“You can’t go wrong if you follow your passion”

As Isadore Sharp, the founder of Four Seasons Hotels, said this the crowd seemed to fall into this energetic silence. In my mind it became so clear, when you follow your passion, you discover happiness. Happiness is all we ever want in this life, yet all to often we equate it to money or actions. These measurements of money & actions tend to always increase, creating this never attainable state of happiness. But why?

Well it was one of the main reasons over 100 students and young professionals gathered for the National Business and Technology Conference (NBTC) this year. It was an empowering and inspiring two days that had young innovators connecting with each other while ‘happy-satisfied’ business owners sharing their advice and stories.

As we talked about great ideas, we also got a chance to be honest with ourselves with why very few ideas become reality, As Dan Debow, co-CEO of Rypple, said it: “Ideas are like assholes, everyone has one.” (Arguably the best line of the day! lol) He couldn’t be more right. You can ask anyone and they have an awesome idea, but how often to people actually execute on it. What we began to discover is that fear is the one of the largest reasons this unfortunate fact is true. We build up so much fear within us, that we convince ourselves it’s ok just to keep the idea tucked away in a safe place in our dreams.

For me this conference had a huge impact on me. It allowed me to come to terms with my fear, look it straight in the eye, and say “F$%@ YOU”. It’s led me to realize that yea I really can’t go wrong with my passion, so what am I waiting for?

So what is it your waiting for?

Think about it…. are you waiting to first get lots of money, for your family and friends to say it’s ok, for the world to stop it’s rotation, for pigs to fly… as you can see the reasons excuses are endless, and at the end of the day you’re only cheating yourself!

Here are a few key quotes from the conference that really stuck with me…

“There is very little that can defeat passionate people.”

Understand your mission, communication your mission, prosecute your mission.”

“Don’t stigmatize failure so it remains hidden. Gain leverage from it.”

“Risk sucks. Love risk.”

“Most of what we think is risky, usually isn’t.

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” ~ George Bernard Shaw

“During the first 2 hours of your 30th birthday, you wake up and are successful. What does that look like?”

The only thing you can control is your attitude.”

Finally, my favourite:

“Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.” ~ Buddha