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I ran across a quote from billionnaire Mark Cuban (I love watching him on Shark Tank!) in which he busts the “work in your 
passion” belief. Here’s what he has to say about business and passion.
“Follow your passion is the worst advice you could ever get. Because everyone is passionate about something. Usually more than one thing. We are born with it. There are always going to be things we love to do. That we dream about doing. That we really, really want to do with our lives. Those passions aren’t worth a nickel.
Think about all the things you have been passionate about in your life. Think about all those passions that you considered making a career out of or building a company around. How many were or are there? Why did you bounce from one to another? Why were you not able to make a career or business out of any of those passions? Or if you have been able to have some success, what was the key to the success?
Today’s twenty-somethings were raised to find our dreams and follow them. But it’s a different world. And as the jobless generation grows up, we realize the grand betrayal of the false idols of passion. This philosophy no longer works for us, or at most, feels incomplete. So what do we do? I propose a different frame of reference: Forget about finding your passion. Instead, focus on finding big problems.”
I do love what I do, I’m totally passionate about helping small business owners create a profitable business that allows them the life they most want and that serves others. I believe that Mr. Cuban is passionate about his businesses, too – I’ve never heard him speak other than with passion – he just comes across as a passionate guy.
I do understand what he is saying, though. I’ve met plenty of business owners who say they are passionate but don’t take action – and I always think to myself “how darn passionate could this person actually be?” Passionate doesn’t cave to anxiety, depression, or overwhelm. Period. Sometimes I think small business owners confuse “passion” with “dream thinking.” Kind of a wishful “oh, I’d love to have a business that brings me good money.” But they have no discipline or focus behind that “passion.” Which means, as Cuban says, their passion won’t bring them the success they say they want.
Mr. Cuban also has said, “Don’t start a company unless it’s an obsession and something you love. If you have an exit strategy, it’s not an obsession.” Maybe he’s right – we need to be obsessed about what we do, to be able to continually live in it, to always be learning about it, to take the missteps and turn them into high steps. Maybe instead of passion the better word is obsession. Obsession means you’ll go do the work – the learning, the long hours, the risk taking.
I admire Mark Cuban. I’d love to have a dinner with him, just listen to him talk about business. I don’t want his money, though. His conversation means more to me than his money – I’d rather him sharpen my ability to make my own. The next time someone talks to me about “I have to be passionate to work in my business” I’m going to be questioning if I believe that. Will you?
Want more blog posts on related topics? Try this one about leading your business, not just owning it.
Mitch Tublin says
September 1, 2013 at 12:02 pmOne item I would add to this thread is this – if you want to make a difference and create change or add value to the lives of others through charity or specific items like build schools or feed the hungry, you can do a lot more of this if you have a lot of money than if you do not not. When you are seeking to earn in order to share and contribute it changes how you view the money you earn.
Bill Painter says
August 31, 2013 at 3:15 pmMaybe you need a little of both. The passion to guide you and the obsession to give you the follow through to accomplish it.
Tiffany deSilva says
August 31, 2013 at 10:23 amI agree with Mark on a lot of points. You definitely need passion in business. You need to be passionate about solving a specific big problem. I have worked with and talked to many women entrepreneurs that are passionate about what they do but they aren’t exactly able to articulate the specifc problem that they are solving. You absolutely need to be passionate about helping people with specific problems. You can’t be in it just for the money, and you can’t be in it just because you’re passionate about it.
Mary Ellen Miller says
August 30, 2013 at 3:31 pmSue, I have never liked that description, “passion” because I think it is so overused. I do agree that we need to love what we do since we spend our lives working. Thanks. I always enjoy your videos and audios as well as your writing and tips.
Jennifer Bourn says
August 29, 2013 at 10:39 pmSue – My favorite part of your whole blog post is this statement —> Sometimes I think small business owners confuse “passion” with “dream thinking.” Kind of a wishful “oh, I’d love to have a business that brings me good money.” But they have no discipline or focus behind that “passion.”
Having a business and dabbling with monetizing your passion are two totally different things to me! I get what Mark is saying, although I might word it a little differently. Passion, loving what you do, and big dreams, while great, aren’t going to be enough to build a sustainable successful business. You’ve got to want it so bad, that you’d do anything to make it work!
Trudy Scott Food Mood Expert and Nutritionist says
August 26, 2013 at 10:23 pmI love him too and disagree with some of this…I do think passion is key but there has to also be a problem to solve! I watch him and listen to him and it sure looks like he has passion. Can I join you guys at dinner please?!
PS I don’t like the word obsession – not good, too little control, a bit scary…
Heidi Alexandra Pollard says
August 26, 2013 at 5:23 pmI think it depends somewhat on if you are working in the business or just an owner. I have seen some people work in their business, who are passionate and who make no money and others who do. I have also seen people successfully and passionately own a business as an investor who love it because it makes a lot of money. For some the creative process is the fun part for others creating wealth is the fun part – as you say Sue different strokes for different folks.
Jessica says
August 26, 2013 at 11:13 amI don’t agree at all with Mark (although, I too enjoy watching him on Shark Tank).. For me if there is no passion there is no interest and therefore no drive to make the business a success. I have three businesses right now, one I am passionate about because if fulfills my creative talents, one I am passionate about because it helps others in an area where I once needed help, and one is not creative at all and I had to figure out where I would draw my passion from before taking it on, because while it’s a lucrative business it was unlike anything creative I’ve ever done. I found multiple passions in this new company that I never would have looked for if I hadn’t wanted to “solve a problem” as Mark said. For some people, making money is enough of a passion that they can take on any lucrative business, but for others (like me) money isn’t enough. It really depends on what you value, in my opinion.
Sue Painter says
August 26, 2013 at 11:42 amObviously, different strokes for different folks. I kind of agree that it would be hard to do what I do day after day just for the $$.
Sue