The Passion of Business

Passion.  This word has become almost trite nowadays. “I’m passionate about helping people,” “I’m passionate about global warming,” “I’m passionate about tiny dogs with pretty ribbons in their hair.” Whatever drives you, passion surely comes into it.  Otherwise you wouldn’t be where you are now. The problem is however, the longer we are in business, the harder it seems to feel and radiate passion, about the same old same old.

All leaders throughout history were passionate about their ‘business’, whether it was a Roman building  an Empire, an Austrian born megalomaniac building  a brutal dictatorship or an orphaned immigrant building an electronic bridge to connect the world and business in a way never previously conceived. All three adopted the standard business principles we all use today: Vision, Planning and Execution. However, regardless of their model of business or ideologies, all three reached heights few will ever reach. why? Passion!
Passion.  This word has become almost trite nowadays. “I’m passionate about helping people,” “I’m passionate about global warming,”  “I’m passionate about tiny dogs with pretty ribbons  in their hair.” Whatever drives you, passion surely comes into  it.  Otherwise you wouldn’t be where you are now.  The problem is however, the longer we are in business, the harder it seems to feel and radiate passion, about the same old same old.

Let’s start with a famous quote “There is no try, only do”. Most Hollywood sci-fi movies never contain hidden nuggets of inspirational wisdom, yet Yoda, in Return of the Jedi, nailed it on the head. Luke Skywalker couldn’t lift his marooned spacecraft from the bog because he wasn’t passionate enough. He was trying to ‘technically’ do it. Like millions of talented singers who sing melodies based on mathematics, rather than unashamedly baring their souls without the fear of consequence or judgement, transforming a simple microphone into a needle thereby injecting every listener with an invisible dose of passion they’ll crave for the rest of their lives. Observe the most successful business people you know, what is the common characteristic in each of them? Successful people are passionate about what they do. Without passion for what one is doing, you may as well stay in a job you don’t like.  After all, as they say, one person with passion is better than forty people merely interested.

Passion is belief. Pure and simple. You cannot be passionate about something you don’t believe in. You can care, and care a lot. But in business, is caring enough? Business ownership grants us a new freedom which cannot be obtained as an employee. A freedom to choose what we want to do, where and when we want to do it, and to work with the people we want to work with. It provides us with the opportunity to raise the bar in our income level and to raise the expectations of ourselves and to build our own dreams, rather than an employer’s.
A colleague from Finland once told me that when he was recruiting staff, he struggled to find employees who were as passionate about his company as he was.  He told me, “You’ll never find a person more passionate than the owner of a company or of an idea”? It’s their baby, it’s their life-force. Their reason for being. Like every proud parent they want to nurture their baby until they crawl, walk, talk, run and are loved and admired by all who meet them. If you are extremely fortunate and find someone like you. But regardless of how much you nurture them, they’ll eventually sprout wings and leave the nest when they conceptualize their own baby…wouldn’t you?

Think back to time when a new concept or product was being discussed.  Do you remember how passionate YOU were? How you could overcome any objections with such energy, conviction and passion? Most likely, your colleagues and team felt it too.  Passion is contagious and helps ignite innovation and creativity. Maintaining such passion and commitment is arguably, key to continued success.
Almost all businesses are likely to ave the same percentage ratios when it comes to success. My business is primarily music. Upon signing my first recording and publishing contract(s) in Los Angeles in 2002 (no mean feat for a then 30-year-old unsigned lad from Scotland), my publisher wrote on her blackboard two words: Music and Business.  Under Music she penned 10%. I was astounded. Impossible, I thought. Shocked, I asked why? She replied “98% of singers or bands never get signed. Of the 2% who do get signed, 95% fail after the release of their first album. And from that 5%, only 2% are ever likely to see profit”.
If we analyse this in other business sectors it is most likely the same. Naturally, I asked her why on earth she was signing me?  I’m not the best singer in the world. I’m no Brad Pitt and at the time I was 30 years old – fighting for the same dollar as those around me in a primarily, youth driven business. She replied “Passion. This is not a business to you. You never talk shop. This is your life. You’ll never give up until you reach that 2%”. From this I suddenly understood: passion is intangible. Passion is something money can’t  buy. Passion radiates. Passion inspires. Passion is what makes people follow you, whatever your business may be.

The important thing to remember here, is that one cannot train someone to be passionate.  It’s either in their DNA or it’s not.  As Sir Richard Branson once said, “I have tried and failed on more  than one occasion (to instil passion) and it  cannot be done.  Don’t waste your time and  energy trying to light  a fire under flame-resistant people”.  And in my humble opinion, he’s right.  If that basic, smouldering fire is not ingrained then no amount of stoking will ever ignite it.

From my own perspective, the ‘Skill v Will’ style of leadership management has proven to be the most effective. My goal as a manager is to gradually increase the competence and confidence of my team, so that my management and coaching style can become less time-consuming and more support and delegation, all the while still yielding highquality results.  And as solid a theory as this is, it still brings us back to passion. You can hire the best ‘on-paper’ candidate,  with the highest grades and the most experience. Someone who ticks all the criteria boxes.  But if he/she doesn’t have the will or the ‘passion’, to push themselves that extra mile, to be passionate about what they sell or do, then I am of the opinion they will only progress so far.

The person who perhaps isn’t as well qualified however, may have just the passion and drive you  or your company is looking for. The type of salesperson who could sell snow to an Eskimo. Your business is an extension of who you are, how you come across and what drives you. If your light is on the low setting of a dimmer switch, business will suffer. Maintaining passion is key to continued success and ultimately, one’s enjoyment of what they do. Passion fuels confidence. Passion creates excitement. Passion is contagious. Passion means different things to different people,  and in regard to achieving success, it is far from  the whole story. However, for any of us, passion begins with appreciating what we have in life.  How does one then channel that passion into  all aspects of ones’ life? To summarise, if you wish to inspire your employees to be more passionate, perhaps you may consider affording them more autonomy.

Passion fuels confidence.

1. A person with passion typically exudes confidence.  Not only showing the way, but helping create value for themselves and others. Professionals who are confident are great leaders, earn the respect and confidence of others.
   Passion creates excitement
2. Excitement is something that can be shared and creates organized value. Professionals who are excited about projects or what they do, breed enthusiasm into their teams and with others. This ultimately, contributes to their continued success.
   Passion is contagious
3. When you’re passionate, you make those around you feel excited — and everyone wins. A person who exudes passion, helps create a solid group dynamic, maximising the team energy and are often viewed as inspirational or great mentors.

Passion means different things to different people, and in regard to achieving success, it is far from the whole story. 4. However, for any of us, passion begins with appreciating what we have in life. How does one then channel that passion into all aspects of ones’ life? Take a moment for yourself.  Look in the mirror.  Sit quietly with a coffee and ask yourself honestly “How passionate am I in what I do”.  Are you a sheep following a shepherd in relative comfort? Are you always looking over my shoulder at the younger, stronger lamb coming through the ranks, or are you a 2%’er, who will leap over the fence in broad daylight and embark on your dream. Fuelled by passion, enjoying the rollercoaster life in business others may only dream off.