are certainly a valid
exercise for anyone who`s trying to find a passion.
Yikes!! Can`t separate the quote from the response....
I seem to have LOTS of passions....each for a short
time. I don`t necessarily get bored with them but I get
fired up about something else and that takes my attention.
I`ll go back to my definitions and differences between love and passion. Love is where we hold a tangible thing as our highest value. Passion is where we hold an abstraction as our highest value. Love is concrete, passion is idealized.
Following that logic, a related question is whether all people have the capability to think in abstractions, then; do all people develop themselves to where they think in abstractions. Based on reports from the world of education, no, not everyone chooses to develop abstract thinking. Everyone can, but not everyone wants to.
But that doesn`t explain the other issue of having many passions and being unable to, or choosing to not focus on one passion specifically. For some people it might be a self-discipline issue. For others, perhaps a biochemical issue. We could say that tolerance for boredom is often a chemistry issue, but can be psychological.
Then there are people who just have a whole lot of interests and really want to experience them all. Leonardo Da Vinci was so caught up in his interests and passions he wrote with both hands at the same time so he could put together two books simultaneously. :-) Presumably he had a LOT he wanted to get done!
There`s definitely an argument to be made as to whether or not we "need" a passion, or if we "have to have" a passion to get on with life. No, we don`t.
This particular thread, though, is targeted at people who really want to start a business; would like to be passionate about that business; have heard they can or should find a passion; and don`t know where to start.
Going back to the old cliche: "If you love what you do, you`ll never work a day in your life." I think that`s the context of a discussion about passion. I also think we`d all agree that working at a drudgery type of job is one thing, but working at something that you`re passionate about is entirely different, right?
Do
you believe that some people simply don`t have that singular passion
that is so often talked about by the "find your passion" folks?
==============================================
Now that`s an interesting take on things: Is passion something everyone naturally has?I`ll go back to my definitions and differences between love and passion. Love is where we hold a tangible thing as our highest value. Passion is where we hold an abstraction as our highest value. Love is concrete, passion is idealized.
Following that logic, a related question is whether all people have the capability to think in abstractions, then; do all people develop themselves to where they think in abstractions. Based on reports from the world of education, no, not everyone chooses to develop abstract thinking. Everyone can, but not everyone wants to.
But that doesn`t explain the other issue of having many passions and being unable to, or choosing to not focus on one passion specifically. For some people it might be a self-discipline issue. For others, perhaps a biochemical issue. We could say that tolerance for boredom is often a chemistry issue, but can be psychological.
Then there are people who just have a whole lot of interests and really want to experience them all. Leonardo Da Vinci was so caught up in his interests and passions he wrote with both hands at the same time so he could put together two books simultaneously. :-) Presumably he had a LOT he wanted to get done!
There`s definitely an argument to be made as to whether or not we "need" a passion, or if we "have to have" a passion to get on with life. No, we don`t.
This particular thread, though, is targeted at people who really want to start a business; would like to be passionate about that business; have heard they can or should find a passion; and don`t know where to start.
Going back to the old cliche: "If you love what you do, you`ll never work a day in your life." I think that`s the context of a discussion about passion. I also think we`d all agree that working at a drudgery type of job is one thing, but working at something that you`re passionate about is entirely different, right?
eric first, I think all of us have dozens of fleeting passions (might be read as interests), I`ve been accomplished at several things, from electronics (almost everyone born in the last 20 years has experienced one of my "what if`s"). the next time you pick up a beer bottle consider I had a hand in making it a little faster and with a bit less energy. patents, ideas, and business options aside, I believe (especially diverse minds) deep down most of us know what we would love to be able to do. I am not a timeless woodworker or even by my defination a carpenter, yet I have developed my skill enough to I believe can sell my products and smile everyday at "work".
Cpa just my thought but maybe the top 3 or 5 should be enough.
Craig, I agree "working at something you love isn`t work". Having had numerous positions in various roles most all satisfiing the current interest none had the "long haul" that my then hobby has had.
.02
stan
Maybe we could say, for the sake of convenience, that a "passion" is a
long-term interest---one that lasts for more than 5 years?
This is a great post. I`m working right now on figuring out how to turn my passion into a business. I have a few passions, but the two top ones, the ones that spark that inner energy and cause me to feel alive are writing and helping others. When others ask me what my passions are, I`ve always stated writing and helping others. Both are very general broad, which makes it difficult to define a specific niche in order to start a business.
I had to break things down. What do I love to write about, what drives me or motivates me to want to write about such things? And what do I hope to gain from writing what I put on paper? looking back at my writing, and answering these things, I`ve discovered my main objective is to help make a difference. In others lives as well as my own. My writing is about discovering your true self and living a more conscious life. I also write about things I see happening in the world and some of the patterns that are repeated that aren`t working, causing more destruction and disharmony.
When it comes to helping others, two things get me fired up. The first is helping others to see the greatness inside them to over come their struggles. People often come to me to share their struggles and emotional pain. I listen to them and help them to discover the answers that are inside them rather than giving them advice. Sometimes I just listen. The second thing is helping others get their needs met. It really gets me fired up when I see someone being treated unfairly and that person has little control over it. This would be seniors in a health care facility and special ed children. Also women who have been abused all their lives and have not discovered yet that they have rights, don`t deserve it and have the ability to change their circumstances.
Working for others with only a bachelors degree in psychology, I end up in positions where I have little say in how things are done, and have mostly been in entry level positions where I had to be careful of speaking my mind or I`d get fired. This is what lead me to start writing about it, only I haven`t published anything yet. I can`t afford to go back to school for a higher degree and the proper credentials that would make it okay for me to speak up or develop programs and self help material, so I decided to start my own business.
This is where it becomes difficult, to figure out how to turn this into a business online with my website.
Post ReplyAdvertisement
Keep the Community Clean!
- StartupNation forums should be used as a platform to learn, educate others, share stories, tips & tricks and to provide constructive feedback.
- Please do not use the Forums for advertising & blatant self-promotion.
- Please be respectful to other members and refrain from personal attacks and vulgar language.
- StartupNation reserves the right to delete any message, reply, and/or member who violates our terms of use.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
DC
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennesee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
DC
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennesee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Advertisement
Contact Us
Privacy
Terms of Use
Become a Marketplace Provider
Advertise
Local Guides
Site Map
Home Business
Start a Business
Copyright © 2013 StartupNation.