Written by: Vickie Sullivan | April 17, 2014
The Price of Passion
Many thought leaders want the spotlight for the best reasons. They want to share what they’ve learned. They want to change the world. The problem: their passion for doing that becomes their biggest obstacle.
Example: A recent conversation with an expert who wanted to share her story of adversity. Her biggest challenge was the lack of market response. She got invitations to speak for “exposure,” but no one wanted to pay her. She was being ignored in the higher-end markets and couldn’t figure out why.
I knew exactly why. Her story put her in a category that was filled with more prominent thought leaders with more compelling stories. The buyers didn’t see her uniqueness because she was surrounded by other narratives. So they ignored her.
And it gets worse: By focusing on her passion, she didn’t explore other market segments. She couldn’t see the more lucrative opportunities. She didn’t understand that she could change her market approach without changing her passion.
Moral of the story: There are a thousand places to deploy your passion. The most logical path is often filled with more prominent competitors. Go beyond your passion and find the path where you can stand out.
Other Resources You Might Like:
- Why You Never Really Know How Well Or How Bad You’re Doing
- Find Your Most Profitable Place
- Speaking In The Strike Zone