Turning what you love into a business, that slight yet significant misalignment.

I'd like to share an interesting topic that came up recently among my fellow entrepreneurs. It might be somewhat helpful for those aiming to create businesses, services, or products.

When starting a business, you're sometimes told it's better to do what you 'love'. However, if you slightly misinterpret the direction of this 'love', your path can change significantly. When people hear 'what you love', they immediately think of things they enjoy doing. For example, someone who loves sports would say sports, and someone who loves cooking would say cooking.

Can what you love and the hardships of business coexist?

However, if you simply turn what you love into a business, will there be a chance of success? Or will you be able to keep loving it? Work can be tough. It's not always fun. There will be great struggles. In that process, you might even start to dislike the very thing you once loved.

There are many things that cannot be overcome by 'love' alone. Usually, to avoid breaking down even after clearing numerous challenges, strong beliefs, passions, philosophies, and policies are necessary. Do these exist solely within your 'love' for something?

For example, let's say you 'love music'. Of course, it's great to love creating and performing music itself, but most people might give up and say 'that's enough' if they don't see results for many years or struggle to earn much and feel miserable.

But what if you knew your music was supporting someone? What if there were people who could keep going every day because of your music? You might be able to endure much tougher and more painful things than if you were fighting solely with the feeling of loving music. That is a strong passion, a belief, and a policy. Strong passions are often born from external influences.

Furthermore, it's not true that a successful business can be born solely from the motivation of 'liking' something. So, when you think about how to turn what you love into a job, will anyone actually demand your 'love'?

Of course, 'liking' something is important. However, at the same time as 'liking' it, it also needs to be demanded by someone. If what is demanded is something you love, then it can work. But if it's just something you love, it will be difficult to achieve actual results.

So, what is 'love' in the process of creating a business?

All the successful entrepreneurs throughout history, and everyone who seems to enjoy their work. They certainly love their businesses. However, I feel there's a difference from the 'love' that people generally perceive. It feels different from the kind of 'love' like 'I love sports' or 'I love games'. What kind of difference is that?

The most common direction is 'loving problem-solving'. Their 'love' is the 'joy' itself of solving the world's 'problems' and 'inconveniences'. There might also be motivations like 'loving to earn money' or 'loving work itself'. However, when 'problem-solving' is 'loved' more than money or the enjoyment of work, it's most likely to yield results and foster unyielding motivation.

What kind of 'problems' motivate you when you tackle them? What are the inconveniences in society that you can dedicate your efforts to making convenient, and still 'love' doing it? What are the problems that are enjoyable to work on? In other words, the 'problems' and 'inconveniences' themselves that you enjoy solving become the 'love' that is well-suited for business.

To love problem-solving itself.

There are probably entrepreneurs and business owners who are often asked, "What do you want to do?" because what they're doing changes frequently, not just limited to one business. However, from what I've heard, they find the act of doing business itself enjoyable. Discovering something unexpected, sharing it with the world, or selling it to gain profit and also benefit society. That activity itself is enjoyable.

The same goes for well-known entrepreneurs throughout history. At first glance, it seems like they're doing what they love, and that's certainly true, but everyone releases products with the conviction that it will make the world "convenient." They can clearly see how the times will change when what they are creating or trying to produce is released. It's something that sets itself apart from a simple "liking" something.

First, find a "problem" that you enjoy tackling.

This is the difference in "liking" in business. When starting a business or a job, you often hear the phrase "make what you love your job." However, even if you focus on internal enjoyment, it's a "liking" with a high hurdle in terms of success.

Or you might come to dislike it if it becomes work. You might get bored. Work and business exist, in the first place, to solve problems in the world or make things more convenient. What you should consider is what "problems" or "inconveniences" you enjoy tackling.

First, let's look for "problems." Feel the "inconveniences" in the world. Once you see them, consider which "problem" you would find most "enjoyable" to tackle. Always maintain a high level of information sensitivity, pay attention to global trends and the future, and explore how to solve that "problem." As a result, you can start a business, join a company with aligned principles, or simply decide on your path.

Moreover, since you're dealing with problems that already exist, you can solve the worries of many people. That's why the returns when solved are also enormous. Since you can also see your own purpose and principles for working, the sense of fulfillment will be great. Isn't this the beginning of a pure and results-oriented business?

Summary

Whether in job hunting or starting a business, people tend to focus only on what they "like." However, for many people, if they focus on the "problems" and "inconveniences" they want to solve, they will be able to find a clearer, more defined, and many times more fulfilling job.

Fundamentally, people don't try to "like solving problems or challenges." They prioritize personal preferences. That's why they can never find their destination and end up going in circles every day. Such "liking" should be kept as a hobby. At least in a capitalist society where helping someone turns into money, "loving problems" will be a choice that can provide more value.

There must be a problem you truly want to tackle. Do you feel dissatisfied with something every day? Is there anything that irritates you? Try to pay attention to what you feel towards the outside world. Once you notice that, it's the birth of a job only you can do.