Then the world sets in.

In order to achieve success we must consistently do the work each day to make our dreams come true. We keep driving forward with our passions even when that rush wears off.

When you choose yourself to start something, it is up to you to make it work! You do get to be your own boss, but guess what? You are a much harder boss to work for than anyone else. You can’t call in sick if you aren’t! Because as the boss, you know you aren’t really sick. You won’t be lazy about getting your product shipped or the service taken care of because you know that if business starts to slump, you will be back to working for someone else!

One thing I have told my students each semester is the secret of how to retire young. Here it is: “Find what you would do whether you were paid or not. Find a way to make that pay and you will never have to work another day in your life!” It sounds so simple, but that second part is the rub. Finding someone to pay you to do what you love isn’t always easy. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it! When you think of the happiest and most successful people, they have passion for what they are doing with their lives. They may or may not have a lot of money, but they have true fulfillment in doing what satisfies their soul. Their life is full of purpose! So, start living your life with passion on purpose and you may find that you not only are very fulfilled in what you do, but that you are extremely successful too! You can choose yourself! You can decide what you will do with your future!

So what are you going to do?

For example: Where I work, almost every department is “getting by” while understaffed. The university has worked hard on its 15 year plan to reduce the number of courses each full time professor is expected to teach as part of his/her contract. The problem is that this has not been offset by hiring of sufficient faculty to make up for the reduced teaching loads and take into consideration the constant growth of the school. We have averaged 100 students a year growth since 1992! The crazy I would like to propose is that we quit kidding ourselves about the “ideal teaching loads” and go back to teaching 5 or even 6 classes as our contract load. For those of you outside academia who read this, I am suggesting the basic idea of working a 60 hour week for the 40 hour pay. This would save the institution money in the short run which could free up funds for the hiring of additional faculty in the long run. It would also allow us to do our primary duty which is to offer all of the courses to the students that are needed for those students to graduate. The increased teaching load could be offset some by reducing the expectations of professional service (Involvement in professional organizations) and by reducing the expectations of professional publication.

(I think I heard the thud of someone on the faculty fainting and their body hitting the floor as they read this.)

What could your business do that might seem ludicrous to even suggest but that would make things run better for the organization?

In whatever you do, can you answer the question? Why do you do the things you do? Apple Inc. changed its name from Apple Computers Inc. because the “Computers” part was limiting. They don’t sell just computers. In fact their “Why” isn’t just about technology. The “Why” of Apple Inc. hasn’t changed since its beginning. While the “What” and “How” may have changed over the years, the “Why” is that they challenge the status quo. They want to make things happen that people didn’t know were possible.

People don’t buy “What” or even “How”. They buy “Why”. I currently work at an institution of higher education. We cost less than most of our competition. We pay less than them as well. Being a lower cost institution isn’t the “Why”. When we answer the questions of “Why we do the things we do” it comes down to things that are less tangible. We are here to see one more kid come to know Jesus as her Savior.  Secondly, we are here to see the student get a great education and graduate with a diploma that means something. It is in that order. Your reasons may not be “spiritual” or “religious” in nature. Even great Atheists know the answer to “Why” they do what they do.

If we look at any great organization, any great company, any great church we can find that the answer of “Why they do the things they do” is something that every person in the organization not only can answer but believes in with all their being. Your job isn’t about the “What”, it is the “Why. If you don’t know the answer to that question, I hope you will do some soul searching to find the “Why” in what you are doing.

Why do you do the things you do? And who do you do them for?

Are you starting to lead? Are you wondering how to get that trust? Take a hard look at yourself. What is the basis of your moral compass? Can you chart your course by it? When you have your focus, people will find your passion contagious. Leadership isn’t easy, but it isn’t rocket science either. The difficulty is doing the little things each day in the right way every time.

Who are the leaders that you look up to? What is it about them that you admire?