Thursday, June 30, 2005
Love what you do...
I wonder sometimes why I do what I do and why I do it so well. The bottom line is I love what I do. I truly enjoy my work and it makes "working" much easier. Sure, I have things I have to do that I don't love so much but they are part of the overall doing of what I love.
I have read a number of books and articles about starting a new business. Even the SBA website offers a step by step process of brainstorming, researching, planning and implementing a new business, but many times the "secret sauce" is omitted. Why are you starting your new business? No no no, I mean really, Why are you starting the new business? Is it to fire your boss and be your own? Is it to capture a neglected market to make money? Do you think you could do it better if free from the environment that limits your logic or creativity? But really, WHY?
When we started the "dreaming stage" of our travel agency, I asked all the partners to share with me, "What are we doing this for?" Long term, down the road, touchy feely, warm and fuzzy, or simply, the emotional motivation for going into business. I asked one of our partners, "why would we invest all this time, effort and money into a travel agency and not a franchise like McDonald's?" I mean they have a working business model that is proven to work. She scrunched up her nose and said "Because I don't want to own a McDonald's." Then why a travel agency? She explained because it's something she loved doing. That was the bottom line for me, that we all agreed that this is something we would love doing... and better, love doing it together.
SoKy.net on the other hand came to being with much less of a definition in time, it came over the course of years through individual consultations and customers. It has been a business in the making for about 7 years. I am facing the same question, "Why am I doing this instead of something else?" I'm doing it because I love it. I like making things come together, I love the creative aspect and the abilities I have to make people's online dreams come true. Sure, I also love the potential income and that is a big motivation to my overall goals.
Why do I fly for the Air Force? Because I love the job, the opportunities to go new places and meet new people. Why do I co-own a travel agency? Because I love it! Each customer is seeking that perfect vacation and we get the chance to help them find it and then find a way to get there. Why am I writing in this blog? Because I love being able to express myself and offer my views that might help others. Why do I do what I do? Because I love it!
This has not always been the case and I have been able to make the adjustments over time to get to this point, and frankly it's evolving even still. But for the small business owner, you have the unique opportunity to go for the gold and that gold is to do what you love. It's more precious than any metal and though it can't be spent on fancy cars, it's value is incalculable. When I was stuck doing jobs that I didn't love, I would make changes, hire help or find ways to modify my career path so I could reach that goal of doing what I love.
I saw a commercial once, I can't remember the product (oops) but I remember the hook, "Being in a job you love is like being on vacation every single day." That statement might be a stretch, but for the industrious entrepreneur who enjoys the challenges of owning a business, it is a labor of love. Bowling Green Ky. is a fertile ground from which we can make our dreams grow and flourish, planting the right seeds to achieve the right goals might make all the difference in the world. Go for it and love what you do.
