Have Fun, Will Prosper

Rule # 3 from "The Entrepreneur"

January 20, 2005

The successful entrepreneurs that you see today didn't get there by simply sitting pretty on a park bench.  They all paid their dues at one time or another, and almost all of them would claim that they had to work long, extra hours during the early days of their enterprise, just so they could keep it alive. Working 16 hours a day for months, getting a respite from it all only when asleep, isn't extraordinary for these people. 

These people can keep themselves continuously immersed in their work because of a simple secret - they all love their work.  Well, that's not even a secret, if you think about it.  Since childhood we've heard the adage 'enjoy your work' from various people.   Only, most people think of this as a cliche to help them get by with their boring, daily routines.   Not with successful entrepreneurs though - they really enjoy what they're doing, without having to be reminded to do so.

According to William Heinecke, author of the book 'The Entrepreneur', a person will not invest time and energy in his work if he doesn't enjoy doing it.  The book, which presents the 21 golden rules for the global business manager, has this for its rule # 3: "Have fun in your work so you'll be committed to it."  In all his years in business and with all his connections, Heinecke states that he has yet to know a successful entrepreneur who thinks that his work is boring.

It goes without saying, therefore, that any budding entrepreneur must go into a line of business that's related to what he considers fun.  Better yet, he must go into something that he genuinely loves, or is even passionate about. It should be an enterprise that he can think about all day while he's awake, and can dream about all night while he is asleep. 

Thus, if you love cars, then opening an auto-repair shop or a car restoration facility may be a logical choice.  If you love cooking and eating, then going into food business would be best for you.   Fashion is probably your passion if you're always dying to try out new clothing designs and signature apparel.  Can't leave that computer program you're writing all morning long? Then having your own software business can probably make you rich someday.

Many successful entrepreneurs even trace their businesses to their childhood hobbies.  I know a person who has always had several aquariums at home since he was a kid, who is now a top-notch breeder and exporter of ornamental fishes.  And guess what the childhood hobby was of a well-known business man in the country who now owns a chain of hobby shops, which all started as a simple comic book store.  Of course, we shouldn't forget another prominent businessman who now owns, among other businesses, a well-known chain of music stores.  Don't we still see him around playing beautiful music with his band?  And it's not for more money, I'm sure.

Now what if you find yourself in a business that you don't like?  Heinecke immediately knew what to do when he found himself in such a situation.  He sold his fast food business in China as soon as he felt he's not enjoying it anymore, even if it was making money for him.  To him, spending time on something that he doesn't enjoy doing is, well, a waste of time.

The primary reason why one must have enthusiasm for and commitment to his business becomes emphasized during times of crisis.  When unforeseen circumstances start melting your investments away,  your only supply of courage and will to survive will be your obsession to keep your business alive. You'd simply get going, and going, because you wouldn't want to lose your source of pride and joy - your business.

In "The Entrepreneur", Heinecke recounted how greatly they were devastated by the Asian crisis of 1997.  He said, "It was touch-and-go for a while and I had many sleepless nights as I watched the baht plummet against the dollar and interest rates rise to painful levels.... A crisis like that really tests your commitment.... there is no doubt that I was under more pressure and had to work harder than I had in years...thank God I enjoy what I do.  It made all the pain worthwhile!"

Well said, Mr. Heinecke.

See also:   Find a Vacuum and Fill It;   Do Your Homework;   Work Hard, Play Hard;  

Use Other People's Brains;   Set Goals;    Trust Your Intuition;    Reach for the Sky;    Learn To Sell

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