On a Wing and a Prayer . . . When I began my first business venture back in 1994, it was on a wing and a prayer in many ways. I had a planned start up but six months prior to that, I went head to head with my boss over, of all things, vacation. I had planned one and requested the time; she said I didn’t have the time available. I took my vacation and returned to no job but a vacation paycheck (I was right but unemployed!) I swung into action and moved rapidly to put my launch into place including picking up a job working nights and weekends to make ends meet since I had no clients for the first 90 days.
Passion Yields Profits . . . This was well before today’s availability of a coach on every corner to expedite your progress and hold you accountable. Instead I had no mentors and felt my way forward with total passion for my talent, my industry, and my clients. I treated clients how I would want to be treated and went from being buried in debt (think $70K) to debt free and making a comfortable six figures in just 36 months. Was it easy? Heck no, I worked 15 hour days often six days a week, and I was on fire with excitement and enthusiasm. I innovated when I needed to, I created as was necessary. Nothing could stop me.
Attitude Governs Altitude . . . There is an old cliché that I hope you’ll forgive me for using, but it really is a truism “attitude, not aptitude, governs altitude.” When you are in love with your business, you are fired up over it, and you are determined to succeed, nothing and no one can stand in your way. The money does follow and flow. Will it be fast? Not necessarily, but it is certain. You have to be willing to do whatever it takes and this may take you beyond what you thought was just your best to get where you want to go. Get there you will.
It Isn’t About How Talented You Are, It’s About How Many Know About You . . . It isn’t talent that matters as much as heart and marketing. Want an example, think about Andy Warhol, he was not a great talent, nor even particularly original. Warhol was a maverick marketer and had unbridled passion for his craft. There are examples in industry after industry of those who rose to the top on heart and marketing while their peers who may have had more talent or better techniques toiled in relative obscurity.
Proving Your Worth Sets You Up for Success . . . It is a well known fact that all too often the A-students in college wind up working for the C-students later in life. The A students often had it easy with getting good grades, while the C-students had to work much harder. That dedication and focus they honed, those challenges and hurdles they overcame forced them to be more creative, more inventive, more solution oriented, and generally better business people. I’m not suggesting that if you are an A-player you won’t succeed; I am saying that you need the heart, passion, and fire in your belly coupled with your talent.
It’s Not About How Hot Your Ideas Are But How Much Fire There is in Your Actions . . . This world is littered with talented souls who never made much of a difference in their lives or the lives of those around them because they never got fired up about anything. They never focused their attentions on one talent, one topic, one industry. Others like Sir Richard Branson make a huge difference in the lives of many regularly because he takes his focus and passion for each idea then he hands it to the best people to bring it to reality and moves to the next idea. He is fired up about each idea completely and carries it out with a team. Whether you have a team or fly solo your passion is essential to how high you will fly. When you harness your passion you’ll unleash the real you and find yourself unstoppable.
Your comments are welcome always! Are you getting where you want to go with passion and profit, or limping along with too much talent and not enough fire?
This is my lighthouse:) There is no finer fun we can have on earth than to serve others by doing what we love and do best.
Let the bells peal and the chorus rise to a crescendo…live only your passion and craft it to enable others to do the same.
Thankyou Melissa. For you.
Jenni P
Jenni,
Thanks! Overdue on an email reply . . . so much always to share and give.
Hugs, Melissa
This article is EXACTLY what I needed to read today – it goes straight from you heart to mine 🙂
Thank you for being REAL Melissa.
Elaine
Elaine,
What an affirming treat to get this lovely bit from you. Thank you always for sharing right back again.
Hugs, Melissa
i felt your words resonate so clearly – I have been in many similar places to you too – the good and the bad- and I am now working my way back to creating through my passion. Thank you for this. I’m so glad to have people like you and JenniP around to give me the nudge I needed to remind me that I can do anything if my heart is in it!
Rebecca,
Always glad to be a reminder. Sometimes it isn’t what we hear but when we hear it that makes it matter the most.
Hugs, Melissa
Your message was just what I needed to hear this morning. I had been in a slump last week, but am working my way out of it this week. I know that I have a gift to share with others; I just have to keep that fire in my belly lit and fulfill my passion.
Valanda,
It is always tough to keep your own fire burning. Surround yourself with friends who fuel you and clients who ignite your gifts.
Hugs, Melissa
Wow, Melissa!!!!!
Thanks You so much……This was such perfect timing and really encouraged me….I am also sending this to hubby right now this is just what he needed to read…..
Denise,
Delighted to hear you are spreading my words. I am honored always.
Hugs, Melissa
Hi Melissa! I love this article, but I am feeling a little down. i have been working since January to get clients for my decorating/staging business. I have had one sale that had nothing to do with decorating. I designed a brochure. I am feeling lost and a ‘wanna-be’. When I tell people what I do, their eyes glaze over. I even had someone walk away while I was speaking to them!
Now that I have vented and am feeling sorry for myself :), I do talk about my business with passion, but I can’t find the people who are interested. This is new to me and I am trying, but I seem to be making every mistake in the book and I don’t even know it! I am limping along and am losing my fire. What a downer! 🙂
Christina,
I know by now you are back on track and making a beautiful difference by design! Allow yourself the occasional sorry times, then pick yourself up, brush yourself off and keep going.
Hugs, Melissa
Great article Melissa and it really hit home! I even sent it to my youngest son who is a C student in college while many of his friends are A/B students. I knew this could easily help him to apply himself more and not get down on himself nearly as much. And how true it is!
Thanks for the great article!
Nita
Nita,
My pleasure always, I know many former A/B students who now work for C millionaires! It isn’t how good you are, it’s how good you want to be.
Hugs, Melissa
Hi, Melissa
I finally took the time to finish reading this important article.
I am glad I revisited it because it really struck a chord to flame the already present flames of passion. Thank you!
Onward & Upward.
Gracie
Gracie,
Always glad to hear that, sometimes it just takes timing.
Hugs, Melissa
Good afternoon Melissa,
I must admit I’m a combination of moving in a direction (but would rather move in THE direction) fueled by my passion(s) – yet have been “limping” as you phrased it, due to an overabundance of ideas (“talent” – as you phrased that also) and not enough fire to bring it all ablaze!
Thanks for your continued insights and wisdom. I have enjoyed browsing/reading your various posts.
Thanks Brian,
I am a wee bit mortified that I got behind on my replies to comments. My readers are truly the most important people to be. You fuel my fire always and I thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Hugs, Melissa
I do agree, wellwritten, and talented, Melissa!
Thank you for introducing the A-B-C Factors.
Mona, Norway
Thanks Mona,
Always happy to make a difference by educating!
Hugs, Melissa
Wow…as mentioned by previous comments! What you just wrote was exactly what I needed to hear…again. I just opened a business after years of wanting to and people telling me I should. It ‘s been the right time in my life, but some days I wonder what I’m doing!
I love what I do…I am very passionate…Have met amazing people along the journey!
You have just re-ignited my purpose. Thank you
Anita,
Glad to hear it, doing what you love is awesome. Even better when you are supported, as you are, by friends and family.
Never doubt!
Hugs, Melissa
My problem has always been finding something to fire me up. Lots of things fire me up, for a short amount of time. Besides, I actually make good money at my J.O.B. though I almost lost it last year.
And if you lost your JOB, would you find another, or create your own career?
It sounds like you are a classic starter and gifted at that. Look for a finisher, they are the ones with staying power but lack initiative. For every 5 starters on this life, it only takes one finisher to realize the results.
Warmly, Melissa