I recently wrote a blog about Purpose, Passion and Voice that raised an interesting question. This video will explain further:
Have many passions, live life passionately, but build a career, a business around a focused passion or an umbrella that will encompass those passions. Also, remember my earlier post about FOCUS. Once you take one passion, monetize it, and develop it to make money with little effort on your part, absolutely add the next passion to do the same!
Lastly, remember that some passions are just meant to be personal. Sometimes it’s just that you LOVE living life- I do! See, I love to exercise. I’ve even had people tell me I’d make a GREAT trainer (well I am a coach right?!), but working out is something I do for me.
How do you separate your personal and professional passions? Are you loving life and creating passion in your business? Are you creating a brand that allows you to bring different passions to life under the brand?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
I have many interests and an insatiable need to know MORE about anything that intrigues me. That’s why I love your post! Especially this part,”Once you take one passion, monetize it, and develop it to make money with little effort on your part, absolutely add the next passion to do the same!”
That little gem is crucial for those of us with multiple passions, who hate to be hemmed in or limited, but want to grow our businesses.
Thank you Ann!
Yes – I think I was the one that said I have many passions and I do. BUT – I am passionate about growing this business and finding lots of new families to host AuPairs – more so than I've ever been – because I am now learning how to combine that passion with my other passion (social media) and my NEW passion – blogging – to help me grow the business. I actually 'sold' our program to a new host family the other day by selling the fact she would get me as her year long support whilst the AuPair was here and I did that by showing her my vlog about what I do. I am very focused on that passion right now.
The thing I love about all the training I've received from you Ann is that I get to talk about all my other passions (family, travel, skiing, working out etc etc) as PART of this marketing process – what a great combination!!!!
This post has given me a lot to think about. I've been too scattered in much of my life, and currently I'm struggling with really finding my brand (which has been shifting a bit in the year of working with it) and sustaining my focus. I think the timing of my finding your Blogger Monday site and finding you in general is exactly right–I think I'm more ready to be focused and forge ahead! Thank you, Ann!
I was always passionate about my career working with disabled children. As I lost my passion for it I new I needed to find a new passion. I love publishing but more than that I am passionate about teaching others about publishing through blogging. I believe you must be passionate about your business to be successful.
I have many passions that I would never want to monetize. I love to play racquetball but I would hate it if I had to monetize it. And just because I love it does not mean I am good at it.
As always, Ann, your blogs get me to think in ways I might not have otherwise. I share many of the same personal passions you mentioned — I love gardening, I love cooking (when I have time to do it as I love, which seems rare!), I love exercise (if I ever get away from it, I become unfocused and irritable!), I love to read and I love to write. Working in the auto repair business was never a passion I had, but because I am passionate about my husband and his success and fulfillment, I have made our business my passion too. Where I believe my personal passions come into play under the business passion is when I am able to enjoy those personal passions, I am refreshed and re-energized and able to bring that energy and creativity to what I am doing for the business (marketing, PR, customer relations, whatever else I am asked to do!). As the years go by and the business grows and becomes more successful, I am seeing more time to enjoy my personal passions, as you state is the goal! Still not enough time though, but it is going in the right direction! I would love to get to the place where one of my personal passions (my preference would be my writing) would develop into a passion that would also be a source of income!
Personally I don't agree with those that advocate that you should find a passion and build a business around it. Not all passions are business worthy. I agree with your point though about being passionate about your business. Two different things in my book. Being passionate about doing what you are doing simply because you are the kind of person that shows up and gives all you can to what you do is more attainable for the majority of people than building a business around a passion, I think. Seth Godin identifies this type of person as a linchpin. And exercising that passion muscle (no smirks, please) will lead you to find new passions you didn't even know you had.
Ann – you always make me think and I your insights trigger some self reflection. I love that you bring to light the fact that it's okay to be passionate about A LOT of different things … and that some passions are personal – not business. I feel very lucky to be in a wild and steamy love affair with what I do… but you're right. I share my other passions, but not as my business… as me. They help define who I am and how I live my life.
Jennifer Bourn, Bourn Creative, LLC
Build Your Brand. Market Your Business. Accelerate Your Online Success.
Ann, I love your posts! Your energy & lust for life are contagious, and for that, I thank you!
I was always passionate about my work life when I was in the corporate world, as an executive recruiter. I think that work played to many of my innate talents; research, communication, understanding people (people person! ha), and writing. As life circumstances have changed, I am trying to pursue my true passion, writing, and it's an entirely different ball-game.
I'm still a newbie in this world, and need more focus, but I'm happy & comfortable playing with words all day. Now, if I could just figure out how to better monetize the writing, so that I can pursue the other great passions in my life: skiing, tennis & my dogs!
Ann, thank you. You talk allowed me to put the final piece, I hope, into an ongoing discussion about how to present the two sides of my business. Listening, I realized my passion is for being a connector. i connect people with ideas, resources and people which help 'get best results for nonprofits' and for-profits to 'get new results for old businesses and businesses for new ideas.'
Thanks for the catalyst and all you do.
Love the passion in your voice when you talk about passion Ann. A marvelous clarification between passion for what you do as a business and passion for how you live your life. I dont think one needs to separate passion, one just needs to funnel the work passion so it focus on the goal, while passion in living is part of the tapestry and balance in your life.
Once again, I am intrigued.
Jen Duchene
The Home Makeover Mixtress blending cool & cozy style
Great ideas to generate clients and create connections,
Jen Duchene
The Home Makeover Mixtress blending cool & cozy style
http://home-decorating-makeovers.com/
Great thoughts on passion Ann. I love the idea of an umbrella large enough so that many passions can co-exist in support of each other – wow! Powerful.
Ann the more I hear you talk about helping people find their passions the more I realize that I really need to find mine.
It was amazing watching the video- when you started talking about your personal passions, you eyes lit up, you got a smile on your face and joy just seemed to be in your words. You obviously have a passion for these things.
I think for people struggling to be passionate about their business, that if they can't find it with what they are doing right then, that they focus on what they are passionate about personally to bring and/or keep passion in their life. Eventually, they will reach a point where that can spill over into other areas of their life where it was not so easy. Passion is a good thing! Thanks for a good post!
Candace C. Davenport
http://www.OurLittleBooks.com ~ Little Books with a Big Message
Great post Ann! Your passion for life is contagious. There's some great food for thought in your message. Like you, I have a lot of passions. But certainly not all of our passions are meant to be monetized into a business. Darn it! ha! Like everything else in life, it's all about balance – finding meaningful work that brings us joy and fulfillment and pays the bills! Thanks for sharing your personal interests. It's great to discover that we have a lot in common!
If it is a business/professional passion then you need to do it in a business framework, ie. business plan & P/L. If it is personal passion, then you just do it 🙂
Good video, I like the captions.
Wish I woulda watched this on my birthday. Great post! Conversation topic when I get out to SFO.
Thanks Ross! I will look forward to that. You know, #ungeeked take volunteers. Maybe you should shoot for SF! I think the price point says a TON about WHO that retreat attracts…
Ann, I like how you positioned the 2 types of passion, the one you need to stay focused on for your business … and the supporting passions that give you the energy to continue your focus. Many people I think are confused about this so hope I’m able to share as the need arises.