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how to find that "One Thing You're Passionate About"?

GlassCannon

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I just read a Mark Cuban article posted on another topic (How To Get Rich « blog maverick) and it got me wondering, how do you find that field which you are passionate about and can throw yourself into?

MJ commented on another post I wrote on the subject of passion: "Once you find a passion for something generalized, then you will do *anything* for it; the latest episode of the Celebrity Apprentice, some stupid game on Facebook, or anything else, simply CANNOT compete."

Mark Cuban had a passion for the technology industry which is ripe with opportunity, MJ has a passion now for educating entrepreneurship. What I'm wondering is what to do if you don't have an intrinsically valuable passion (internet marketing, technology) and instead you're passionate about seemingly useless things that NO ONE will ever pay you for?

Or more specifically, are there any tips for 'generalizing' your passion? For instance, I love strategy. I enjoy strategy video games, strategy board games where you stand over a map and allocate resources, take territory, expand, etc. This seems like a generalized skill, but what are the steps to figure out how to apply such a generic passion to something profitable?

Hope my question is clear, I know I may sound like a broken record here... :cool:
 
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Darkside

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I just read a Mark Cuban article posted on another topic (How To Get Rich « blog maverick) and it got me wondering, how do you find that field which you are passionate about and can throw yourself into?

MJ commented on another post I wrote on the subject of passion: "Once you find a passion for something generalized, then you will do *anything* for it; the latest episode of the Celebrity Apprentice, some stupid game on Facebook, or anything else, simply CANNOT compete."

Mark Cuban had a passion for the technology industry which is ripe with opportunity, MJ has a passion now for educating entrepreneurship. What I'm wondering is what to do if you don't have an intrinsically valuable passion (internet marketing, technology) and instead you're passionate about seemingly useless things that NO ONE will ever pay you for?

Or more specifically, are there any tips for 'generalizing' your passion? For instance, I love strategy. I enjoy strategy video games, strategy board games where you stand over a map and allocate resources, take territory, expand, etc. This seems like a generalized skill, but what are the steps to figure out how to apply such a generic passion to something profitable?

Hope my question is clear, I know I may sound like a broken record here... :cool:


You can think of business as a strategy game; expanding revenues and taking customers from your competitors, etc. However, your problem is that you're looking for an area where you will have loads of passion. I think this is a mistake. Felix Dennis points out this common error that entrepreneurs make in his book. People who start by saying something like, "I enjoy playing video games so how can I make a business based around video games?" Or, "I enjoy painting, so should I sell artwork to become wealthy?"

Success in business has nothing to do with what your hobbies are; but rather everything to do with what people are willing to pay for. Out of all the possible options that you can pick for a business where you feel confident that you can earn lots of money; choose the one that you enjoy the most, even if you're not too passionate about it. When you become wealthy from that business, you can pursue your passions for the rest of your life.
 

MamaD

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Or more specifically, are there any tips for 'generalizing' your passion? For instance, I love strategy. I enjoy strategy video games, strategy board games where you stand over a map and allocate resources, take territory, expand, etc. This seems like a generalized skill, but what are the steps to figure out how to apply such a generic passion to something profitable?

That's something profitable right there! There are many people that would love to have the tips, secrets, tactics, and strategies of someone who is already successful at whatever they are trying to achieve. Do you have a strategy for rising from lvl 1 to lvl 396 fighter in Mafia Wars? People pay for that type of information. Just go to clickbank and check out all the products sold for games.
 

domular

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Success in business has nothing to do with what your hobbies are; but rather everything to do with what people are willing to pay for. Out of all the possible options that you can pick for a business where you feel confident that you can earn lots of money; choose the one that you enjoy the most, even if you're not too passionate about it. When you become wealthy from that business, you can pursue your passions for the rest of your life.

I couldn't have said it better. Get passionate about the game, about marketing, about serving people, about something big and broad like technology if you are serious about making money. The individual product or service you offer is only a small part of being successful financially. If you can get passionate about something broad then your eyes remain wide open to new opportunities in new areas you would never see if you focus on one tiny product or service
 
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Graves

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I just read a Mark Cuban article posted on another topic (How To Get Rich « blog maverick) and it got me wondering, how do you find that field which you are passionate about and can throw yourself into?

MJ commented on another post I wrote on the subject of passion: "Once you find a passion for something generalized, then you will do *anything* for it; the latest episode of the Celebrity Apprentice, some stupid game on Facebook, or anything else, simply CANNOT compete."

Mark Cuban had a passion for the technology industry which is ripe with opportunity, MJ has a passion now for educating entrepreneurship. What I'm wondering is what to do if you don't have an intrinsically valuable passion (internet marketing, technology) and instead you're passionate about seemingly useless things that NO ONE will ever pay you for?

Or more specifically, are there any tips for 'generalizing' your passion? For instance, I love strategy. I enjoy strategy video games, strategy board games where you stand over a map and allocate resources, take territory, expand, etc. This seems like a generalized skill, but what are the steps to figure out how to apply such a generic passion to something profitable?

Hope my question is clear, I know I may sound like a broken record here... :cool:
Are you passionate about making money ?

I doubt the founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK was passionate about picking up trash, or MJ passionate about generating leads for limousine companies.
But they're probably VERY VERY passionate about business.

This is also something I'm struggling with right now, I tend to make stupid excuses such as "none of the people I know are doing it, so it's okay if I slack off for a bit, besides it's summer and..."
 

GlassCannon

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I couldn't have said it better. Get passionate about the game, about marketing, about serving people, about something big and broad like technology if you are serious about making money. The individual product or service you offer is only a small part of being successful financially. If you can get passionate about something broad then your eyes remain wide open to new opportunities in new areas you would never see if you focus on one tiny product or service

I see gurus time and time again say that if you don't have any passion at all for what you're doing, someone else who does will beat you because they'll be willing to put in the time and have the advantage of legitimate enthusiasm.

I can't see ever becoming a millionaire writing ebooks for video games, so the focus would have to be on a product that has intrinsic value, something that people will either buy in quantity or in big dollar amounts. A problem with hobbies is that plenty of people have the same hobbies and give away the content for free.

To answer the last poster's question, I am not passionate about making money. I know some titans of industry have billions of dollars and are still CEOs because they just love making money and it's all a big fun game to them. That's not me. I see money as a means, not an end.

So the key seems to be finding a generic business action you have a passion for and then applying it to a profitable field. For instance, some people love to market in general, some like to negotiate deals in general, then it's just a matter of doing to research to find emerging fields and apply your passion there. The advice I'm seeking is how to figure out what general skill I might have enthusiasm for since I don't have a ton of experience in business from which to zero in on past experiences to help decide. Does anyone know of any particularly good articles/blog posts on the topic, maybe a list of skills that are in demand or brainstorming techniques?
 

Ska2free

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You might want to approach it from a different direction...instead of "what am I good at or what am I passionate about?", you could look for unmet needs. Brainstorming from this end, you may find that you will become passionate about building whatever kind of business that arises from what you discover.

Personally, I am more passionate about growing my business and serving our clients needs to the best of our technology...but my partner and employees are more passionate about perfecting the technology we use and delivering impeccable data products. No shortage of passion, but I think you need both kinds for a successful enterprise.
 
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domular

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So the key seems to be finding a generic business action you have a passion for and then applying it to a profitable field. For instance, some people love to market in general, some like to negotiate deals in general, then it's just a matter of doing to research to find emerging fields and apply your passion there. The advice I'm seeking is how to figure out what general skill I might have enthusiasm for since I don't have a ton of experience in business from which to zero in on past experiences to help decide. Does anyone know of any particularly good articles/blog posts on the topic, maybe a list of skills that are in demand or brainstorming techniques?

Yes I do believe success in business is related to being passionate about a generic business skill. You may already have some clues about what business skill you like but really the best advise I could get is to find a need and try to fill it. When you start to design and run that business you will find yourself becoming more passionate about some areas and despise doing other. Those that you hate outsource. You can't do it all and you shouldn't - concentrate on those areas that make the biggest impact in your business that you like.

It's my opinion however that the one business skill you must become good at is marketing or partner with someone that is. It doesn't matter how good your product or service is, if no one knows about it you will never succeed.
 

biophase

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I can't see ever becoming a millionaire writing ebooks for video games

I am not passionate about making money.

Does not compute! ! !

So you don't want to write ebooks for video games because you can't see it making a million dollars and then the next paragraph you state you aren't passionate about making money. So which is it??

You obviously want to make a million dollars.
 

911Carrera

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Forget about passion, look for solutions to people's needs. You can follow your passion later if you solve these needs and cash out.

There might be unmet needs in your passion, so start there first, then look elsewhere.
 
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fierce86

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i struggled with this immensely after reading his book. I spent the past 2 years trying to find my passion only to have him tell me not to do it. I started coming up with inventions and websites instead.

Then I'm like F*ck it, i'll go for my dreams and try to fastlane it too. So I'm studying animation. I'm gonna open my own animation studio and then outsource it all in the future. If I can't faslane that way I will start an online animation school and sell dvd tutorials for animation or find some kind of animation niche. I know it will take up lots of my time and be time consuming moreso than creating a self operating business but I enjoy it so I wouldn't mind however long it takes.

Whats the point of starting a business you don't like just for money. You will get bored with the fun the money brings after a short while then if you try to pursue your dreams I will already be years ahead of that person since I will have started sooner and do better. I only sleep 4 hours a night and spend all my time on my passion so I doubt the rich guy who has even less incentive financially to make it in my industry will outwork me or bring more passion to it with all his cars and distractions.
 

911Carrera

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Passion is overrated. Most people's passion are not even things that are useful to other people. Most people's passion is something that gives them pleasure and makes them cool. If everyone followed their passion, we wouldn't be so advanced today and the world would be fcked up.

Do your part to help the world advance and get rich while you're at it :). Follow whatever passion you have after that.
 

Rickson9

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Passion is a strange duck. Unpredictable.
 
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GlassCannon

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Does not compute! ! !

So you don't want to write ebooks for video games because you can't see it making a million dollars and then the next paragraph you state you aren't passionate about making money. So which is it??

You obviously want to make a million dollars.

What I'm saying is I want to be rich, but I don't have a passion for the process of making money. Some people love making money as an ends of itself, it's all one big game.

If you don't enjoy what you're doing, then you just have a job like every other working stiff out there. Maybe that works for a lot of people, but I've been self employed for 4 years and going back to a soul draining job would make me want to jump out a window.

I don't see why I'm getting so much pushback on a topic that I got a lot of support on in another thread. Maybe because MJ chimed in early and agreed with me. I'm not saying that I need to be passionate about the content (example: video games), but about a certain process (example: marketing) that can be applied to a need-based business. I was looking for help in how to discover what processes I might be interested in since looking back on my past experience turns up short.
 

fierce86

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ya its hard when you don't have a passion for what you're doing just for money. Even though I'm doing what I love it's still tempting to do the faslane route..it's like damn for the amount of effort I'm exerting every day on my "passion" I would have already made millions probably selling a service to pickup shit or something.lol THen I could be on a tropical island living like a boss with my lambo retired forever.

I do believe you can develop a passion for just making money though. I studied biology for 4 years trying to get into a good school and I did even though I hated it. Then I quit. You just need enough reasons to be passionate about anything, even shit. But I'd rather do what I love still. =)

And no passion doesn't change or die, I've loved art since I was a kid and never stopped doing it and can't see myself doing anything else. I was just looking for the right medium to do it in.
 
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biophase

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What I'm saying is I want to be rich, but I don't have a passion for the process of making money. Some people love making money as an ends of itself, it's all one big game.

You are saying that you want $1,000,000. But you don't have a passion to go make $1,000,000.

So you are trying to find something that you like to do even though it may make you only $100,000 versus finding something that you don't like to do that may make you $1,000,000.

Let me ask you this.

Suppose you love video games and opened up a store and each video game you sold made you $50 profit. You get to research video games and test them out, play them all day.

Now suppose you hate riding lawnmowers and opened up a store and each riding lawnmower you sold made you $500 profit. But riding lawnmowers are boring and you didn't give a shit about them.

Now let's pretend each store made 5 sales a day, 365 days a year.

Your video game store would make $91,250 a year. Your riding lawnmower store would make $912,500 a year.

You then sell your stores and cash out after 3 years. The video game store sells for $300,000 and the riding lawnmower store sells for $3,000,000.

So for the exact same amount of work you could have cashed out in 3 years and now play video games for the rest of your life. Or you could follow your passion and do something more enjoyable but less profitable and do it forever.

And as others have said, passion changes. Once you turn 30 you may hate video games, and love skydiving. Guess what, if you cashed out your $3M, you can go from video gaming to skydiving in an instant. But instead you are suck with a video game store.
 

GlassCannon

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You are saying that you want $1,000,000. But you don't have a passion to go make $1,000,000.

If I had a business in front of me that was guaranteed to make $912,500 a year and guaranteed to sell for $3 mill in 3 years, of course I would take it. That is not guaranteed however, or even likely. To find that 1 in 1,000 business that produces like that you have to try many different things, get lucky, or have the combination of talent and enthusiasm to outshine the competition and really strike it big.

Sure I could sell lawn mowers, hate my life, and maybe get lucky and make a ton of money. But I think I'd have a lot better chance of selling something I believed in, legitimately enjoyed, studied ferociously, and lived and breathed a passion for.

I'm not saying I don't have a passion to make $1mill. I'm saying I'm not willing to sell my soul to do it. Plenty of people sell their souls every day because they don't know any different or aren't willing to work smarter to figure out a different way. Me reaching out to this community is my attempt to find a better way. I realized most people won't have the answers but a select few might provide insightful thoughts.
 

fierce86

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i have to agree with bobby on this one. If you truely love what you are doing then why wouldn't you end up like tiger woods or steven speilberg since that's all you want to do with your time? So instead of 3 million in 3 years maybe you would make 100 million in 8 to 10 years. You would outshine everyone. But you have to want it more than breathing and probably fastlane the approach to meet needs, etc.

Why do you assume in 3 years he would be a millionaire in the fastlane style and not with video games...I think if he fastlaned his video game approach he could do it. Think of the people who made world of war craft or "second life," a virtual world where you pretend to be someone else. They made millions doing something different than other people who made regular video games. All you need is one good idea.

Plus if you're naturally really good at something don't you feel almost obligated to share it with the world because you feel so amazing about your skills and want to share it with everyone? What if harry potter was never written..

besides every successful person who's written something has always said don't wait till conditions are perfect to take action, they never will be, so why should he wait 3 years untill he's rich before he can do what he wants? In 3 years he might have a family, or be surrounded by awesome parties, models, and too busy skydiving to go back to video games. Actually those sound even funner but you get my point.lol

“Too many of us wait to do the perfect thing, with the result we do nothing. The way to get ahead is to start now. While many of us are waiting until conditions are ‘just right’ before we go ahead, others are stumbling along, fortunately ignorant of the dangers that beset them. By the time we are, in our superior wisdom, decided to make a start, we discover that those who have gone fearlessly on before, have, in their blundering way, traveled a considerable distance. If you start now, you will know a lot next year that you don’t know now, and that you will not know next year, if you wait.”
 
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stressfree

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Me too. So want to be wealthy but just not sure what is the best road. After reading the book I now realize i have been coasting on easy street for the past 10 years. I am into Int marekting and have a few passive ioncome streams set up that pay ok. So it was enough. But it's not really a business. The book has definitely got me thinking long and hard about where i go from here.
 

stressfree

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LOL wouldn't we all but I know for sure Business and guarantess NEVER play together unless you are scamming people.

If I had a business in front of me that was guaranteed to make $912,500 a year and guaranteed to sell for $3 mill in 3 years, of course I would take it
 

GlassCannon

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Here's an example of the type of "monetizable skills" I'm looking to seek out:

I like video games and board games, particularly strategy games like Risk, Axis & Allies, etc. I might be able to apply my passion for strategy to an industry that has money making potential, like home security. There is a huge 'survivalist' community that has shown they are willing to spend on this kind of information and service, and security/safety is one of the base needs a human has and therefore willing to spend the $$$. Some potential streams of income are information products, online consulting, in person consulting, affiliate product recommendations, speaking fees, and probably many more I haven't thought of.

So you see, what I'm trying to say is I don't need to start a business about a topic I'm passionate about, but instead a skill or process I can generalize to use for a profitable industry. The example above demonstrates that: while I love games, underneath it all I really love strategy. The help I was hoping for on this post was either ideas or resources (articles etc) on how to narrow down and further brainstorm these skills/processes that can be generalized.
 
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