What's Your Passion?

In 2005, Harris Interactive released a study, which found that only 20% of American workers are passionate about what they do. Wow, only 20%! That is really incredible if you think about it. This means 80% of the working population feels on some level, unhappy, dissatisfied, and unfulfilled. In all likelihood, 4 out of every 5 people you meet are frustrated, under-enthused and not feeling like they are living their “purpose”.

Entrepreneurs are the lucky ones.

Most likely you started your business because you have such a strong passion for the products and services that you offer.

If your passion is strong, you’ve got a clear vision, AND a plan in place with well designed strategies to execute your vision and goals then you’ve got a really good shot at being successful with your own business. What’s really exciting is that you can market your businesses today in ways that didn’t even exist a couple of years ago. How? By creating your own platform both online and offline by using incredibly effective social media tools such as blogging, twitter, facebook, online radio shows and online TV.

Is there a learning curve?  For sure.

Do the rules of the game change often?  Without a doubt.

But here’s what is so exciting. You can really “stand” out and become more visible if you are willing to embrace a whole new way of “doing” business.

First let’s talk about wine. (I’ll tell you why in just a minute)

I basically know very little about wine, other than a few incidentals based on my own family history. Because my mom was a native German, I was introduced to local white wines that came from the area of my German relatives. So I know my way with those super long German names on wine bottles. Bottom line, I basically know what tastes good to me and occasionally have a glass now and then.

Just in the last couple of weeks, wine popped on my ‘radar screen”. First was that I heard an interview that my friend and mentor, Gina Ratlliffe hosted with a really smart and energetic guy named Gary Vaynerchuk, who has his own online TV show called Wine Library TV. I checked out his web site, watched a few of his videos (really good) and watched a clip of Gary introducing wine to Ellen DeGeneres (and laughed out loud, it’s a funny segment, check it out) The really powerful thing that I learned here was what Gary is such a great example of being a really smart businessman AND an authentic, genuine person. By blending his passion and using the “cool” new social networking tools Gary Vanderchuk is becoming very successful and a bit of a celebrity. On a personal side note, it sparked some interest on my part to learn more about wine. It’s pretty interesting once you learn more.

Bottom line, if you really love what you are doing and are good at it, there is no better time than now to prosper from your passion.

Why? Now more than ever, people crave the “real deal”, they want to know like and trust who they are buying from. Authenticity, truth and transparency are what we all respond to. This is the “perfect storm” for who are willing to grow their businesses by creating and using an online platform via blogs, tweets, YouTube, and other social media opportunities.

If a wine enthusiast can do it, so can you!