A big shout out to our sponsors & affiliate partners who ensure this newsletter remains free to readers forever more!
đ Dive into Passive Self-Publishing! Created by a savvy entrepreneur who transformed his KDP account into a 6-figure business while juggling university studies. Learn his secrets behind growing from 0 to ÂŁ5,000+ monthly passive income. KDP Bootcamp sets the foundation with no-content and low-content books, ideal for beginners. Craving more? KDP Mastery unveils advanced tactics to skyrocket your business to 4-5 figures monthly. Get started on your self publishing journey for under $40 today! đ
Part of the ethos here at YLB is to build a business doing something you love.
Iâm sure youâll have heard many times on your journey to date, “just follow your passion.”
But what if you’re not sure what your passion is? Or youâre multi-passionate and want to do everything! You’re not alone, I can assure you.
In a recent interview with Terry Kyle from WPX hosting (the hosting platform I use for my site), we were discussing that if you manage to build a business out of your passion, then you are one of the lucky ones!
For the rest of us, just the simple act of determining our passion, or honing it down to just one thing can stop us moving forward.
Thatâs why itâs often better to instead focus on, curiosity, strengths, and interests. These three components can be the driving forces behind building a successful lifestyle business, even in the absence of a clearly defined “passion.”
Hereâs why;
1. Passion is a Heightened but Fleeting Interest
Author of one of my fave books, ‘The 4 Hour Workweek‘, Tim Ferris says;
“Passion is a heightened interest, but it’s also fleeting. Curiosity, on the other hand, is constant and insatiable. If you follow it, it will lead you down paths you’d never expect and towards opportunities you’d never have otherwise found.”
Let curiosity, rather than passion, be your compass; you never know where you might end up!
2. Curiosity is the Path to Unexpected Joys and Unanticipated Expertise
In the same vein, Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of “Eat Pray Love,” & another of my fave books ‘Big Magic‘ (well worth a read if you’re a creator), says;
“Stop trying to chase your passion and just follow your curiosity. Itâs not about a divine calling or a grand plan. Rather, it’s about small interests that tickle your fancy and draw your attention. It’s about being attentive to what interests you and then taking a step to learn more about it, then another step, and another. That’s how a journey begins. That’s how you stumble into unexpected joys and unanticipated expertise.â
By focusing on things youâre curious about and want to explore further yourself, who knows what passions youâll incite in yourself and others.
3. Passion Comes From Action
Scott Galloway, a professor of marketing, an author, a serial entrepreneur, and the publisher of a brilliant weekly newsletter, points out that;
“the marketplace rewards competence, not passion.”
His advice is to focus on what you’re already good at.
Building upon your existing skills not only gives you a competitive edge, but also opens up the path to mastery and satisfaction. As you become better at what you do, passion often follows.
4. Live by Themes Rather Than One True Calling
James Altucher in his book, “Choose Yourself,” recommends living your life by themes rather than one true calling. He acknowledges that we change and evolve as we grow and experience new things, which means that itâs likely our habits and interests evolve with us.
I, for example, recognise that 15 years ago I didnât realize how passionate Iâd be about traveling the world and now itâs pretty much all I think about.
In my experience, starting multiple businesses without knowing my “passion,” has been less about finding that one true calling and more about my desire to learn, tap into and improve my strongest skill sets, and follow paths that interest me.
It’s also about diving into new experiences, cultivating skills, and exploring different avenues. Most importantly it’s about taking action, as action generates passion, not the other way around.
So, if you’re stuck and unsure of your “passion,” just start. Follow your curiosity, use your strengths, and engage with your interests. You might just find that your passion has been hiding in plain sight all along.
Your Challenge
Write down things youâre curious about right now.
Identify your strengths and how theyâd lend themselves to your business (maybe youâre great at writing, perhaps youâre a natural conversationalist, etc,) and make a list of your general interests in life.
How could you turn your curiosities and interest into a lifestyle business and how can your current skill sets assist you?
Stop worrying about going down the wrong path and just start something. By taking action, the path you truly want to go down will reveal itself.
Have a great week and as always Make It Happen!
Jo đ