Passion to business

A lot of motivational speakers about business ideas would tell you to think of your passion, and turn them into a great business. you would earn whilst you do the thing you love so they say and Because it sounds like a juicy offer we jump on it without really thinking about it and knowing if that is what is right for us at the time. image source

I would use myself as a typical example...

I love cleaning a lot, in my school days if I get bored or feel unhappy about anything I would just pick up a broom and duster, rearrange the whole room, lay everyone’s bed, and just clean, even if I had done that the day before. I was truly in love with cleaning so when I am asked what my passion is I didn't have to think so much I would say cleaning.

I remember the long seminar during my *NYSC( National youth service corps) about being entrepreneurs and starting up businesses based on our passion because it pays. I was determined and excited to turn this passion into a business.

I got a business name (ECLEAN SERVICES), registered my small business with the government, bought cleaning materials, rented some machines, employed part-time- staff (2 at the time)got a uniform for my staff, attended some cleaning training. I was ready in all sense.

in my head I knew I had DOT all my I’s and crossed my T’s.

photo from My first ever job with my staffs at the time

I learned all about digital marketing and was ready to get clients which surprisingly I got easily but after over 1 year of trying and trying to keep the business afloat I realized I was pumping too much money into the business and I almost started hating this so-called passion

But what happened?

it was not profitable: a lot of things went wrong when it came to money, the clients were paying well but expenses were too much, from staff management to transportation and restocking cleaning items after each service I had barely enough to go by.
I lost the enjoyment I derived from my passion: after a few jobs I fell out of love with it, I became too lazy to clean my home when I had to clean other people's homes. The pressure was too much and too much expectation was needed I had to. ask me sometimes why I even thought for a second it was my passion.

Being an entrepreneur in my country Nigeria can be frustrating, then working with people who possibly do not share this passion but just want to be paid even when they had done a shitty job was annoying and in no time I even realized that it seems my passion had changed, I started this business solely based on how much I loved cleaning my space and now I wouldn't find my self doing it except when necessary.

I gave up and ended it all.

The question I failed to ask the speaker at the time was what if my passion changes like it did for me, Where do we go from there?

Luckily this passion for business works for a lot of people but experience has taught me not to go into a business solely on passion.

I still look forward to owning a profitable business someday, but I would take my time with proper planning and strategizing before going into any new business.

To business owners, did you go into your business solely because of passion? And how has it been for you?

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