10 Successful Entrepreneurs Share How Passion Helped Grow Their Businesses

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Ideally, since 80 percent of your life is spent working, you should start your business around something that is a passion of yours. If you're into kite-surfing and you want to become an entrepreneur, do it with kite-surfing.

Look, if you can indulge in your passion, life will be far more interesting than if you're just working. You'll work harder at it, and you'll know more about it. But first you must go out and educate yourself on whatever it is that you've decided to do – know more about kite-surfing than anyone else. That's where the work comes in. But if you're doing things you're passionate about, that will come naturally. — Richard Branson (Source)

I think about some of my business ventures that flopped from time to time. Off the top of my head, these gems come to mind:

• Creating Multimedia Wedding Favors
• Web Design for small businesses
• Men's Interest Blog

When I think about why these ventures didn't work, a common theme is present: lack of passion. I sought an opportunity but didn't slow down to determine how much a role passion should play. As a result, my lack of interest hindered the businesses profitability and my initial excitement soon faded away.

Since the majority of G&T is based around learning from those who've built successful businesses, I wanted to get some entrepreneurs' thoughts on passion and business. So I asked 10 successful entrepreneurs from very different industries to share how passion has helped them grow their businesses. Here's what they had to say:

Tina Wells — Buzz Marketing Group

I started my business almost 15 years ago based on my passion for trends and pop culture. Three years ago, I sold my book series, Mackenzie Blue, to HarperCollins Childrens Books. I was passionate about tween girls and creating good, clean content for them. I'm now four books into the series and loving it! Money has nothing to do with why I do what I do. I'm completely motivated by my passion for pop culture and good stories.

Red Boswell — Pet Butler

Passion has been critical to the growth of all the various businesses I've launched. It can come in many forms. Take Pet Butler for instance: I definitely didn't have a passion for dog poop! I just wanted to be free – to have choices that only money could provide. Later when we began franchising Pet Butler my passion had shifted to helping others. I've always loved helping others achieve their goals and dreams. The Pet Butler opportunity allowed me to fulfill that passion. Now, with the launch of Lawn Army, Republic Helpdesk, Patriot Land Services, BecomingMore.tv and others that passion has continued to grow and blossom. It's really cool how the farther you go, the farther you can go – success truly does breed success (in yourself and others!).

Mindee Doney & Julie Pickens — Boogie Wipes

Not every business decision is black and white. Those who excel as entrepreneurs know how to maneuver the gray areas with the instinct and passion necessary to separate themselves from the crowd. There are many books, blogs and seminars on "how to" succeed in business but its really the "why" you do what you do that fuels the most growth. When you truly care and consider what your business is all about, who it impacts and what its potential is you see beyond the dollars and scents of it all. Finding that deep seated passion becomes more and more difficult as your business grows and outside influences begin to weigh in. At the end of the day many companies don't finish the race because they can't hold onto the passion they started it with. Working hard to stay true to it is always worthwhile.

Angel Laws — Concrete Loop & Angel On Fire

Passion is the one of the most important driving forces when growing and running a business. If you innately feel connected to something, you are more likely to cultivate it and put energy into it.

I've done this exact thing with my two blogs, CONCRETELOOP.COM & ANGELONFIRE.COM. I love what I do and it shows. However, we all have off days (or even weeks!) If you feel boggled down or stuck on a redundant rollercoaster than that will show too. The trick is to find creative ways to keep what you are doing interesting. That's what I try to do and it seems to be working.

Danny Wong — Blank Label

Having that drive everyday to do something really amazing is what passion means to me and that's how it's helped me to grow my business. When I'm excited about something, I do everything and anything within my power to do something amazing with it. I spend more hours of the day thinking and executing on strategies to grow my business because I'm excited to be doing those things rather than wasting my day with the other silly things life has to offer.

Jenny Ford — Monkey-Toes

Passion helps you to get things done. I don’t know, is “passion” the fire in your belly keeps you up at night wanting to work because it’s all you can think about? (Those of you out there with a new business, you know what I’m talking about). Passion will drive you to succeed even when the odds are completely stacked against you. But I also believe there are other components too – a strong work ethic, knowledge seeking, and perseverance (oh and maybe a little competitiveness). I also believe you can interchange “passion” with “faith” – keeping the faith that good things will come your way keeps you on your path.

Passion/faith has helped me in ways I could never imagine, it kept me going when times were really tough. Constantly keeping my eye on the big picture and the dream that I had envisioned all along for this company. People have thought I was insane to go through what I did, and you can’t explain why you do it – it’s all about the passion.

Ben Weissenstein — Grand Slam Garage Sales

Passion is what drives me to grow my business. In my opinion, if you don't have passion, you have no chance at success. I'm extremely passionate about helping people with garage sales and more so about creating an entire garage sale industry. This is what gets me up every day. I feel a fire in my belly to grow and do huge things with my business. Because of this, I'm constantly working to move forward and I'm extremely driven and motivated. To be a very successful entrepreneur and start anything and make it something huge…you have to be very passionate about what you're doing!

Pat Flynn — Smart Passive Income

I can remember several times during my online business journey when I wanted to give up – when traffic was abysmal, when there were no sales, and when it all just seemed like a lost cause. It was my passion that kept me going, and without it I would not be where I am today.

Passion fuels the fire, and keeps it from going out.

Elena Verlee — PR In Your Pajamas

Passion! How can we live without it??? Passion has helped me grow my business because I get up excited every day. I have to make a conscious effort at the end of the day to wind down because I am so excited about what I am doing and who I am helping. I've been told that others can feel my passion in everything I do, whether it's my writing, participating in my training or meeting me in person. A reporter recently told me "you must drop ideas while you walk!" – when you love what you do, creativity is high.

I also think it helps attract my IDEAL clients – the ones who are just as excited to work with me, the ones who are just as passionate about what they do. How can we not create magic together?

And finally, having passion helps you overcome mistakes and perceived failures. When you believe in your vision, any obstacle you encounter is simply a small bump in the road, rather than an insurmountable mountain that takes a lot of effort to climb.

Willie Jackson — Jackson Web Consulting, LLC

Passion helps push me through the times when business isn't fun. It helps me determine what to work on and what to outsource. It helps me remember why I dust myself off with every set back and mistake. And passion helps me spread the infectious, liberating freedom that comes with making steps toward work that matters.

Here's a bonus thought from Shama Kabani!

Shama Kabani – Shama.tv 

I think passion is VERY important. But, it is also overrated. You need to like what you are doing, but patience, determination and discipline are also required. In business, I think passion is what keeps you going on the good days, and persistence is what keeps you going every other day! = )

What are your thoughts on passion and business? Is it important to you? Have any successes or failures related to passion and business? Let's talk about it in the comment section.

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• www.prinyourpajamas.com Elena Verlee

  Thanks for the opportunity to talk about one of my favorite subjects Torrey!  All the best.

• grindandthrive.com Torrey

  Thanks Elena for sharing!

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• www.sugarloco.com Tracy @ Sugar Loco

  Love all the inspiration flowing here, some incredible business minds!  I consider myself very lucky to be personally motivated by Jenny Ford's passion both as a business partner AND a friend.  Keep it coming Torrey!

• grindandthrive.com Torrey

  Thanks Tracy! Appreciate the kind words and Jenny is tha bomb! Boom

• Michele

  This article introduced me to Pat Flynn, who introduced me to the world of Internet Marketing.  Before this article, I had no idea what internet marketing was… I attended my first online marketing event in August here in Atlanta, and was able to set up my website, define my niche, and become clear on what I want to do with that website.  I don’t know what role affiliate marketing is going to play in my site, or if I even plan to generate money from it. But thanks to this article, I now know about the huge world of Internet Marketing and the money that can be made online……and it all started with this article.

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