The Passion Perspective
Tags: Business, Career, Passion, Self Employment, Work at Home
Posted in Business Information 
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By Jim Mandeville
Why are you really interested in starting your own business or buying a home based franchise? Is it simply to make money, be your own boss, and control your own destiny? Surely these are pretty important factors, but you should think about it a bit deeper.
I know several franchise owners who after just a few years have no passion at all for their business. These are business owners who are doing well financially but here is where it gets interesting. They dislike their customers, their company, their duties, their products or services, and their entire industry in some cases! Their own business has become unfulfilling, boring, and stale. They ventured into their own business for most of the right reasons but I know that none of them looked at things from this angle, something I call the passion perspective:
Can you picture yourself in the business, with the same enthusiasm levels as in the beginning in 5, 10, or even 20 years?
Do you have a real interest in the business or the specific industry?
Will you have a passion for serving your customers, providing true value over the long term?
Will you be personally and professionally fulfilled by your business? – Not by making money in the business but by the business itself.
These are important questions to ask yourself as you look into buying a franchise, business opportunity, or starting your own business. Take it from those of us who’ve been there, in jobs without this passion. Nothing beats having a passion for your business and work. Before you make any commitments to a business, please look at it from the passion perspective.
Jim Mandeville – Bio
After serving two tours of duty in the US Air Force, Jim worked his way up the corporate ladder. Eventually becoming a Director for a Fortune 100 company in the Northeast, Jim was left largely unfulfilled. Fortunately as the recession intensified, Jim was let go from his corporate job.
Sensing a golden opportunity, Jim and his wife sold off everything and relocated to Charlotte North Carolina for a new start. Jim bought an outdoor advertising franchise and got right to work. As the recession continued, Jim saw a need in the marketplace and acted quickly to capitalize. Jim is now the majority partner in B2B Guidebook, a direct mail and internet based marketing program for small businesses. The business was successful far quicker than anyone expected, and Jim and his partners have decided to offer the opportunity as a franchise.
Jim lives in Charlotte North Carolina with his wife and two small children. He enjoys family time, reading, being outdoors, entrepreneurism, and Carolina Panthers football.
2 Responses to “The Passion Perspective”
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January 28th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Great points Jim!
In the past when I was in a job that I disliked, I tried to fix the problem by applying for other jobs as fast as I could, without really giving the new position I was applying for much thought. I then would be in a new job that would be okay for a while and then I would be in the same position again of feeling uninspired. Until you do the hard work of soul searching and finding what your true passion is, you’ll continue to end up in uninspiring positions.
Joining a creative type group or local business group can do a ton to get those creative juices flowing.
January 28th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Holly, you hit on a good point about identifying your passions. What’s really surprising is how many people have never really thought about it and have no idea what they are passionate about.
Life moves fast and we push that stuff aside to focus on things that need our immediate attention. I have been guilty of that in the past. It is absolutely a thrilling moment when you discover that you can be excited about your work AND make a living doing it!
Trish
http://www.yourhomebusinessroadmap.com
.-= Trish´s last blog ..The Last Google Adwords Tool You’ll Ever Need =-.