Is It Profits Or Is It Passion?
By: Sandi Krakowski
Saturday afternoon I posted a question on Facebook that I didn't really intend to have become the focus of this newsletter, but it would be a disservice if I didn't share the things that transpired.
The best book that I have read this entire year is entitled, "Delivering Happiness" by Tony Hsieh. I began reading last week and am going on my second pass through the book. It inspired me to ask this question of my over 2800 friends on Facebook,
"What would you do with $ 1 million dollars?"
I said that the best answer chosen would win a free copy of the book, "Delivering Happiness" and that if the winner was an overseas client, I'd give them an iTunes gift card to get the same audio book, read and written by Tony.
The results were something that caused me to then expand the contest a little. I added about 2 hours later, after reading through 17 people's response of what they would do with a million dollars, a free book, a one hour coaching appt with me and access to the private mentor call we're doing this Thursday. Answers began to pour in even more. People began to write me through direct messages, through email and any other way they could get access to me. Several asked me if anyone else would be reading this. Others praised me and said how exciting it was to see so many stimulating their dreaming capacity wide open and thinking beyond their current box.
Answers came that varied but included things like:
– I'd pay off all of my debt
– I'd give God 10% and then donate the rest to reputable organization and ministries
– I'd start a school
– I'd build a bigger business
– I'd invest some of it
– I'd take some of this and put it into an offshore bank account
– I'd start an organic garden to harvest all of the lost seeds we're missing
– I'd fund adoptions
– I'd teach others to sing
– I'd give others a break and retreat center
– I'd care for single mothers
….. and the list really did go on and on and on.
When I built my first company that grew to be past the 7-figure mark in sales my honest ambition was not always profits. It was to serve well, have a blast with the kitchenware we sold (having it in our own kitchen), seeing how many companies I could make nervous by the amount of sales we did, grow my list past 30,000 clients and so forth. Sadly some months I was found on my face in my office begging God to let us sell enough juicers or coffee makers to meet our ends budget. It was the only company I built on debt and a 30-day net. Today all of my companies after that have been debt free.
But along the way, I spent 31 months in the industry of direct sales and network marketing. Making mastery of closing skills, being able to close a room, sell from a conference line, from a stage, over a video and anywhere else I could find a breathing human became my goal. We were able to pay off our debt, I broke company records, I had a great time and along the way it seemed like the 'numbers' and the 'money'….. were all I thought of. I had to give my 'story' of how much we made, how much we closed, how many people in my organization, how the percentages were in my skills. Frankly, at about 30 months I felt like I would vomit if I had to create one more 'record breaking result' ….. and because we were out of debt, I retired. I removed myself entirely from that industry and didn't care if I closed another business kit in my entire life.
My passion was gone and I could give a rip about profits.
We relocated when my husband had a major job transfer and I settled in to write sales copy for large and small companies. Making a great living happened again quiet speedily but I held back from groups, from large speaking engagements, from having to tell my 'story' and from trying to break any records.
I got bored.
I got sick.
I got frustrated.
Then….. I realized I was created for passion. My DNA is wired for a challenge. My body thrives, stays well and has the utmost energy when I am seeking a target and going after it with all that I have. 99% is failure… I have to do it all or go home.
And…. something very significant occurred in my business. When I sought passion, good people, service, integrity and honor….. my income soared again.
A principle in business that Tony Hsieh speaks of often is passion. Far too many business trainers, coaches and marketers tend to get way too new agey and feely feely when it comes to talking about passion. You'd think they were referring to having sex with their business the way they talk about it. This is only one view of passion. Passion in life empowers you to the core, it affects your heart, your mind, your spirit and your soul. It creates a plumline for you, a point of reference, a litmus test in decision making.
Passion is what you were given in your DNA when you were being created in your mother's womb. It's different for all of us… so for me to say that your passion should be like mine, this would gravely mistaken.
But the answers I heard from people who gave me their dreams, their passions and their desires varied so much that I realized again that passion is the fuel to business success.
Here's a key to take to the bank.
Live your life out loud with passion now, even if you only earn $ 15,000 per year. Money will not give you power to help others, it won't give you resources to feed others, it won't give you the 'blank check' you might be thinking or dreaming of. Passion on the other hand, will take you beyond the bank, into the realm of the impossible, into the arena of doing things you have no skill for but believe you can, into the area of 'Wonderland' where your beliefs control your life far more than you ever dreamed possible.
Alice said it well in the movie, "Alice In Wonderland" when she said, "Sometimes I believe 6 impossible things before breakfast. "
Create your dream board, plan out your goals and envision your future. But today, now, live your life like you already have $ 1 million dollars. It's can be in your heart, it can be seen through the things you do with your time and it can take your passion farther than you ever dreamed was possible.
Thank you for all who gave me your input! I'm sending blessings and best wishes to you, that you will live your life out loud… NOW.
