The think (here) Blog

Today Tt(h)B continues its exploration of three interdisciplinary techniques and traits that successful entrepreneurs and Olympic Champions have in common.  If you missed part 1 on Uncompromising Devotion, click here.

Trait #2: Do it for LOVE

Entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk crushes his passion.  Olympic Champion Shaun White says it's all about having fun.

It does not matter how hard you think you are willing to work, it does not matter how talented you are, and it REALLY does not matter what others think about you.  If you have two people fighting for the same thing, the person who truly cares, who is more passionate, and whose heart is in the right place will come out on top. Why? As Gary Vaynerchuk puts it, if you are not as passionate, "You are going to be out hustled. Period."

This is not something you can fake. At the end of the day, if you are not the most passionate player on the field you wont be nearly as prepared, nearly as motivated, or nearly as flat out amped as the person you are competing against who is. If you are trying to be the best at something, you better make damn sure you are doing it for the right reason.  Make sure you are doing it for the LOVE of it.

For those of you clamoring that this "does not apply to entrepreneurs in the real world" I invite you to watch the video below.  It is Steve Jobs (yes... that Steve Jobs) giving a commencement speech to the Stanford class of 2005. Answer this: Was it a love of computers and typography that fueled his fire, or did he have dollar signs in his eyes?

Are you working for the LOVE of your craft/idea/service or are you just wasting your time?  Do you agree?  Disagree? Do you think all this talk of "Doing it for the LOVE of it" is trivial hippie banter?  Leave a comment below and weigh in with your opinion.

Want to see How to be an "Olympic" Entrepreneur: Part 3?  Click here.