FC NOW: The Fast Company Weblog
August 12, 2004
On Doing What You Love
There is a commonly held nugget of wisdom that says "Do what you love, and the rest will follow." Frankly, it's always been one of my favourite phrases. In fact, I'd say it comes close to being a mantra for me. Who wants to spend a third of their life or more doing something that they can't even feel a passion for?
While this doesn't refer specifically to entrepreneurship and starting a small business, it's most definitely how I've always taken it. My own business is an extension of one of my interests. I've been lucky (or perhaps stubborn) enough to be able to make a buck at it.
However, there are several business books I've read recently that hasten to warn the budding entrepreneur against doing that very thing. One example that comes to mind immediately:
You Need to Be A Little Crazy by Barry Moltz says it straight out: "Be very careful about starting a business to pursue a hobby you love. Very few people can make a living from a their hobby or a favorite interest. I cringe sometimes when I ask people why they started a particular business and they say, 'Well, I love to eat out, and I always wanted to own a restaurant.' I tell them that they can have a lot of fun keeping their day job and eating at restaurants instead of starting one!"
Sometimes, in this age of information overload, it can seem like we're bombarded with advice - pro and con - about just about everything, but particularly about how to start or run a business (at least, that's how it seems to this entrepreneur!).
My personal advice: listen to all of it, remember some of it, ignore most of it. And go with your gut.
What do you think?
Posted by Angie McKaig at August 12, 2004 8:30 AM | Category: entrepreneurship + small business |
4 Comments
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Angie, I agree that it is important to follow your passions. I have discovered that whenever I am employed in a field that has nothing to do with my passion for animal welfare, I am miserable! My business, Folk Tails, is an extension of that passion and hopefully I will be able to pursue it full time some day soon!
well angie, you're quite right in saying that starting one's own business is never easy. I've been trying to run a passion-related business on a part-time basis and at the same time, holding on to 9-5 job to make ends meet ... i must say it has been tough.
Passion...absolutely. A mentor of mine, Mr Max Markson says, Persistence, Enthusiasm, Focus. It works for me. Max is sure worth looking up sometime..one of the best things I ever did. Warm Regards from Airlie Beach, Whitsundays. Greg Tingle
As a recent college graduate my goal is to start my own business. Problem is I owe on my school loans & life’s other expenses.
That said, I’m going to raise my capitol the old fashioned way...I’m going to earn it!! Specifically, I’ve started a corporate sales job with decent income potential & I’m learning about business.
I picked up a good read recently on the subject called, The Sales Adventure Guide.
www.salesadventureguide.com
It was recommended by my business fraternity members at SJSU. The book outlines how to identify a lucrative sales/marketing/business opportunity, stay employed, earn a ton of money, and negotiate a severance package once it’s time to go and start my own business. (Has any one ever had a college class in severance negotiation??? Seems to me the gray haired folks know ALL about it...but the young guns get left in the dark.)
The key to the business game is getting real world information - early in one's career.
Another book I recommend is:
Corporate Confidential : 50 Secrets Your Company Doesn't Want You to Know
http://www.corporateconfidential.com/sneakpeek/index.php4
This book hits hard but gives a corporate person the keys to staying employed, avoid the corporate merry-go-round and gain the financial resources and business knowledge to get out and make a start-up...really start-up!
Any one have any real world business book recommendations?
See you at the finish line,
Bill Jacobs