{"id":5713,"date":"2013-06-28T09:08:53","date_gmt":"2013-06-28T13:08:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iheartblank.net\/old\/?p=5713"},"modified":"2017-08-12T06:38:25","modified_gmt":"2017-08-12T06:38:25","slug":"how-do-you-define-success-passion-what-does-motivation-mean-to-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iheartblank.net\/old\/how-do-you-define-success-passion-what-does-motivation-mean-to-you\/","title":{"rendered":"How Do You Define Success & Passion? What Does Motivation Mean To You?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I almost titled this article, “The Most Successful Business Doesn’t Mean The Best Business (At Least To Me)<\/strong><\/em>” but then I decided to take a little different approach. \u00a0I’ve been thinking a lot lately about\u00a0my motivations and what exactly<\/strong> motivates me. \u00a0I usually, to a fault, try to funnel down my own personality so that I know how to deal with myself, business and life (in general) better. \u00a0Sometimes I think I think too much!<\/p>\n

While I was thinking about my motivations in business I started thinking about how I get freaked out when I see a badly run business do well. \u00a0I’ve seen a lot smarter people fail<\/strong> with their business over much less. \u00a0I’ve pondered it for a long time. \u00a0How come people go to all these seminars<\/strong>, take classes<\/strong> or even go to a business coach<\/strong> and fail but some seemly ‘bad business person<\/em>‘ can be successful.<\/p>\n

I often just wondered how much of a businesses life<\/strong> came down to luck<\/strong>, an additional income<\/strong> or even just not<\/strong> being so logical (which I often am.) \u00a0After a certain amount of pondering, and a few beers, I came to a couple of conclusions…<\/p>\n

You Have To Define Success! \u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I was writing an article<\/a> a few weeks (probably months) ago about your business customers being your fans<\/a>…just like in a band. \u00a0I came across this video<\/a> on YouTube<\/strong> where Ian MacKaye<\/strong><\/a> was giving a talk to\u00a0Loyola University Music Business students<\/strong>. \u00a0It’s about 2 hours and I watched all of it. \u00a0I like Ian MacKaye<\/strong>. \u00a0I even met him once and he was a real down-to-earth, genuinely nice dood. \u00a0I can’t say I see eye-to-eye with him on every single thing on the video, but he’s lived a pretty successful life living by his own rules. \u00a0He was a pioneer in the ‘American Hardcore<\/em><\/a>‘ scene. \u00a0Coined the phrase and inadvertently started a sub-culture known as Straight Edge<\/a>, and went on to start his own label<\/a> and be in one of the most respected underground rock bands, Fugazi<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

In this speech<\/a> he talks about his history of doing things DIY, and how he’s attempted to keep his integrity<\/strong> over the years (which I believe he has.) \u00a0There’s one part where he’s talking about what success means to him<\/strong> that blew my mind:<\/p>\n

“Success is not a goal to me. \u00a0 \u00a0It’s the ‘do.’ \u00a0Every day. \u00a0I wanna love what I’m doing. \u00a0What is<\/strong><\/em> success? \u00a0I wanna know what that means. \u00a0When people say “…but you sold so many records.” \u00a0What does that have to do with anything?! \u00a0If you put that into ‘food’…What’s the number 1 selling food in the world? \u00a0Of restaurants?! \u00a0It’s obvious: \u00a0McDonalds. \u00a0But does that make it the best food?! \u00a0I don’t think so. \u00a0It makes it pretty clear that it’s actually the opposite.<\/p>\n

In terms of records, TV shows, or\u00a0movies a lot of times the things that sell the most are actually, kinda, the most homogenous…and uninteresting.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I tried and it doesn’t look like I can stream a YouTube to a specific time, so you can click on\u00a0this link<\/a><\/strong> to hear that particular rant. \u00a0You can watch the full video<\/a><\/strong> below:<\/p>\n