1. PASSION The question of findingyourpassionisnotdiscoveringwhatyoulike, but whatyouwouldbewillingtosuffer for tokeepdoing. You’vefoundyourpassionwhenyouwill continue topursue it despitewhat it may cost you. Passions are powerful, soyouthinkthey’dbeeasytoidentify. They are not. Wemay live andbreathethem, but wemaygivenothoughttothemthewaywegivenothoughttotheairaroundus. Youcan’tsee a passion just likeyoucan’tseewind – youhavetosearch for what it movesyouto do.

2. Entrepreneurial passion is a motivational construct characterized by positive emotional arousal, internal drive and engagement with personally meaningful work that is salient to the self-identify of the entrepreneur. Entrepreneurswhoconveypassion are more persuasive, motivated, havelarger social networksand more social capital. As a result, theyhave more income, salesrevenueandgrowth in salesandearningscomparedwithentrepreneurswho are lesspassionate . Passionisthereforeiscriticalto an entrepreneur’ssuccess.

3. Passion is palpable. Passion effects how customers, investors and employees view the entrepreneur and their product. When they can feel the entrepreneur’s passion, they may be more persuaded by it; and for good reason. To these individuals, passion is a strong indicator of: a. Degree of motivation b. Level of commitment c. Confidence in their vision d. If they will persevere in the face of obstacles e. How well they can lead people in their venture f. Persuasion skills It is therefore necessary to display passion when communicating with customers, employees and anyone making funding decisions as it will help persuade them to support the venture or vision.

4. Passion and decisions Entrepreneurs must bepassionatewhenpitchingto an investormakingfundingdecisions, sellingto a customer or hiringnewemployees. Passionwillboosttheirconfidence in theirevaluation of the business plan, product, company, team andtheentrepreneur. However, passionaloneisnotsufficienttoinfluencedecisions. Whenpassionisintegratedwith a substantial business plan, product or service theentrepreneurwillbeevaluated more favorably. When a passionateentrepreneur’s business plan lackssubstance, their product failstodeliver as promised or their service isinsufficient, theentrepreneurwilllikelybeviewed as fake, manipulative andinsincere. The amount of passiondisplayedalsohas an effect on decisions. Iftheentrepreneurdisplaystoomuchpassion, it mayappear as ifthey are not genuine, desperate or pretentious. Of coursetoolittlepassioncanresult in beingperceived as notbeingcompletedinvested in theventure or not confident aboutthe product, service, company or team. It isessentialthatentrepreneurs display an appropriateamount of passionandthattheirpassionissupportedby an amazing product, service or business plan. Passionwill facilitate persuasive arguments, thebuyingprocessandfundingdecisions. Entrepreneurswhoconveypassionwillsell more, earn more andconvince more, allcontributingtothesuccess of theirventure.