In an earlier post I talked about losing your passion, but what about finding your passion in the first place? Finding your passion is different for everyone. Some people know what they were born to do from a very young age. For the rest of us it takes time to really find our true passion. As children we often play “fireman” or “cops and robbers,” and as we grow older some of us stop dreaming. But a few dreamers remain, and thus entrepreneurs are born!
The story doesn’t stop there, though; what about those people who try several “career” paths just to decide they aren’t happy or feel unfulfilled? I know many people who started their adult life as a banker, lawyer or in the nine to five business world, but one day something tugs at the heart strings and another entrepreneur is born. What about those people who know they could do better or feel unappreciated that decide to become their own boss?
But what about the entrepreneur whose true passion was simply a byproduct produced by the business they’ve formed? Let me explain. I started in the technology field many years ago, and I loved working on computers. Solving problems for my clients made me feel amazing. Then I started hiring people to help with the overwhelming response, and I realized I was looking for people who were looking for a mutually helpful relationship.
After twenty years in the technology industry I had a revelation: fixing tech problems was actually a bi-product. My true passion was helping people. I enjoyed helping others be successful. When I started my first business at just twelve years old, (a bicycle repair shop) it was to help the neighborhood kids keep their bicycle going. Did I make money? Of course I did, but I also helped the people I cared about! I used the money I made to help my family pay bills and treat my mom to dinner from time to time. Remember, success is not always about the money you make, it’s about the lives you touch.
Written by: Robert Martin