Follow Your Passion when Starting a Business

It's 2009 and the fear of the economy never getting back up to par has more and more individuals becoming fearless and taking the leap to start their own business. Some individuals luck out, because they have enough experience and contacts to successfully launch their business, even before they leave their corporate jobs. However other risk takers may not be doing too well. Of course when you just got laid-off and have about $ 5.00 in your bank account, it is easy to go into "survival of the fittest" mode. And start whatever business you think is going to be the most profitable. Before you take the leap of entrepreneurship , you have to make sure your business is something you actually enjoy doing, even if you don't get paid.

Never use money as a primary reason to start a business

Of course money is a great motivator to go into business for yourself. But if money is your only motive, you will fail as soon as you start. When you go into business your primary reason should be to create value to your customers. And improve their quality of life. For example , I started my business Lewis Writing Solutions because I am a natural born writer. I love to write, it is very rare that you will catch me without a moving pen and a notebook. I also love to help people, no matter what the situation maybe. Therefore I combined my two passions : Writing & Helping others into a small business. My business goals are to help small businesses save time and money by using my services. Saving time for busy professionals means that they have more time to spend with their family, and saving them money means that they have more money to spend on things that they really want. If I started a cleaning business, I would have failed. I am not that domestic, I clean because I have to, the sight of a rolled up tissue makes me sick. So I knew cleaning was not the business I should go into. Just because an idea seems lucrative you shouldn't jump on the band-wagon. Just follow your passion.

Don''t Have a passion? Of course you do!

Many people say that they don't have a passion. But they don't realize that they do. For example, I always knew writing was my passion. But I didn't think of turning it into a business until I read " Awaken the Giant Within." By Self-Help Guru : Tony Robbins. And I am paraphrasing here, but I think one of the questions were something like ; " what can you do everyday of your life that you enjoy doing, and it doesn't feel like work? So dig deep! Do you like fixing cars? Become a mechanic. Do you like walking dogs? Become a dog walker. Do you like beautifying your friends? Become a Beautician. Whatever you like doing on a daily basis that gives you sense of belonging and purpose, see how lucrative it can be as your own business.

Ask Your Friends what they think you should do.

Another passion I had and didn't even realize it; My knack for research and finding information. I have always been quick to lend a helping hand when someone says: " I need to know this.... about that." My co-worker was looking for information on how to go about starting a daycare, and sure enough-- Info Nina to the rescue! I found the information that she needed to start her own day care. I mean the classes she needed to take, the licenses she needed to have, etc, etc. She was so impressed that I found the information in a timely fashion, she suggested that I should become an Information Consultant. Low & Behold, I am working on a plan to integrate my writing business with some information consulting. I am looking more towards the line of helping people discover what kind of business they want to start . And then getting them all the necessary information they need in order for their business to become successful.

Create Value and you will prosper.

If you create value and improve the quality of a persons' life , your business is already successful. There are many businesses that start from passion and their success just follows. There are some businesses that started out of necessity and not money. A lot of businesses that I read about were actually about non-toxic cleaning products. One woman noticed that her son was ancy on the days that she cleaned, and realized that her cleaning products was making him sick, so she went out on a mission to find non-toxic products. To her surprise there wasn't a lot on the market, so she developed her own brand. And voila! Her son no longer cries when she cleans. As far as the money goes, eventually cash flow will start coming in, but the more you put into your business the more you will get back. Always think of how you can improve someone's life, and that will be your sure fire to success as an entrepreneur.