I've been a full-time business owner now for almost ten years. One things that I found over the past nine and half years is that if you are not doing a business that you love, you will not be successful at it. Let me repeat that. If you are not doing a business that you love you will not be successful at it. When people come to me about starting their own business I always ask them what kind of business will they be starting and why did that choose that business. 95% of the time they tell me that they need to make some money and that they feel that this business would help them make that money that they need. Money should not be your main reason for starting a business. The reason I decided to start my business is because I wanted to be free to move around. Does that statement sound familiar? Well it should because it is from a commercial that I've heard or seen, but I don't remember which one. Anyway I started my business because I needed that freedom and I am glad that the money came with it. But let me just say this it didn't happen all at once. It took a long time for me to stop chasing the money and figure out what I really wanted to do. The funny thing here is that I was doing what I loved to do all along and did not even know it or I did not recognize it as a business.I love being an entrepreneur and I love talking about business and marketing and all that stuff. Once I realized that I could turn this into a business, I had to then figure out how to do it. So I decided to host a radio show which I loved, but the producer would not let me expand the way that I know I could have, so I resigned. Then I went on to host a television show spotlighting women in business and this was good, but I wasn't making any money. I also published a magazine spotlighting women in business, but this is a very expensive venture. I loved all of these things, but I had to figure out a way to do them all with a clear goal in mind which became to get noticed and perfect my craft instead of making money being my main goal and that's when things started to turn around.The Internet has made all of these things possible and really inexpensive to produce. Now I can be an Internet TV show host a radio show host and a publisher and still reach my goals of perfecting my craft and getting noticed.So if you are thinking about starting business make sure that you have a crystal clear goal in mind pick a business that you are passionate about, create an action plan and take action.Until Next TimeMuch SuccessAudreyAudrey Bell-Kearney is the author of The Sister Inc Blueprint For Starting And Running A Successful Business. She can be reached at Audrey@sisterinc.com
Right on! This is great! I just wrote an article (posted here) that speaks to passion but with a twist! The only thing I disagree with is that some people are passionate about making money, that is their passion! It and it's ok. Those are what I call entrepreneurs! If your goal is to be self-employed then yes passion probably should be first. So I offer that you do exactly what you said, "be crystal clear" on your goal. Know the difference between simply being a self-employed and being an entrepreneur.
Hi Deirdre. Thanks for commenting on the article. Yes that is so true. I can't tell you how many times I jumped into a business because everyone said that they were making so much money and I could too, only to find that I hated the business. This is my 10 year anniversary of being a full-time business owner and I am so glad that I am doing what I love.
Audrey, you wrote this blog a year ago and it's still right on time! So many people chose a business because they want to make the fast money and when that money doesn't come right away, they decide to quit. You truly have to get into a business you are passionate about and have some goals so when the times get rough, you won't have that desire to quit. I got into the travel industry because of my love for traveling and to take advantage of some of the discounts and perks. Travel agents have access to so many different benefits besides being able to make some great money. My desire is to one day quit my job and travel the world. For this reason, I will work this business until I reach my goal and beyond!
WOW.....I was lead to ths site while I was supposed to be sorting papers - LOL!! God is at work again and led me to exactly what I needed to read TONIGHT. Thanks for being!!!
Hey Audrey :
Much love , I really was inspired by this article and yes you are so right, I know we do need to have a mind set goal and love what we do best I will admit it's not easy sometimes for me but I will try to let the money come when I stop worrying about my business I really love what I do so I just have to learn to relax and let go and really let God . Thanks again for this article .
This is a great post, which is why I have decided to feature it on 'The Business', a digital magazine featuring the best Small Business discussions and material on the BBWO Network. This is a new feature, so it is still being customized and I would love your feedback. Feel free to add comments on 'The Business' page. I've been wanting to set this up for a while now, especially after reading the responses I got from my post 'Putting the Business Back in BBWO.' As our community gets bigger, it is becoming a SPAM magnet, and I want to ensure that does not happen. We are experts in our own right with tons of info and experiences to share, which is what I want BBWO to continue to be about. If you feel as I do, great! Continue writing these wonderful posts and I will do all that I can to promote you and your business.
Quick tip: If you haven't already done so, feel free to include your web banner or business details at the bottom of this post. I hope that with the new Magazine page, more traffic will be directed to your way!
I agree! I was actually working at what I love and are passionate about for the past 5 years and more (customer service) and didn't realize it at the time what my niche was. Only when I became fed up with being stuck at a desk all day and couldn't be as creative as I'd like to, and became fed up with micro management did I realize what God kept telling me all along. I was so hard headed up until the AHA moment! LOL
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Thanks
Audrey
http://www.sisterinc.com
Audrey
http://www.Sisterinc.com
Much love , I really was inspired by this article and yes you are so right, I know we do need to have a mind set goal and love what we do best I will admit it's not easy sometimes for me but I will try to let the money come when I stop worrying about my business I really love what I do so I just have to learn to relax and let go and really let God . Thanks again for this article .
Audrey
http://www.sisterinc.com
Quick tip: If you haven't already done so, feel free to include your web banner or business details at the bottom of this post. I hope that with the new Magazine page, more traffic will be directed to your way!
Take Care,
LaShanda
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