A revolution in passion-based businesses is sweeping the globe. From Sydney to San Fran, Berlin to Bath, Istanbul to Ibiza, people are dropping off the corporate ladder climb to craft a living out of their passion – a 21st century equivalent of the 70s’ edict ‘Tune in, turn on, drop out’, except with income. It’s not enough for the modern hipster to follow their passion – we also want to make a viable, sustainable business out of it – better yet, an abundantly profitable one.
Last week, we looked at how effort is the currency of passion. And how, without effort, we may be passionate about the idea of something rather than the actual thing.
For ‘follow your passion’ to become a sustainable business, we need to reach out and pluck the heartstrings of our wider community. We need to connect our passion with others’ passion. Only then does passion make profit.
Crowd-sourcing passion
A great place to see this in action is crowd-sourcing – someone with an idea and passion to create something puts it to the wider community and asks for cash to make it happen. Crowds rally and respond, or … crickets.
Most of the time, it’s not a problem with the idea. Think of any random, bizarre idea and go do a Google search. I guarantee however oddball it is, there’s someone, somewhere, making a living out of it, which means there’s a tribe around them who share the same oddball passion.
But the ideas that get the crowd-sourcing funds are those that have been expressed to create impact. No matter how smart, altruistic, beautiful or funny your idea is, if you cannot express your idea and your passion for it in a concise, compelling and clear manner, you will fail to move enough people to make it viable.
Making art
Artists know that their art isn’t often ‘viable’ in a strict financial or business sense. So they apply for grants. I’ve got numerous artist friends, many of whom I help edit their grant applications, which take the place of customers. This process is still the transfer of enthusiasm – from the artist, to the institution giving the grants.
Your altruism and my altruism
Your passion may well be altruistic, either overtly or innately, but this is not enough to connect it with the hearts and minds of the wider world. Charities frequently complain of ‘compassion fatigue’ – the idea that we have a limited amount of compassion which is being expended throughout the day. Your altruism may be commendable, but it’s not necessarily my altruism.
Bringing passion, purpose and profit together
Your passion is worthy, I am not questioning that. But if you seek to make a sustainable business out of it – contributing to the economy by employing others and paying taxes, or thrive as a solo-preneur, with enough income to sustain body and soul – you need to ignite a similar passion in others.
Businesses aren’t run in silos. They are innately social because they fulfil a need, solve a problem, minimise pain or improve lives, in some way. Enthusiasm is a wonderous thing – safeguard your enthusiasm from the energy-sappers and ‘realistic’ I-only-want-to-help-ers who seek to destroy it. And know that if you are to make passion into business, you’ll need to become very skilled at igniting a similar enthusiasm in others. Which means it’s not your passion anymore, it’s ours.
