PROVEN STRATEGIC NAVIGATION

_{Passion is overrated. Commitment is better.}

I recently read a KPMG High Growth Technology Group post titled “Which comes first – the idea or the passion?” which concluded that they are a ‘little chicken and egg – nobody can quite agree which comes first!”

I’m not convinced that the emphasis on passion is either important or logical. I get turned off when someone says “I’m passionate about my idea” in an investment pitch.

Stating that you are passionate about your business says very little about the potential of success of the project, but begs questions of your character.

Passion is a very intense emotion. Passion infers obsession. Businesses operate better when directed from a rational mind.

Entrepreneurship requires a degree of obsession, but not so far that it overlooks the rational mind. Commitment adopts a clearer path.

The very nature of the early stage of entrepreneurship in its fixation on a single idea can heighten qualities that are useful as short-term aids but not for the long-term.

There needs to be a distinction between obsession, passion and commitment.

Commitment is “persistence with a purpose”. A commitment is a promise to do or not do something. It’s a pledge or an obligation.

 "Objectives are not fate; they are direction. They are not commands; they are commitments. They do not determine the future; they are means to mobilize the resources and energies of the business for the making of the future." --Peter Drucker

I want to hear about your commitment strategy. How will you continually improve what you are doing to reach your objective? Passion and obsession too easily dismiss the reality that your first guess about how you are going to achieve your goals will probably be wrong. It means you stick to the wrong things when the signals are telling you something you don’t necessarily want to hear. Flexibility is key to success. Single mindedness and tenacity provide the clarity of direction.

Determination, passion and obsession alone will not make your business succeed when other factors are not in tune.