Can you Really Make Money Doing What you LOVE?

Fact:  There are lots of cranky people who will hear you talk about your business or your idea – and they’ll tell you to “get real.”

They’ll remind you that 6 million people start a business each year.

They’ll tell you that one out of three of these will fail.

They have no stomach for phrases like “follow your passion.”

But, let’s not fault these grouchy self-proclaimed realists, okay?

After all, building a successful business isn’t for wimps.  And yes, it IS challenging at times.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t succeed.

Take me for instance.

I started out soaring high on my crazy-ass music dream convinced that if I built it, then the money, fame and fans would flock to my door.

When that didn’t happen in a month or two, I was crushed.

But then I learned how to build and run a business that supported the work I loved to do.

And when it came time to change my business model into coaching and training, I did that almost effortlessly based upon what I had already learned along the way.

And guess what?  I never had to get grouchy or drop my original passion.  (In other words, I know what I’m talking about here.)

So, here are 5 truths about building a successful business doing what you LOVE”¦

1 – Growth is Often Proportional to Investment.

One of the gifts of owning your own business is that you learn how to be financially empowered and how to invest in yourself while creating a high return on that investment.

The old employee mindset says:  “Hey, when the company pays for it, I’ll do it.”

As an entrepreneur, if you live in this entitled state-of-mind, you’ll never succeed.

You must learn to see money differently – which means that money is not something you “lose” when you spend it.  Instead, you INVEST in your growth and education.

2 – Clarity Trumps Practicality.

One of the most common questions I get from clients is this:

“Do you think my idea is practical, given this crazy economy?”

My answer is based on years of experience.  You must decide to do it first, and then you can look at the practical aspects of it.  That is the power of your commitment.

“Practical” is often a procrastination device! (Apologies to the sworn skeptics out there.)

Clarity trumps practicality. When someone is clear, and they take action from that place of clarity – then practicality becomes much more do-able.

(One of the “Laws of Money” that I will teach in my free Money Master Class is that “Money Likes Clarity.”

3 – Systems are Sexy.

If you are an entrepreneur, you’re probably great at “winging it.”

Only problem is that you live in chaos, and everything on your to-do list is urgent.  Keep this up – and you’ll eventually burn out.

Systems require that you step back and look at your daily activities.

Systems require that you ask: “How does this work? How can I make it work better?”

Systems allow you to step away from your work, take vacations, have weekends – and most blessedly, have lots of free space in your mind for creativity.

4 – Ignoring Marketing Doesn’t Make You Humble.  (It makes you fail.)

I used to be a fan of the mantra: “Do what you love, and the money will follow.”  It’s a beautiful philosophy. And true on some levels.

But I also used it as a way to ignore the business side of my work.

After all, hey, if I’m aligned with my purpose, the cash will follow – then I don’t ever have to deal with it, right?

Uh, wrong.

I’ve since learned that avoidance is not a game plan.  Neither is hope.

Just because you’re scared to market yourself doesn’t mean you can’t do it!

When you learn how to authentically market yourself, you’ll never need money again.

5 -Be the Pioneer AND the Engineer.

Your Pioneer self is your right brain.  The right brain is far superior when it comes to writing, consulting, coaching, creating programs, training, speaking, and all of the stuff that makes your business great.  You will want to go there often.

The problem is that many people ONLY want to live in the right brain. (Hey, it’s a pretty happenin’ place!)

However, your Engineer (your left brain) must play a role in your success.  That’s because you need to communicate, strategize, build a team, create systems and do numbers, too.

In other words, a successful business owner is both a Pioneer AND an Engineer.  When you understand this, business gets a lot easier.

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Leave a comment and tell me which one of these has been your biggest learning curve as you grew your business”¦?

10 COMMENTS ADD A COMMENT
  • Pragnya Mishra

    #4 hits me hard. A brilliant post and I got a list of plans to works.

  • Neha Sharma

    Brilliant post. I am struggling to use my left brain to work in favor of me though.

  • Bonny

    Hi Christine,
    I followed this post from the one on systems, and both are awesome. I’ve been realizing that I’ve got to get out of the “transaction” oriented business style and move into something that can be replicated. I’m a writer, so it’s harder. However, I’m planning to share my knowledge in the form of online writing workshops. So your information will help me get those systems in place. Thank you!

    I’ve always said I should have been an engineer instead of a writer, if I wanted to make a living. Now I can be both! I look forward to your webinar, The Money Class tonight (April 2016.)

  • Amrita

    I think no.5 is the most difficult for me.None of the family or friends get this thing. So its a bit Uphill!

  • Danelle

    Reading your insights is like drinking a favorite stiff drink or favorite cup of specialty coffee. I can never get enough…and always want more. I am signed up for your Up Level program for 2013 and your words always resonate so well with me. I have my Master’s in Education and much of that included brain research and how that affects people. I am not teaching now, but an entrepreneur and I love all your references to right brain vs. left brain skills. It really does affect so much of how we operate. I am finding it so hard to wait for Up Level Your Business to get started. I have devoured all of the additional freebie programs already. Looking forward to next week.

  • Patty Ceglio

    Hi Christine
    Thanks for sharing the wisdom. It’s nice to see it packaged in a wonderfully tight bubble. (See the little lightbulbs now appearing over my head?) As a creative, sensitive, visual thinker, sparking the creative-thinking side is not the obstacle though I can run amok easily. It’s like I need a grounding, a sticking point, some duct tape to get me to sit still long enough for ideas to blossom fully.

  • Herdis Pala

    I think marketing is the thing I most have to work on – the other four I´m doing better at.
    It´s just that I have so much business in my company so I don´t really have/take the time to work on my marketing! But I would probably attract more of my ideal peeps and have more free time if I did some more marketing, that is market what I mostly would like to sell, which is not 100% aligned with what I´m selling right now and I´m still doing too much hours for dollars….

  • Christine Springer

    Hi Christine- #3 and #4 hit me in the gut! I used to think “if I do good work, the results will speak for themselves and I won’t have to do all that marketing stuff.” You have taught me that marketing serves clients (and isn’t bragging). Thanks for the help! Always good to be reminded of these tips.