15 Tips for Channeling Your Passion Into Execution
Article by YEC
Entrepreneurs tend to have a lot of big ideas they’re truly passionate about. The challenge, of course, is buckling down and channeling that passion into an actionable plan to bring an idea to life.
That’s why we asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council for some practical approaches to channeling passion into execution. Here’s their advice:
1. Be Consistent
Everyone is passionate in the beginning. It’s in the middle of executing that the fire starts to die out. Why? Because when we are not consistent, we lose hope in the process. With consistency, there is new learning, progress, and the chance to execute better.
— Daisy Jing, Banish
2. Make Incremental Moves
As entrepreneurs, we tend to get caught up in what the end product looks like. The best way to channel your energy is to remind yourself to make incremental moves. Start by taking the first steps and making clear short-term goals (things you can do in the next 1-2 days). This will help build the momentum you need to execute on your passion with enthusiasm.
3. Build Your Resilience
When executing your passion, you need to be resilient. Unfortunately, not everything will go as you would like it to, but you cannot let that dissuade you from following through. Remember that part of the joy of accomplishing something is recognizing all the obstacles you overcame to get there.
4. Practice Self-Discipline
You’ll need a certain level of discipline when it comes to channeling passion into execution. You can’t just be driven to succeed. You have to know how to harness the passion and transform it into a process or strategy. Identify your passions in an objective fashion, then find ways to turn them into results. It’s tricky to balance, but it can be done.
5. Act Now
In my experience, if I become passionate about something, I need to act on it immediately. If I do not, I overthink it to death and end up not enjoying it as much as I should. If you discover you have a passion for something in business or life, go after it immediately. There is no reason to wait.
6. Dive In and Let Things Unfold Organically
If there’s something you want to do, you need to dive in without hesitation. Half the battle is starting, so if you just do that, you’re well on your way to creating something valuable. Remind yourself that you don’t always need an elaborate plan, and some of the best experiences happen organically.
7. Ride the Wave of Your Passion
Passion and enthusiasm can wax and wane over time. Your passion might peak in the morning and taper off in the afternoon, or you might feel passion about a certain project for a couple months and then need some time off. Make sure to time your work to coincide with these peaks of passion.
8. Project a Worst-Case Scenario
It is important to be cognizant of the potential growth of your idea. Entrepreneurs tend to have a positive outlook on the future — otherwise, they wouldn’t accept the inherent risks of starting a business. However, you also have to take some time to envision potential pitfalls and obstacles. This is a smart way to remain grounded and to better prepare yourself to turn your passion into a thriving business.
9. Create a Plan, but Be Flexible
Creating a blueprint for how to execute your idea makes it more realistic. You’ll probably have to make changes along the way, but it’s always better to have a plan to follow. Otherwise, your idea remains a dream you can endlessly put off.
10. Write It Down
It’s important to take advantage of your eureka moments when you have them. While you’re first caught up in a wonderful idea, grab a piece of paper and write everything down. Later, go back to it with the purposeful mindset of creating a process from the idea. Organize your thoughts and make them into a plan, filling in key steps as you go. Also note potential outcomes.
11. Think Realistically
If you’re trying to channel your passion, start by thinking realistically. All of the passion in the world doesn’t matter if your goal is completely unrealistic. Create a manageable and realistic goal, and start there. After finishing a couple small goals, you’ll be closer to completing a larger but still realistic task.
12. Measure Your Results
You can execute your passion by defining and measuring your results. The more progress you see, the more excited you will be to work toward that goal.
13. Find People Who Share the Same Passion
Bring along your friends. Find other people who share the same passion, set up some accountability around that passion, execute it, and then celebrate the results.
14. Don’t Be Afraid to Fail
It’s normal to be afraid to fail, to be afraid of what other people might say if you fail. In the beginning of my entrepreneurship journey, I was always doubting myself, thinking too much of what others might think of me. When I finally said to myself, ‘What’s the worst thing that could happen?’ is when all the success started pouring in. Go all in. Fail, then succeed.
15. Let Go of Expectations
If you really want to be able to channel your passion into execution, you have to let go of your expectations. Your expectations will prevent you from being flexible, creating a plan, and following through. If you are too fixated on what you expect your passions to lead to, you will be too afraid to act. You will miss out on wonderful opportunities.
A version of this article originally appeared on SUCCESS.com.
These answers are provided by Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization composed of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs. YEC members represent nearly every industry, generate billions of dollars in revenue each year, and have created tens of thousands of jobs. Learn more at yec.co.