Entrepreneurs top common skills (1) – Passionate Leadership

It is commonly assumed that successful entrepreneurs are driven by money. Nevertheless in my opinion, most of them would tell you that they are motivated by a passion for their product or service. They are passionate about the opportunity to solve a problem and make life easier, better, or cheaper. They will end up making money in due course, but it is not the main objective in their lives.

When talking to successful entrepreneurs you quickly realize that they all share a common trait: an intense and compelling emotion, a strong desire, a deep enthusiasm for their projects. And you know what? - This is contagious. They start leading with passion from the word go when talking about their endeavors. This is how passion works amongst entrepreneurs.

This passionate vision about the future allows them to naturally create a mission for their projects and mobilize others to contribute in many different fashions. It creates a sense of belonging, a shared belief, a shared passion.

I can tell you that I haven´t met a single entrepreneur up to now who wasn´t fueled with a powerful passion about what he was doing.

Let me share with you a couple of the examples that I found inspiring:

Henry Ford was indeed a “passionate leader”: he just kept going, despite business failure (the Ford Motor company was actually his third attempt to start an automobile manufacturing company), and others’ dismissal of his ideas. His passion finally led him to achieve his dream.

Another great example of passionate entrepreneur is the African-American Oprah Winfrey. She is well known by “The Oprah Winfrey Show” which was the highest rated program of its kind (talk show) in history. It rated number one in the US from 1986 to 2011. She is considered one of the most influential women in the world. Today she continues driving her business with the same passion that she showed in the early years. We have to admit that over 25 years of constant passion is something remarkable.

And to finalize this post let me introduce two quotes about the subject that I found brilliant:

“There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” - Nelson Mandela

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”- Oprah Winfrey

Next week something about sales…