The building blocks of entrepreneurship: Passion

Passion is something that is often described as characteristic of successful entrepreneurs, but I prefer to think of this as excitement.

The opportunities and challenges of business excite me. I crave the process of developing the growth plan and working out the numbers. I relish analyzing business models, marketing, and especially systems, as well as all the highs and lows that go with being a business owner. I may be an adrenaline junkie, but it’s the reason I get up every day and the reason I’m successful.

From start-up to major periods of growth, I embrace every stage in the journey. I savour the time taken to learn new things and also the time taken to look back and evaluate what could have been done differently and better.

In my organization, team development and growth is also essential. I get the biggest buzz when I see my team develop their skills and finally, as a group, become a force to be reckoned with. Whenever I have been recognized with accolades as the face of the business, I have always acknowledged that the rewards are only possible due to team effort. We all worked hard to get there together and it seemed a little unfair that only one person received the credit when so many worked hard and contributed. Having an idea is easy; gathering the people you need to make it a reality is the hardest part.

Now I’m not saying I would love every business. There is no doubt in my mind that there are certain businesses I would not enjoy, but so far I have enjoyed retail, pharmacy, franchising, primary and secondary health services, aesthetics, shop-fitting and wholesale B2B. I doubt I would enjoy being involved in a car business or a fast food organization.

But each to their own. What’s certain is that without genuine excitement for your product or service, and the steps you need to take to realize your goals, you’ll find it hard to succeed as an entrepreneur.

What excites you?