This post was originally published on 31 March 2012 but got “lost” while this domain was being transferred to a different hosting provider.
Photo by David Ball – source Wikipedia Creative Commons
All the self-help experts tell us to “follow our passion”. Before starting an Internet Marketing business we should research niches and find one that has customers who need what we can provide. The solutions to their problems can be our own products or services or those from others that we can sell. There needs to be a fit between the customers problems, our solutions, our skills and our interests before we can build up that passion that is so necessary to carry us through the rough patches.
It definitely is one of the most important considerations when deciding to go it alone as an entrepreneur. Without a burning passion for what we are doing, we can easily stumble at the first hurdle. Unless we have that consuming desire to succeed on our chosen path we can easily abandon our goals when the going gets tough, when the bills mount up and friends and family tell us we are mad.
Finding that fit, where those four criteria intersect is a huge problem. Most people can find two, some three, but very few get all four right the first time around.
I listened to one person who did on a radio interview last Friday, it was exciting to hear Shane Adams relate how he knew from the age of four that he wanted to be a Medieval Knight and make a living from one of the most dangerous extreme sports, jousting. Not show jousting with lightweight armour and lances, but the real thing with 140lb suits of metal armour, and equipment closely patterned on that of the 16th century.
In the interview, Shane explained how he did other things, mostly involving horses until his 20’s but he never lost sight of his dream. By keeping that dream alive and looking for opportunities, he eventually found a way to align all four components of a business based on passion.
- Customers with needs – people looking for unusual entertainment involving serious risk to the competitors.
- Product – an exciting and dangerous extreme sport ideally suited for outdoor fairs and shows.
- Skill – he was a multiple World Jousting Champion and an experienced horseman.
- Passion – he had been passionate about it all his life.
Really good to hear a man speaking so passionately about his life, his horses and his business.
To find out more about Shane Adams and Full Metal Jousting, go to his website Knights of Valour.
Wishing you success in all your endeavours.
p.s. If you find it difficult to be passionate about building your Internet business because everything takes so long, how would you feel about spending just 35 minutes a day to develop a business you could get passionate about?
The 10K Challenge can show you how. (affiliate link)
Your server struggle reminds me of what I went through in the process of doing the exact same thing with my Pain Kickers site recently. Articles I was writing for knee pain treatment were no where to be found. While this certainly is not as dangerous as jousting the end result remains the same. If you are passionate about something it will show in the way that you handle those frustrating moments that will arise.