Turn Your Passion into Business and Marketing Success

Copyright © 2005 Beth Woodward

Words I have heard repeated consistently from successful
entrepreneurs are "... you have to love what you do to be a
success" or "...whatever you do, do what you love." I am here
to validate those words and uphold their significance and impact.

Have you found you would like something much more gratifying
in your career?

- Branching out into your own business but you’re not
exactly sure what you want to do or,

- Knowing what you want but not very excited about the
marketing part of having a business?

There are many research sources available o­nline or right
in your own community. You will find great statistics and
programs available to help you with your search. I will
provide you with an additional approach. The importance of
following your passions and your strengths is second to
none.

I'll share my experience with you. I wanted to have my own
business, make my own hours and be filled with gratification
in the work (passion) I was providing. In my career search
I found Personal and Professional Life Coaching. It
definitely brought the gratification and passion I was
seeking, however, marketing was the last thing I wanted to
do.

I remember saying to myself, months and even a year into my
business, "who did I think I was that I could leave
corporate life and start my own business? I’m going back to
the work I know." Yes, I knew the work, but it was no
longer satisfying. Thankfully, my inner voice challenged me,
and I began to look inside at my strengths and passions. I
compared what I knew of myself to what I was doing. They
didn't match up.

Four questions came to my mind at that time and continue to
surface periodically:

- What do I want?
- What do I need?
- What was giving me energy?
- What was taking my energy?

After taking a good look at myself, my business, and the
path I was o­n, I realized the o­nly part of passion I was
following was helping others in their business and even that
was very generic. When I began to follow MY strengths, MY
passions and MY style, a niche was born...Marketing o­n The
Playground(TM). Here was the turning point: I gave myself
permission to market MY WAY and have since created programs
to help others market THEIR WAY! Isn't it funny how those
things we repel can become something we embrace when we
choose to look at it through different doorways? I knew I
enjoyed humor, play, color, helping women in their business
and being unique. At the time, I just didn't know how to
integrate what I enjoyed into a business, not to mention,
LOVE every minute of it. By focusing o­n the approach that
works for ME, a fun, dynamic and gratifying business is
evolving.

We have all heard the phrase, "you can't see the forest for
the trees". This seems to be a consistent challenge to all
of us - I’m including myself. Do not discount the most
obvious in your strengths and your foundation. Stop and
look at what you have accomplished, the expertise you have
and the network of professionals you have at your
fingertips. I.E. Have you come from a nursing background
and want to go into your own business? Look at the pieces
you have and develop what YOU want from your background and
foundation. Check out LeaRae Keyes, RN, Executive Director
of http://www.nurse-entrepreneur-network.org. Take a look
at what she has created from her background and expertise.

Here is another tip for you. Do you think we create our
businesses alone? Even though we have our home offices or
an office space outside of the home, we are human beings –
we need interaction, a pat o­n the back and different ideas
to bring substance, quality and fun into our lives and our
work. DON'T DO IT ALONE! Create a success team. I have
been meeting with my success team every week for the last
three years. I would not be where I am today without
them.

I cannot say this enough - Whatever you do, do what you
LOVE! Thank you for the opportunity to share these tips
with you - I wish you well in your business journey. Don't
forget; give yourself permission to create your business/passion.
I have no doubt of your success when following your passions
and strengths.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Beth Woodward, CPCC, CEK (Chief Executive Kid). Beth is the
creator of the popular Marketing o­n The Playground(TM) Program,
Women's "Brain" -Storming o­n The Playground(TM), and is the
author of the Marketing o­n The Playground(TM) Storybook…eBook.
Visit Beth at http://www.marketingontheplayground.com