By Siya Success (Check out his blog here) #SiyaSuccessMondays
I’ve always wondered, pondered and asked myself: What makes great entrepreneurs great?
I had a friend who loves soccer so passionately, In fact he watches it more often, he knows all the players, he follows all the soccer trends, (the transfers, the news, such as who’s bad and who’s not bad, what team is great and which one is not) and he would spend his hard earned cash to buy new merchandise such as shirts, hoodies, and jerseys of his cult-like following football club, which he so loves deeply.
His passion for soccer is remarkable. He would never miss a match. I would watch him while locked into the screen TV during a soccer game, and if his team was winning he’ll be enthusiastically happy, and if it was not winning, well you already know.
I learned a lot about how Christian Ronaldo has a great agent, in fact before he told me this; I didn’t know that they go through their agencies BEFORE transfers, endorsement and so on. I didn’t know that their agents make deals for them, they represent them and create transfers for them. That I didn’t know until he told me.
To tell you the truth, he spoke big numbers and he understood not only the fun part of this sport, but he also knew the business side of football. Because of knowing that he loves it but doesn’t have the physic for it, I offered him an ENTREPRENEURIAL advice
Watching his interest in soccer, I said to him… Why not build your own agency? Build players, negotiate for them, find endorsement deals for them and do the fricking hell whatever agencies do. In fact, I showed him a gap in the market. I told him, since we were talking about UEFA Clubs, and English Premier League teams. Why not bring or introduce such culture here in South Africa. Why not become or build a soccer agency of a European style here in Africa? I showed him the struggles, the problems and the solution he could bring here.
Guess what? He told me all the impossibility of it. the matrix, the hard procedures, and the complexity thereof. Well, after all, it was just a thought because he doesn’t have to quit his day to day job, but he can build a brand or business out of his passion today and who knows? He could be a great entrepreneur, a great soccer analyst, a great soccer presenter or a great football club coach/manager.
I have another friend of mine who loves and plays baseball. He is so good at it, and he’s been at it since an early age. In fact, he plays for the University, he trains on an everyday basis in order to be fit, and I would sometimes find him watching the American baseball games on YouTube; he is really that committed to it.
One day sitting with him. I offered him a piece of my entrepreneurial advice. I showed him how he could build a brand and business out of it. To understand the context of my entrepreneurial advice, I looked at how baseball is so successful in America. It is a sport, which players could create a career out of. However in South Africa that is not the case.
In fact, it does not have a solid body or system and if it does, it is a mess because it is not built in a way that it gives value incentives.
When it comes to their games or matches you would never find a big buss, endorsement, supporters, and an audience of a cult-like following, just as it is in America. Or we can say, maybe is because most South Africans don’t understand the sport, however, I believe since he knows it and plays it. He can build a business that will build, teach, and show the interest and the fun part of this sport.
In doing so, the rest of South Africans will learn, love and grow the interest of this sport. He CAN build a business or brand out of it, he can establish a new league and establish a system that will support both players, baseball lovers, and endorsement companies.
He can build the PR side of it, by giving it hype and a trend because such problems to entrepreneur thinkers are not just problems, but a gap in the market.
How good will it be? To build a business out of what you love. It will not only be about the money, but he would have addressed a gap in the market. He would have addressed what most people have been waiting for. He would have opened doors, created jobs and changed the nation. Such problems are a blessing to entrepreneurs because to them; this is are not problems, but a gap in the market.
Actually, let me talk about the she-friend of my who loves Brazilian hair and all sort of types of weaves. I won’t say much about her, because she is doing the advice: She is selling what she loves, and recently I have been advising her to build an e-commerce website, build an authentic brand, patent her products and market her business on social media. With persistence, patience and a good strategy, her business will grow exponentially.
While pondering these thoughts, I began to understand: why most entrepreneurs start their businesses, companies or start-ups around their passion, talent or hobby.
In fact, most start-ups from Silicon Valley were or are started by tech lovers, internet lovers, and social media lovers. They, just love the internet, the web or technology in general. what DRIVES them is the love and passion for it. Not only the money side of things.
Should we say? Their success stems from their passion. I don’t know, you judge…
I believe that this question is a self-awareness question and in my opinion; I believe that great entrepreneurs are great because they understand the idea of starting a business around their hobby (what they love), their passion (what excites them as a person) and their talent (what comes naturally out of them)
I think it was Steve Jobs who said “You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it.”
Talk about an entrepreneur who gave the world the best of the best quality and built an incredible brand. He knew the secret of doing what you love. He not only built a product, he connected with what he was building. He understood that the key to changing the world is to do what you love.
He was in a business of doing what he loves.
Just think, for instance, take a moment and think and reflect on these thoughts… 🤔
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT…
Entrepreneurship is hard. It is not easy. And if you’re in it for the end results, then you’re in for it for a long run. For, example if you don’t love what you do, you are going to quit.
Personally, this is why I’m not a fan of forex, cryptocurrency or some network marketing pyramid schemes.
A lot of people are in these things because of the money, the urge for an overnight success and ridiculous fame…
They use people, and they are more about keeping up with the jones; they are like politicians who promise change and at the end of the day; they succeed in it. And never deliver. A lot of them are in these things because there’s a lot of money on the table. It is like a politician who wants to win the election, why? because they are interested in the power that is in the ruling of the government, than in people. It is like playing lotto and say you’re an entrepreneur.
Before you condemn me, this is why you should know that: my content is more about perspectives, mindset, self-awareness, and the understanding of the culture of entrepreneurship.
BECAUSE…
There is a difference between being in business for money and being in business for entrepreneurship, period.
When you’re in entrepreneurship for the sake of money. You’ll do the things you don’t even love, you’ll sabotage your values, beliefs and you’ll suffocate. Your life will be boring on the inside, and lovely on the outside. You will forever chase, and never find. You’ll live in a CYCLE.
Because you are more interested in money rather than building a business and a brand.
I think you’ll understand why most of this schemes, have a lot of following. It is because people are more interested in the money rather than finding their passions, or hobbies and in turn build a business out of it. If you’re a painter, build a business or career out of it. If you love pool, swimming, social media, TV content, status, law, engineering, writing, speaking, cricket, media photography, dogs, or whatever; build a real business out of it
Why not ask yourself; why most people are unhappy and miserable while they have great executive jobs. Why are they unhappy with their incredible sales, commissions, and salaries?
Because most of the people who are unhappy, they are doing what they don’t love.
Have you ever had a look into the lives of billionaire tech entrepreneurs? They live like they not billionaires, it is no longer about materials. That should teach us something…
They are more about building incredible companies that are changing the world.
Again this is my philosophy, my mindset and my approach of entrepreneurship. I could be wrong. That is why I’m offering entrepreneurship lessons, why? Because entrepreneurship, unlike school it allows you to fail or be wrong. And the best advice of all is: never take advice.
In, conclusion
Why then should you start a business around your hobby, passion or talent?
Just like Gary Vaynerchuk says it “I think a lot of people should build their businesses around their interest and their hobbies, because I think it’s a better life to be happy, and make $200 000 dollars a year and be happy, rather than make a million and be miserable. Unhappiness is unsustainable.”
Personally, I believe that success is much easier when you do what you love because even when you fail; you will just love/enjoy the process and journey of entrepreneurship.
You’ll connect and relate with your market or customers. You’ll sell a demand, and you’ll be able to solve problems and provide real-life solutions Why? because the world needs more game changers, the world needs inspirational entrepreneurs, rather than chancers.
We are in a world whereby unemployment, the collapse of economies and equality amongst societies is too high. And the only solution is entrepreneurship. Don’t be another SCAMMER!!
By Siya Success (Check out his blog here)
