How to Build a Business Others Want to Buy

Chapter 8How to choose a business idea that will succeed

‘Follow your passion and the money will follow.’

‘Don't chase the money. Chase your dream.’

‘Make your passion your pay cheque.’

Bollocks.

We get fed a lot of nonsense about how it's possible to make money from your passion. That you can do, be and have whatever you want and be paid handsomely for it.

That's somewhat true.

It's true if you're truly gifted at something and have a lot of luck; if you're hard as nails and can show real grit at committing to a difficult skill; if you have rich, well-connected relatives who are willing to help you along.

These mantras would make sense if we were all created equal, but we're not. Some people have more talent, luck, looks and money than others. You're kidding yourself if you think there's an equal playing field and that simply by ‘following your passion’ or even ‘working hard’, you'll level it. It's not that simple.

Don't get me wrong. I'm the most positive, ridiculously upbeat person you'll ever meet. I ooze optimism; it's in my DNA. I'm the last person to tell someone they can't do something.

But the concept that you can become a multimillionaire overnight from your hobby or passion has a few flaws and I'd like to point them out because this wholesale belief that passion trumps everything is leading people astray.

Should you follow your bliss?

You can make money from anything but you need to work out how much money you want to make. And that comes back to the age-old question ...