This post was most recently updated on February 23rd, 2014
When several of my internet marketing clients struggled to define niches for themselves this week, I was compelled to write about passion. Passion is the first step for ANY business. If we are passionate about what we do, we are excited each and every day to get our message out and talk about it. The internet gives us a great platform for doing this.
I walk my clients through several steps designed to help rid them of the old voices in their heads. These are the voices that remind them constantly of what they cannot do. They must be replaced with new voices, those that reinforce them in doing what they love.
FIRST
I start by asking the question, “What is your passion?” There almost always comes a dead air space when I ask this. Frequently, they give me a surface answer like: “I want to make money, I want to be the top of my team, I don’t really know”. These are common answers for those who have never probed deeply enough to unearth what their motivations are for living the life they do.
SECOND
I tell them that Passion is what is in your heart. It’s what you enjoy talking about and sharing with others. Forget your business plan for a moment and tell me what excites you. What inspires and excites you, and what do you know and want to learn more about.
The answers start to come. They start talking about gardening, home schooling, children, etc. They really start to open up now… jabbering about how wonderful it is to have their hands in the dirt while nurturing a seeded plant. Whatever the case may be, they start talking. Here I have to be an active listener. I cannot miss a beat of what they are saying.
THIRD
I then tell them “Hey, you are talking about your passion.” And I see clearly that they have fifteen blog posts in their minds and they don’t even know it. To their surprise, this revelation often links their thoughts to an action almost immediately.
Looking for our internet niche? Yes, you can blog about this all day long. It is YOU. It is YOUR PASSION. You will never run out of material when you are passionate about something. And you will never tire of engaging in the effort.
FOURTH
Once this is established in a client’s mindset, he or she feels more comfortable about setting up a blog and writing what they are passionate about. They now have a new vision of how to begin their internet “business”.
But the big question is ALWAYS “how do I make money doing this?”
Answer: Very easy! Once you are established in routinely writing about your passion, people are drawn to you. People are always attracted to those who put themselves front stage, conversing from the heart.
And your readers will share your passion. After all, this is your niche. As you are writing, you are sincerely giving answers to their problems. They will appreciate this “go-giving” process and eventually build trust.
FIFTH
Passion Builds Trust. The more you reveal your heart and share your knowledge, the more trust you will earn from people. You will start making friends and building “organic”, grass-roots relationships. Nine out of ten times you will get an email or a Facebook message designed to explore your business offerings more fully.
PASSION is in all of us.
The common mind-block is that somewhere along the line we were told that “You can’t do that” or “you’re just not smart enough”. This is the CRITIC in your mind. This is what stops most people from embarking on their journey to follow their passion. I will address this issue in my next post.
Thank you for visiting. I appreciate your comments, feedback and questions.
Donna,
What a splendid topic. You are spot on when it comes to defining one’s self, one’s interests and actually one’s destiny. Passion can point to any are of life and we are passionate about many things.
When we give The Passion Test™ so they can get their Top 5 Passions, we ask people to look into all of the areas of their lives – family, career, leisure, their physical environment, their spirituality, health and wellness, fun and service.
Some people think they know their passions until they go through the process to find all sort of other areas they love. It’s a thrill for my wife and I to provide the path and the clarity for people to get in touch with their true purpose in life. It is an absolute joy.
Thanks for speaking about one of my favorite subjects. You nailed it!
RICK
Rick Lelchuk recently posted..Extraordinary Living Through Discipline
Thank you Rick,
We often think we know what our passions are, but when we dig deeper we can find the truth.
You and your wife are doing such a great job. I love helping people grow too.
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..The Inner Marketer Day 4
Great post! I agree that we should be passionate about what we do. Being passionate about our work gives us a new perspective on our goals in life. We are much more driven in accomplishing these goals as they are what is in our hearts and minds. It is what makes us happy.
I love what you said that “Passion Builds Trust. The more you reveal your heart and share your knowledge, the more trust you will earn from people.”
These are words not to be forgotten. Thank you for your inspiring post.
If we know what is our passion then business grows up naturally because we attract like minded people that appreciate our services.
It is very important to know the pains of the target maeket we serve ( the who) in order to feed them with what they most need ( the what)
Thanks for this passion driven post Donna you are passionate an dit shows!
Hello Donna!
Wonderful post, thank you. Without passion, we might as well be dead. A life without passion, curiosity and creativity is not worth living — for it’s not living at all. It’s great to get out bed every day with a spark in your heart, a spark that lights other hearts. When your flame is lit, abundance is a natural outcome.
I like how you get your clients talking about their passion. Truth be told, I don’t think there exists a person who lacks passion. It just needs to be rekindled, that’s all. As a Life Coach myself, I applaud and celebrate your work.
Cheers!
Srinivas Reddy recently posted..Disciplining Teenagers
Thank you for your kind words. Sometimes people lock their passions up because they don’t or don’t know how to give themselves permission to unleash them. True, we all have passions, but acting on them is a life worth living.
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Twitter: workingonthego
January 24, 2012 at 8:40 pm #
Hi Donna,
So true, it is so important to work at what we like. Also when we have a passion for something we will work so much harder and are skills increase so we can give that extra value to our clients. A big thanks you for sharing this advice. Take care Rosemary
Hi Rosemary
Isn’t it a blessing to be doing what we love to do. When we have a passion and act on it to become a business, days are shorter, nights are longer. Sometimes I lose track of time just doing what I love doing.
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Love the way you explain why passion is “key” Donna! So many people talk about how important it is to follow your passion, but not everyone can bring clarity around WHY it has such an effect on a business. I can tell that you have a passion for what you are teaching!
bye for now, Julieanne
Julieanne van Zyl recently posted..A Powerful Attraction Marketing System Branding YOU
Hi Julianne, Yes I’m glad you caught that phrase of why passion is the “key.” Thank you so much for your kind words of your passion for what I’m teaching. I am truly grateful.
Blessings
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Find Your Passion | Key Lifecoach Strategies
Twitter: Amis Interactive Communities
January 23, 2012 at 7:41 pm #
Donna,
I feel so empowered to see your article is based on passion. That is all my blog is about. Your visits have paid off.
You have explained that each one of us have a uniqueness about us. We share our passions and others will be attracted to do the same. Then we show them how to generate revenue off of just sharing our passions.
That is a real business. One you’ll never loose attraction to. This has been my focus for over 27 years to share one’s passion and create a real lifestyle from just doing that. Then teaching others how to accomplish the same.
Your right, no one will run out of articles to post on their blogs knowing this technique. Let’s not forget most of all to visualize sharing our passions is the first start.
Donna, your one of our greates coaches in this awesome industry. One I am proud of to call an ethical leader. Your passion to support all is amazing and empowering.
I long for the next fantastic post.
Thank you William for your awesome comment. Following our passion is not an easy thing to do. When you think of it, we are programmed not to by our parents, school system, etc. We are groomed to go to school, get a good job and be at the mercy of some one else. Not us! We have the will to show our passion and act upon it. I see from your bloggging that you do the same.
It is true what you say that it starts out with visualizing and sharing. Thanks for all your support,
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Find Your Passion | Key Lifecoach Strategies
Great (and passionate) post Donna:)
I think passion is so important in business. I’m incredibly passionate about what I do and I’ve been told that it shows. There’s nothing worse than meeting with someone who’s like a wet fish, no oomph… it doesn’t really sell it to you does it?
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Lilach, I can see your passion by following your blog and your tweets. You are awesome in social media. And yes, Passion is so important in business. Without it, we just go along and flat line.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Find Your Passion | Key Lifecoach Strategies
That’s right. Most times, the critic inside is far worse than the external ones telling us we can’t. Even when there are others saying we can, that internal voice can heavily doubt them, causing us to under achieve.
Great post about passion. If we love it, we’ll present it in its best light and do it well.
Anne recently posted..What Is Confidence
Oh yes Anne, That “critic” inside of us is more powerful than we think it is. It takes some work to understand it and challenge it. But we must remember one thing: WE HAVE CONTROL OVER OUR MIND! That being said, we can identify that critic each time it pops up and kick it to the curb ha ha. Then go on with our passion.
Good to see you here,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Find Your Passion | Key Lifecoach Strategies
Twitter: marquitaherald
January 23, 2012 at 11:59 am #
Great process Donna – and what a cute dog! So few people actually take the time to become clear on what they really want in life. For nearly a decade I coached new entrepreneurs and one of the first things I’d ask when I started working with someone was “why” they wanted to start their own business … same dead air you mentioned in your article. Even when they finally identified their “why” every time I met with them we’d revisit it because I found as they became more relaxed and gained experience they were better able to open themselves to their authentic feelings. Thanks for the inspiration!
marquita herald recently posted..You are a Master Storyteller
Hey Marty,
I know what you mean. When coaching new entrepreneurs I always start with the “why” too. It is sort of a screening I do so I can better help them achieve their goals. When there is that dead air space, I know that I have to go to a certain direction with them. Clarity is the goal here. Once they feel comfortable most do open up.
Thanks for visiting,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Find Your Passion | Key Lifecoach Strategies
Twitter: kylenelson24
January 23, 2012 at 4:16 am #
Hey Donna,
This post could not have been implimented in my life at a better for I am in the process of becoming a certified Life Coach 🙂 I do have to agree, Passion is what drives each one of us and once we help our clients realize what there passion and purpose is in when we get results!
Thanks,
Kyle
Absolutely Kyle, Each person is different, so is each coach! Whatever modalities we use that are effective, we NEED to take each client from their own frame of reference and assist them in their passions. The secret is we all do know what it really is, but sometimes, the past has a strong influence on a person. That’s when we have to roll up our sleeves and guide them to the REALITY that they are born with certain gifts and passions, and help them understand that it is OK for them to express it.
Thanks for visiting,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Find Your Passion | Key Lifecoach Strategies
Hi Donna,
I love the way you have used your dogs as an example, (a dog that loves the snow?).
Your 5 steps of exploring what your clients passions are seems like a great approach.
It sounds similar to what I do in my writing to my inner being, when I explore how I would feel if I would do something and when I keep that in mind doing it seems to come from inspiration.
Thanks for your inspiring post and video.
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Hey Yorinda, A dog that loves the snow is my American Eskimo. Not the one in the video lol. I used the example because each of my 3 dogs have different needs and different passions. My snow dog wakes me up whenever it starts snowing to be in her natural habitat and dig her nose into the ground to find whatever there is she is looking for. My hound in the video is a sniffer. He even follows cold trails. He can turn a branch up and point at a snake on our walks,so he needs to follow his passion.
Each human being is different as you know. I love your inner being writings, and this is kind of the same path.
Exploring our inner being and finding true passion. It is difficult sometimes because of those messages from the past which I refer to as our “critic” Our critical minds that are our negative thoughts can stop us in our path. It is work, but when going on that journey, it is work well done.
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Find Your Passion | Key Lifecoach Strategies
Twitter: herbertkikoy
January 23, 2012 at 4:36 am #
Thanks a lot for this very inspiring post Donna, it is indeed true that if we find what our passion is, we enjoy the things that we love to do. When I found out that I have a passion for handling a certain group of people, I always enjoy mingling with them and find fulfillment.
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Thank you Herbert for your comment. It is so true that when you found out you had a passion for handling a certain group of people, you enjoy it. That is what passion is all about. Doing what you love to do!
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Find Your Passion | Key Lifecoach Strategies
Awesome message Donna. Live our passion and don’t complicate it. An important aspect of our life for which will allow us to focus on our prosperity and joy. Our human brains can really mess it up if we let it. Also enjoyed the video and the analogy of our pets.
Hi Lynn, when you look at it, we do complicate our lives and don’t even realize it. To me, it’s like the analogy of looking at an impressionistic painting up close. You can’t see it clearly. But when you take a few steps back, you get the whole picture! That’s how we complicate our lives sometimes. That’s when we need to take a few steps back and look into ourselves and find what we are really passionate about. The next step is the decision of taking action.
Thanks for visiting,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Find Your Passion | Key Lifecoach Strategies
Donna, thanks for the great points and tips on how to find our passion. Sometimes I get stuck in my head and lose touch of my heart. I find that journaling, taking runs/walks in nature, and just asking myself to listen to my interests/loves all help me get in touch with my passions. I’m currently reading Do What You Love, and the Money Will Follow, a classic from the 70’s (or 80’s). Kudos to you for hitting the nail on the head 🙂
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Thanks Stevie, Yes, I also take nature walks or hit that three D world to refresh myself from my computer. Journaling is another great idea to express yourself and look back to read what your heart says. I always find that Doing what you love to do will always bring prosperity. It takes a little patience, and a lot of faith, but it does come.
Thanks for visiting,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Find Your Passion | Key Lifecoach Strategies
Hi Donna,
wonderful example from the animal. Well, in the video your dog rather looks as its passion was sleeping, but anyway…
You are completely right on: Animals “know” their purpose, and so do plants. A rose bush is a rose bush – every year – and it doesn’t try to be something else every year, not even once. And that’s why it’s a beautiful rose bush, is it not ?
The same, of course, holds true for people, could hold true for them if they didn’t complicate things all the time.
Hm, I am just thinking…what if they didn’t complicate things but over-simplified them ?
See, the old recipe “Go to school, get good grades and a safe high-paying job with benefits” is a simple recipe, is it not ?
Probably a bit over-simplified, what do you think ?
Be blessed
Oliver
Hey Oliver, Yes, that wasn’t the best example of my dog lol… But he was tired after playing hide and seek. Yes we each have a purpose like you said. Animals, plants and us! We do tend to complicate things, but when we let that go, things seem to flow more naturally.
As for the old recipe, it is old isn’t it?
Thanks for your awesome comment.
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Find Your Passion | Key Lifecoach Strategies
Hi Donna,
…we can see where your passion is – Helping others! It clearly shows… Thanks, Donna.
You know, One of the most consistent responses I’ve heard from many, many successful people… “Do what you LOVE… something you really enjoy …and the money WILL come!”
Hey Cris, Yes, many successful people always say Do what you Love. As for the money, the mindset has to be of true love and passion, just knowing money will follow. If the passion is money, it is mere numbers. This can short-change some people because if they are passionate about a particular number, more could be out there and they would block that.
Money cannot be the reason for passion. I’ve seen it over and over again, and those just give up.
Passion however, brings all the money you need because you are a shining example of love….loving what you do!
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Find Your Passion | Key Lifecoach Strategies
Hey Donna,
When we find our passions we find something that is internal, everlasting giving us immense amount of drive. When we come across inevitable obstacles
we find away to overcome them because we have a very strong “WHY” behind our actions.
Very powerful message in your post!
thanks for the share!
Akos
Thank you for your wise words Akos.
We all have our passions and it is so great to tap into them. But taking action is something I try to help people with. It will only lead them to a more peaceful and abundant life.
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..Find Your Passion | Key Lifecoach Strategies