Finding your Passion

Before you take off on a business adventure you can increase your chances of being successful by taking the time to uncover your passion. The quickest and most efficient way to do this is to use the five exercises provided below.

1. Reflect on what you loved to do as a child.
   Begin by making a list of the things that you loved doing the most when you were a kid. After making the list tick off the items you would still enjoy doing today even if they no longer seem practical. Ask yourself how you could implement these things into your life now and which items could help you shape your career choice.

2. Make a creativity poster. Posters are cheap and it doesn’t have to be anything fancy; purchase one, bring it home and place the words “New Business” right in the middle of the poster. Get creative with it: Write it, cut the letters out of an old newspaper or magazine and stick it to the middle, do whatever you would like to do to get started. After you have your “New Business” poster, start surrounding the “New Business” wording with ideas. You can do this by using sayings, articles, images, or anything that inspires you. By surrounding yourself with visual aids of your intentions—and thinking positive thoughts—you make yourself more aware of what you would like to accomplish and your passion will grow.

3. Study people who have been successful in
   the area you want to succeed in. Make a list of people who are where you would like to be. Do your homework, study these people and figure out what they’re doing differently from everyone else to stay on top being the best at what they do. 4. Test doing some of the things you love before making a plan to pursue it. Create a mock business, think high school project, and play with your ideas. Ask for feedback and suggestions and discover if there is value in what you would like to do. If you’re still convinced you have a good, positive plan after testing it, pursue it! A lot of people jump right in without testing the waters and discover they probably would have been happier pursuing their backup plan instead of the main idea. Get a good feel for what you enjoy and there will never be room for second-guessing or negative thoughts.

4. Take a break. If you intend to be successful
   and remain positive throughout the entire process you will have to give your mind a break from business mode every once in a while. Taking a break and indulging in a little fun can help you produce fresh ideas regularly and make you even more passionate about the work you are preparing to pursue.

Rediscovering what brings you the most joy in life and the things you are passionate about is a crucial first step to becoming an entrepreneur. A positive mindset will make your work more enjoyable and productive no matter what you are doing. But, if you combine that positive mindset with something you already love, your success will multiply in ways you haven’t even imagined yet. After you have discovered your passion the next thing you should do is make sure you are prepared to pursue it.