How to know if you should give your business idea a go?
Do you sometimes have an idea for a business in your head? Sometimes, it's a small and amusing inkling. Sometimes, it's something you're serious about?
But how to know whether or not you should give it a go? Is the idea any good? Will you be passionate about it? Do you have what it takes to get it off the ground?
Since the world is complex, you can't see the finish line or simulate all the steps. You need to learn through action!
Here I write about how to figure it out!
Talent is overrated. The name of the game is practice.
The 4 Drivers of Purpose in your Life
The case for following your talent over passion. Love what you do, by doing what you’re good at.
Now, this might not be a popular opinion. But I'm here to make a case for simply and boringly following your talent instead of your passion!
Because it's clear how talent leads to enjoyment. It's less clear that enjoyment always leads to skill.
Here are 11 reasons why it's much smarter, more joyful and sexier to do what you're good at, instead of what you're passionate about.
Stop trying to find your purpose, calling or passion! You're looking the wrong way! Try focusing on their origins instead.
Find your Purpose. Find your Passion. Find your Calling. Or your Mission. And for good measure, go with the Flow.
Pff, give me a break!
Finding Passion, Flow, Purpose, Calling and Mission. All these big words. All these things to find. I don't like it. Moreover, I think it's disempowering.
Why? Three reasons: (1) Size, (2) Metaphor and (3) Misdirection of attention.
Let me explain and give you a better approach.
Jamie Varon - To Anyone Who Thinks They’re Falling Behind In Life
With the risk of adding to the pile of things you should do, but please allow yourself to simply be yourself. I think we don't have to over-stress having to be productive. Let alone stressing over the outcome. Do what you can. If you care so much that you're stressing out about it, you're already ok.
Hunter S. Thompson - On Finding Your Purpose: An Extraordinary Letter
Simon Sinek: Understanding the Game we’re Playing
Simon Sinek at his best. In a passionate address, Simon Sinek talks about the millennial generation. How what can be perceived as entitlement is really a nurtured belief that they(/we) can have it all and a trained impatience. And that the game of life/work should really be seen like a journey and progress instead of like a scavenger hunt to find quick success.
Ryan Holiday - Don’t follow your passion. It’s what’s holding you back
Letting go of something you’ve build.
It’s been 4 years (almost to the date) that we launched De Universiteit. 4 years. That’s a big chunk of time. It’s been quite a ride. And for me, that ride is coming to an end.
In this “open letter”, I want to share my thought process. My intention is to share how this decision has come about and what my reasoning was for retiring my role in De Universiteit. To share my experience and view on what we’ve created. And how it is to let something go that you’ve build. Hopefully, reading this is helpful to you and De Universiteit in some way.
Guide: Finding your Life's Purpose
Finding you life's purpose. A lot is being written about it. Part of it portraits it as getting to this blissful state. That once you have it, all your troubles seem to lift. And it will be a glorious and smooth ride afterwards. Or they say that it leads you onto dangerous paths. Where a lot of blood, sweat and tears are involved. But mostly, and maybe the most ominous of all, that it is absolutely the first thing you should do before getting started on something.
So these are the extremes. I agree with some of it and disagree just as fully. So I decided to make my own guide to navigating the grey areas of this big project of Finding your Life's Purpose. It’s based on what I’ve experienced in the last few years. When I quit my job. Did loads of projects. Read everything about it I could get my hands on. All to find something resembling a purpose. I hope it brings you joy.
Unmistakable Creative - The Instigator Compass
Without having a plan for the outcome, this writing project turned into a beautiful collection of essays on finding a compass in creative work. A compass that is needed in the life of any artists (writers, entrepreneur, painters etc) when shit gets messy, hard and complex. Firstly finding work that matters. Then about the grit needed to see it through and actually make something worthwhile. Lastly about how to make art that touches hearts. Go! “Forever is a long time to play it safe"
Mark Manson - 7 Strange Questions that help you find your Life Purpose
Questions help guide your brain in inquiry. And finding the right questions is a powerful way to make it easier to let the answers find you. Questions like “What should I do with my life?” or “What is my life purpose?” are utterly hard to answer. But “What can I do with my time that is important?” is way more manageable. That why Mark Manson came up with 7 strange question to help you find your life purpose. First one: "What’s your favorite flavor of shit sandwich and does it come with an olive?"
Elle Luna - The Crossroads of Should and Must
“Should is how other people want us to live our lives… Choosing Must is the greatest thing we can do with our lives.” "Zou moeten" vs “Niet laten kunnen”. Zou moeten is veiliger, de hele wereld wijst die kant op. Iets wat je voelt te moeten maar wat niemand je vertelt is heel eng! Wat nou als ik gek ben om dat te denken. Dan toch liever de kleine pijn van het zekere. Eigenlijk al genoeg gezegd. Lees dit essay. Ook voor de schitterende illustraties erbij! Brainpickings heeft er ook een mooie post over en ze was onlangs ook op de podcast bij Unmistakable Creative.