Don't Follow Your Passion...Carry It With You...

47 replies
Hey All,

There is always a big debate about "passion" vs "profit."

Many newbies will tell you to do what you are passionate about.

I say, "Be passionate about everything you choose to do."

What do you think?

Brent
#follow #passion #passioncarry #profit
  • Profile picture of the author AntonioSeegars1
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    • Profile picture of the author Ben West
      Originally Posted by AntonioSeegars1 View Post

      Passion is overrated. Learn to work like a robot, and you will be successful at anything you do.
      But what drives someone to become that person? Passion. You wouldn't decide to "work like a robot" without a passion for being successful.

      There are two ways to success. Hard work or luck, and the former is driven by passion. Be it for the niche you work in, for success, or just simply passion for profit.
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      • Profile picture of the author heavysm
        Well...the passion sort of came after i put in the hard work. It wasn't there from the start with the niches i was working with. But i slowly become passionate about my work because I had an overall passion to never work a day job again.

        So, I guess there's different levels of passion that carry a person. I followed my passion to never work the 9 - 5 again, and that led me to SEO, email marketing and copywriting. I am now deeply passionate about those topics because they became my world.

        There's always some form of desire at work, and I call this passion, in order to carry us forward. Whether it's to avoid something or to attain something, even the people who follow the money are doing so out of the passion of never having a boss ever again.

        Then again, there are also the people who love stuff like gardening and create entire businesses surrounding their hobby. Both the money seeking person and the hobby person have passion working in their favor, just on different levels and motivations.
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        • Profile picture of the author Jonathan Henson
          Passion sure helps and makes it more enjoyable but if your passion is "catching grasshoppers in the Spring," I seriously doubt you will make any money!

          Bottom line; most of us have more than one passion. Pick a passion that is at least somewhat profitable.
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        • Profile picture of the author sonofGod
          Originally Posted by heavysm View Post

          Well...the passion sort of came after i put in the hard work. It wasn't there from the start with the niches i was working with. But i slowly become passionate about my work because I had an overall passion to never work a day job again.

          So, I guess there's different levels of passion that carry a person. I followed my passion to never work the 9 - 5 again, and that led me to SEO, email marketing and copywriting. I am now deeply passionate about those topics because they became my world.

          There's always some form of desire at work, and I call this passion, in order to carry us forward. Whether it's to avoid something or to attain something, even the people who follow the money are doing so out of the passion of never having a boss ever again.

          Then again, there are also the people who love stuff like gardening and create entire businesses surrounding their hobby. Both the money seeking person and the hobby person have passion working in their favor, just on different levels and motivations.
          I could not have said this better myself. I completely agree
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    • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
      Originally Posted by AntonioSeegars1 View Post

      Passion is overrated. Learn to work like a robot, and you will be successful at anything you do.
      Do that while working at some jobs you will become the boss's favorite servant and they will do their best to keep you down. Back to the OP carrying the passion and letting know people see it in you will go along way. You can always tell when someone is passionate about something. Some of the posts on this forum can become very passionate You would think some of them are like watching a good dueling match !
      Passion seems to attract other people towards what is going on. Hard to explain, but some people it seems... passion just oozes out of them. When they are talking or doing something they love. Seems the most successful people in the world or company has a strong passion about what they do. IMHO
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    • Profile picture of the author justf
      Originally Posted by AntonioSeegars1 View Post

      Passion is overrated. Learn to work like a robot, and you will be successful at anything you do.
      Harsh But Truth.

      Passion is required but it's nothing without the work. You have to work hard and proper to by successful.

      Passion without hard work is meaningless.
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      • Profile picture of the author discrat
        Originally Posted by justf View Post

        Harsh But Truth.

        Passion is required but it's nothing without the work. You have to work hard and proper to by successful.

        Passion without hard work is meaningless.

        Yep. Many have a Passion for just working hard so I think this cannot be minimized.
        And it can actually carry you very far whether you love your actual Niche or not


        - Robert Andrew
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    • Profile picture of the author Lightlysalted
      Originally Posted by AntonioSeegars1 View Post

      Passion is overrated. Learn to work like a robot, and you will be successful at anything you do.
      Very good point. I still passion is important to get you initially motivated but you are absoultely right that much of what we do is robotic
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      I say be passionate about the Process not necessarily the actual Niche itself. Its great if you do, NO question.

      But just because someone has no passion is designing T- shirts does not mean they should rule out selling Teespring on FB


      - Robert Andrew
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      • Profile picture of the author Winning34
        Originally Posted by discrat View Post

        I say be passionate about the Process not necessarily the actual Niche itself. Its great if you do, NO question.

        But just because someone has no passion is designing T- shirts does not mean they should rule out selling Teespring on FB


        - Robert Andrew
        +1
        I agree with this.

        I think you either need a passion for the niche itself or a passion for making it happen. By making it happen, I mean highly motivated to build an online business and a real work ethic. I think you need to be an entrepreneur to make it work and being an entrepreneur is a lot more than just wanting to make $$$.

        My niche is something that I know a lot and am good at. But I wouldn't call it a passion. My real passion is the process of building a business around my niche rather than the niche itself.
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  • I've been successfully earning an income in an area (music / production, etc) that most would consider to be a hobby or passion, however for a decade or two, this has been my full time profession.

    But I'm now considering on the side, just for fun and giggles, to start marketing a "how to make money online" eBook with resell rights to another marketer in order for them to sell that same "how to make money online" eBook to another marketer, (even though that marketer knows nothing about making money online) in order for that marketer to sell a "how to make money online" eBook with resell rights to an internet marketer in order for them to sell that same "how to make money online" eBook to another internet marketer, in order for that marketer to sell that "how to make money online" eBook with resell rights to an internet marketer in order for them to sell that same "how to make money online" eBook to another internet marketer....

    It sounds like a nice hobby, even though I heard there's' no money in it.

    But hey, it would give me something to do on my days off...
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    I'm now considering on the side, just for fun and giggles, to start marketing a "how to make money online" eBook with resell rights
    Put me on the pre-launch list.
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  • Profile picture of the author Janice Sperry
    Originally Posted by Brent Stangel View Post

    Hey All,

    There is always a big debate about "passion" vs "profit."

    Many newbies will tell you to do what you are passionate about.

    I say, "Be passionate about everything you choose to do."

    What do you think?

    Brent
    Brent,

    Great job! In one sentence you just gave the perfect definitive answer to about 25 threads in the last few years. /end of debate
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    • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
      Originally Posted by Janice Sperry View Post

      Brent,

      Great job! In one sentence you just gave the perfect definitive answer to about 25 threads in the last few years. /end of debate
      Hey Janice,

      Some of us have it and some don't...
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  • Profile picture of the author Marco Moeschter
    Hello Brent,

    passion is important for sure but it not always starts with it. I started my whole internet marketing journey out of interest and took then one step after another. It was more that I developed that passion as more as I did it.
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  • Profile picture of the author skyro
    It's good to be able to work within your passion but I think the real marketing skills begin when you begin to step outside of your passion . It's here you put what your learn about internet marketing to work. Eg. if you doing something you are passion about and your very informative about you are not going to do the same amount of research and data collecting as something that is outside of your passion.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lightlysalted
    passion is important but sometimes you have to make money from things that you aren't passionate about but your can be excited about.
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  • Profile picture of the author Esteban Gomez
    I believe that you should always follow your passion because you will always find a way to monetize your value.

    I don't agree with people that say that you should follow the money because if you follow your passion the money will come.

    You can't wake up every day to work on something you hate or are not passionate about because you will hate your life.

    It's not all about the end goal but also enjoying the process.

    That's just my 2 cents...

    I wrote a blog post about this same topic in case you want to check it out and give me your opinion.
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Originally Posted by Esteban Gomez View Post

      I believe that you should always follow your passion because you will always find a way to monetize your value.

      I don't agree with people that say that you should follow the money because if you follow your passion the money will come.
      I wish I could say this about one of my huge passions in Life, Disc Golf.

      But trying to hawk golf Discs on the Internet would keep me starving for a long time

      And on a side note, sometimes when you really love something and then try to mix it up and put money in the equation, the love of for that particular passion diminishes . Just food for thought

      - Robert Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    I believe that you should always follow your passion because you will always find a way to monetize your value.
    This is not true.

    if you follow your passion the money will come.
    Tell that to all the starving artists in the world.
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  • Profile picture of the author jempub
    Hey Brent.

    To be successful in any business endeavor you need to
    be passionate in order to be productive.

    You should have a daily routine that inspires and reinvents
    your passion.

    As for profit, that comes from having passion and while having
    passion is great, it alone won't pay the bills and put food on
    the table,.

    I have a quote I created and use quite a bit with my coaching
    students and it says...

    "The Key To Success Opens The Door To Prosperity".

    Chat soon,
    Gary
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  • Profile picture of the author TeKn1qu3z
    Passion is the best way to make a perfect site, however people like me interested in one thing, but it has a poor rate on CPC or doesn't works in other countries.

    Some newbies always comes for making great amount instead of starting on their own passion so most newbies fail to make money.
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    • Brent,
      I agree with you 100%. Passion is about doing what you love,dedication is perseverance and hardwork. If we add them together = Fuel for success.
      Passion is the strength actually. No matter how strong one is if lacking passion have less chances of success.

      Regards
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  • Profile picture of the author Slade556
    Some people are able to turn their passion into profit. Some are not, so I think it all depends on how much passion can they put into becoming successful, whether they love what they're doing or not.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    it can actually carry you very far whether you love your actual Niche or not
    Well said. That's kind of the point I'm trying to make.

    A long time ago, it seems, I used to re-write articles. I did hundreds. If you've ever re-written articles by hand you know it is tedious.

    I turned it into a game. Being a doer of crossword puzzles and word jumbles it was easy to come up with the "How much can I change this sentence while retaining the meaning" game.

    And so a tedious "task" becomes a fun diversion.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      Often people have tendencies toward passion in multiple things - they are passionate people and tend to bounce from one thing to the next - applying their passion to whatever they're doing at the moment.

      Others seem to lack passion for anything. They keep a very even keel and don't allow themselves to get too excited or too depressed in whatever they do.

      I have a son and a daughter that typify these opposites.

      I'm suggesting that either of these personality types can be successful and either can be total failures at business.

      So what makes one successful in business and the other not? It's how well they are able to implement and execute a business model that taps into the passion of the marketplace!

      What's important is that the prospects in the niche have passion for the subject! They are the ones that you're trying to sell. They are the ones that have the money and respond to your offers. The more passionate they are, it seems, the more readily they will accept your offer of products and services in the niche.

      In my years in this business it has become abundantly clear that successful online business is all about the wants and desires of the prospect/customer. It's not about you or your passion or you and your hard work. Yes, those owner traits are important, but at the end of the day, if you aren't putting 100% of your attention on the buyer your business will never rise to what it ultimately can be.

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author discrat
        Originally Posted by Steve B View Post




        So what makes one successful in business and the other not? It's how well they are able to implement and execute a business model that taps into the passion of the marketplace!
        Steve, very well said. That hits it right on the nail
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    • Profile picture of the author Winning34
      Originally Posted by Brent Stangel View Post

      Well said. That's kind of the point I'm trying to make.

      A long time ago, it seems, I used to re-write articles. I did hundreds. If you've ever re-written articles by hand you know it is tedious.

      I turned it into a game. Being a doer of crossword puzzles and word jumbles it was easy to come up with the "How much can I change this sentence while retaining the meaning" game.

      And so a tedious "task" becomes a fun diversion.
      I sometimes have to write closed captions (subtitles) on my Youtube videos and adjust the timing so that they are perfectly synchronized with the audio. To get it just right is really really tedious. It takes about 4 hours for a 15 minute video.

      To get me motivated to do it, I just think of all my competitors that don't do it because of how tedious it is to do. Result is I end up doing it with a big smile on my face
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  • Profile picture of the author Smeltzer
    Ridiculous discussion. Back when I was new I created a website after making some money online. It was a website about my passion.

    I did not know how to make any REAL money off of it. This soon turned out to be a really really big problem. The website became one of the biggest and best known and authority websites in the niche and still is to this very day. I ended up selling the website for peanuts "6 figures" just to get rid of it. A couple years ago this SAME website was sold for 7 figures. Ahh the one that got away.

    Today I can make those 6 figures in the same industry without being an authority website. I can get a lot of traffic know how to make money off of the websites because of experience has told me how.

    To say that you "can not" make money off your passion is a cop out said by those who are new and inexperienced because they heard it from so called gurus who where wrong when saying it in the first place. The only time I MAY agree with that statement is if the niche only has one person that is interested in it and that one person is you.

    EVERYONE is a buyer of something even if you have to put in an advert to something that is not even related to the niche. EVERYONE needs something.
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  • Profile picture of the author Doug
    Originally Posted by Brent Stangel View Post


    I say, "Be passionate about everything you choose to do."
    I would only add, "after all you have just one life and this is it ...choose to enjoy every moment!"

    I think what isn't much discussed is that we are on a marketing forum and as such money is the under current for everyone here.

    But that isn't a bad thing.

    If money is your motivator, great. Make some and share how you manage to do so.

    If passion is your motivation, equally great. Be passionate and infect a few people!
    Some can use a little...
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
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  • Profile picture of the author James McAllister
    People who blindly tell people to "build a business around your passion" piss me off to no end because that's not good advice at all. That's a lie designed to make you feel good so you'll spend more money on whatever they're promoting. I spent two years "following my passions" and worked on quite a few projects that never had any money making potential in the first place. If only I had figured it out sooner that the market doesn't care what your passion is.

    Passion is great, but only if it's profitable. You could be super passionate about something but if nobody's spending money on it, you're pursuing a hobby, not running a business. There is a big difference.

    Again, ideally whatever niche you're working in will both be profitable as well as something you're passionate about, but that's often not the case for people who are told to just "follow their passion."

    I'm glad my passion is making money, and no, my work does not suffer because of that.
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    • Profile picture of the author DWolfe
      Originally Posted by James McAllister View Post

      People who blindly tell people to "build a business around your passion" piss me off to no end because that's not good advice at all. That's a lie designed to make you feel good so you'll spend more money on whatever they're promoting.


      Hmmm tell that to the guys at Orange County Choppers that build Motor Cycles., The Property Brothers on HTG or Some of the World Famous Chiefs on the Cooking Channel. The list goes on and on. You have to have a lot of wisdom to use your passion to make a profit. Did you ever think the Wright Brothers, Thomas Edison or Steve Jobs were not passionate and instead looking to make a fast buck ??? You have to have a lot going for yourself to make it in this world. Passion is only one ingredient !
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  • Profile picture of the author mrmax
    It depends on the person. It could go both ways. I LOVE comic books, Scifi, and playing videos games.
    I was going to create a community/FB fan page/blog around those topics but I quickly realized that if I had to constantly research and talk about all the new things happening I would begin to hate it. Like writing a term paper everyday. No thanks.
    But some people are so involved and experts in their hobby/niche that they want to talk about it all day and night.

    I think it helps to work with someone so you have someone to feed off of instead of doing it alone and getting burned out.
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
      True to my philosophy:

      Don't follow anyone or anything. Be it.
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  • I say both!

    There's a amazing personal development distinction about

    'Or' vs. 'And'

    which explains how we can have both..

    So, I say.. Choose ''Passion'' and ''Profit'' BOTH!
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  • Profile picture of the author Dilip Mane
    Being passionate about something requires purpose,time, and adaptability. If these three things are there then one can be passionate about the thing chosen to. If profit is the aim then yes it is wise to be passionate about everything that contributes to that aim.

    Passion is inbuilt, instinctive, and energetic. It just flows and makes its own way wherever there is a scope and place. Passion doesn't always look for profit but can also be turned into profit if wished for and worked right for.
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    • Profile picture of the author here2learn
      Originally Posted by Dilip Mane View Post

      Being passionate about something requires purpose,time, and adaptability. If these three things are there then one can be passionate about the thing chosen to. If profit is the aim then yes it is wise to be passionate about everything that contributes to that aim.

      Passion is inbuilt, instinctive, and energetic. It just flows and makes its own way wherever there is a scope and place. Passion doesn't always look for profit but can also be turned into profit if wished for and worked right for.
      Amen! and so true!
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      • Profile picture of the author here2learn
        You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.
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    • Profile picture of the author zdebx
      Originally Posted by Dilip Mane View Post

      Being passionate about something requires purpose,time, and adaptability. If these three things are there then one can be passionate about the thing chosen to. If profit is the aim then yes it is wise to be passionate about everything that contributes to that aim.

      Passion is inbuilt, instinctive, and energetic. It just flows and makes its own way wherever there is a scope and place. Passion doesn't always look for profit but can also be turned into profit if wished for and worked right for.
      You really think it was worth bumping a thread from March to share your amazing wisdom about how important passion is in a business?

      Well done, mate, thanks for your insights.
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  • Profile picture of the author diogoim
    Originally Posted by Brent Stangel View Post

    Hey All,

    There is always a big debate about "passion" vs "profit."

    Many newbies will tell you to do what you are passionate about.

    I say, "Be passionate about everything you choose to do."

    What do you think?

    Brent
    I really believe you should be passionate about the business itself -- being passionate about the niche is just a bonus.

    Be passionate to your subscribers

    Diogo de Castro
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  • Profile picture of the author namehero
    Originally Posted by Brent Stangel View Post

    Hey All,

    There is always a big debate about "passion" vs "profit."

    Many newbies will tell you to do what you are passionate about.

    I say, "Be passionate about everything you choose to do."

    What do you think?

    Brent
    Money (profit) is a poor motivator because there is never enough. As soon as you make $100 you want to make $200. As soon as you make $200 you want $400. This goes all the way up to infinity.

    Therefore if you're doing something just for the profit, then you start to enter scary areas including compromising your morals and values.

    I've always made money by following my passion. As long as I follow my passion and do what I enjoy, the money is an added bonus.
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    • Profile picture of the author here2learn
      Originally Posted by namehero View Post

      Money (profit) is a poor motivator because there is never enough. As soon as you make $100 you want to make $200. As soon as you make $200 you want $400. This goes all the way up to infinity.

      Therefore if you're doing something just for the profit, then you start to enter scary areas including compromising your morals and values.

      I've always made money by following my passion. As long as I follow my passion and do what I enjoy, the money is an added bonus.
      Amen!
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  • Profile picture of the author here2learn
    Originally Posted by Brent Stangel View Post

    Hey All,

    There is always a big debate about "passion" vs "profit."

    Many newbies will tell you to do what you are passionate about.

    I say, "Be passionate about everything you choose to do."

    What do you think?

    Brent
    As many guru's have said (and even Oprah)...that is the key to both personal happiness and profitable success!
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  • Profile picture of the author ChrisNosal
    Banned
    Passion = profit.

    When you have passion you're going to be devoting everything to what you do, and create better products and services as a result.

    Customers can sense care, so when customer finds someone who genuinely wants to help them, and isn't focused on just selling a product, their attention is immediately drawn because this stands out to them.

    Passion is perfection. Perfection translates into profits, because you're at the top of your industry.
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  • I believe in following your passion, but both sides of the debate have merit. Following your passion makes the everyday grind of work much easier. I can create articles and videos about topics I am interested in much easier.

    This is an interesting topic as we all have our specific opinions.
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    • Profile picture of the author ChrisNosal
      Banned
      If you're passionate, your quality is going to be driven to perfection, and you're going to be better than anyone in your industry. End of story.
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  • Profile picture of the author vour1995
    Be at least 20% passionate about what you do, or else you'll be substandard.
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