Tom Markiewicz

I woke up on my birthday this past Saturday morning and thought about the day ahead. What did I want to do today?

I think it says a lot about where your passions lie, when on a day you can legitimately do most anything you want (a birthday and a Saturday), on how you plan your activities.

For me, far in advance I knew I wanted to go climbing. Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating. Apart from climbing, I really wanted to work on my new project (a soon to be announced web application). And after a few good hours of working, to then spend the afternoon and evening with my wife.

The point I’m trying to make is that you need a strong passion for your idea to be an entrepreneur. How many normal people choose to work on a day off where most would relax?

Let me be clear that I’m not necessarily advocating all work and no play (hey I wanted to go climbing on Saturday). And I wholeheartedly believe in the notion of work-life balance. But I think what you want to do in your “free” time can tell you a lot.

I’m not sure it’s enough to simply have a business idea and work towards execution. It takes more than that. That’s where passion for what you trying to accomplish comes in. The passion simply must be there. Otherwise, when you’re discouraged or frustrated or flat out exhausted you will keep working and press on.

One of my favorite quotes touches on this:

It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the
strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done better.
The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose
face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly;
who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great
enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy
cause; who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement; and
who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his
place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know
neither victory or defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt

Where does persistence and drive come from? Maybe a deep passion for what we’re doing?

So the next time you’re trying to start on your next big idea, take note of what you feel like doing that Saturday morning.

Popularity: 45% [?]