Wrong About Passion
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“You’re wrong about passion,” said the voice behind me. I turned to find a young woman standing there, holding out her hand for mine. She was wearing black jeans and a white T-shirt that matched my own perfectly.
Her skin had an olive tint like hers did in photographs; she looked as though she’d just stepped off the set of some movie where someone from another country is trying to blend into American society. “Passion isn’t something you can force on yourself.”
I took her hand, looking at it curiously—it felt warm but not sweaty or clammy. It seemed familiar somehow…but then again, most people’s hands do when they reach out to shake yours. “What are you talking about?” I asked.
She smiled slightly. “Didn’t your mother ever tell you? You have to be passionate about everything if you want to succeed.”
“My mom told me that success doesn’t require passion,” I replied. “It requires hard work.”
The girl laughed. “Hard work is important too, but only up to a point. After that, you need something else: persistence. That’s what keeps you going even after things get tough.”
“Like how long does it take before you give up?” I asked.
Her smile faded. “That depends entirely upon how badly you want what you’ve got your heart set on. If you really believe in yourself, you’ll never stop until you achieve your goal.” She paused, considering. “In fact, I’m willing to bet that no matter how bad things get, you won’t quit until you get what you want.”
“And what exactly would that be?” I asked.
For a moment, she didn’t answer. Then she said, “To go back home.”
“Home?”
“Yes. Back to the place where I belong.”
“Why don’t you live with your parents instead of here?”
“Because my father died when I was very small. My mother remarried, but he left us soon afterward. Now we’re alone together, and I hate being so far away from them.”
“But why do you want to go all the way back to Japan?”
“There’s nothing in America for me anymore. Not since…” Her eyes dropped down toward the ground, as though she were ashamed to look me in the eye. “Not since I lost my brother.”
“How old are you, anyway?”
She glanced up at me briefly. “Twenty-two.”
“So you’re still in college?”
“No. I graduated last year.”
“Oh.” I nodded slowly. “Well, I guess that explains why you know so much about business.”
“I read books. Lots of them.”
“Books?”
“Yeah. They teach you things that aren’t taught in school. Things you wouldn’t learn otherwise.”
“Like what?”
She shrugged. “About life and death and love and passion and persistence. All kinds of stuff.”
“Do you think you could help me out?” I asked. “I mean, I’m sure you must have some idea about how to make money.”
“Sure. What kind of ideas do you need?”
“Ideas about how to earn enough to pay off my debts.”
“Debts?”
“Yes. The ones I owe to my creditors.”
“Ah,” she said. “Now that’s interesting.”
“Tell me about it.”
She shook her head, smiling sadly. “Don’t worry. This one’s pretty simple. Here’s what you do: start a business.”
“A business?” I repeated incredulously. “Are you serious?”
“Of course I am. Why shouldn’t you try starting a business?”
“Because I don’t have any money!”
“Then borrow some. Or steal some. Whatever works best for you. But you should definitely start a business.”
“Why? So I can lose more of my savings?”
“No. Because once you have a business, you can start making money right away. And if you keep doing that over and over again, sooner or later you’ll end up rich.”
“Rich?”
“Very rich.”
“But—”
“Listen, kid. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be wealthy. In fact, I commend you for having the ambition to pursue such a lofty goal. However, wealth is a byproduct of a successful business. You can’t build a business without first building a product or service that people will buy. Once you have that, you need customers who are willing to pay for your goods and services.”
“I thought people bought products because they liked them,” I said. “Or maybe because their friends recommended them.”
“Those are both good reasons for buying something. But ultimately, you need to convince someone to spend his or her own money on whatever it is you’re selling. Otherwise, you won’t be able to turn a profit. And the only way you can do that is to offer a better deal than anyone else.”
“But how can I compete against other businesses that already exist?”
“You can’t. At least not directly. Instead, you have to find an angle that nobody else has exploited yet. Something unique and special that makes your product stand out from the rest.”
“What if I can’t come up with anything like that?”
“Then you might as well forget about ever becoming rich. It’s impossible.”
“Okay, then. How do I go about finding this perfect idea?”
“It’s easy. Just ask yourself what you’d do differently from everyone else. What would you put into your product that others haven’t included? Maybe you could create a new type of computer chip that’s faster and cheaper to manufacture than anything currently available. Or perhaps you could develop software that lets people communicate instantly using voice or video over the Internet. That sort of thing.”
“All right. I get the picture. But how do I actually start a business?”
“That’s the hard part. If you’ve never started a company before, you probably won’t know what to do. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources available online. For example, you can check out Inc.com. It’s full of articles about everything from marketing strategies to financing options.
You can also visit the Small Business Administration website. They have lots of helpful information about taxes and legal issues. Most importantly, though, you should talk to other entrepreneurs. Find people who have been through the process themselves. Ask them questions. Learn from their mistakes.”
“And where can I meet these people?”
“The library. Of course, you can always just Google ‘entrepreneur’ and see what comes up. But I recommend you take a class instead. A lot of universities now offer courses specifically designed for aspiring small business owners.”
“How much does all this cost?”
“Nothing. The government offers grants and loans to help people start companies. You just have to apply for them.”
“Really?”
“Yep. All you have to do is fill out a form and submit it along with a few documents. Then, after you pass the application review, you’ll receive a grant or loan that covers most of your startup costs. Plus, you usually don’t have to repay the money unless and until your business succeeds.”
“Wow! Thanks so much for telling me all this. I really appreciate it.”
“Think of it as a favor. Now, since we’re talking about getting things done, let’s finish our conversation by discussing your debt situation.”
“My debt problem?”
“Yes. Remember how I told you that you needed to figure out how to earn enough money to pay back your creditors? Well, you still haven’t managed to do that. So why don’t you tell me what you’ve tried so far?”
“Well…” I hesitated. “I went to work at my uncle’s shop. He owns a restaurant in town, and he hired me to help him out during the busy season.”
“Did you enjoy working there?”
“Not particularly. My uncle was nice enough, but I didn’t feel comfortable around his employees. They were all older men, and they treated me like I had no place being there. I felt like a little boy playing dress-up in daddy’s clothes. Anyway, after three months of working there, I quit.”
“Why did you leave?”
“Because I couldn’t afford to stay. I spent every extra cent I made trying to make payments on my credit cards. By the time I paid off one card, another one would charge me more interest. Eventually, I ran out of money altogether. After that, I decided to move home and live with my parents.”
“So you gave up on your dream of starting your own business?”
“No. I’m going to try again. This time, though, I want to do something different.”
“Different how?”
“I think I’d rather sell stuff online than run a brick-and-mortar store. I mean, I love books, but I hate dealing with customers. I’d much prefer to sit behind a computer screen and send emails to people who want to buy my products.”
“Sounds reasonable. Why don’t you give it a shot?”
“I will. As soon as I save up some money.”
“Don’t worry,” Mr. Brown said. “Just keep doing what you’re already doing. And remember: if you need any help, you can always call me. Anytime.”
***
When I got home, I found Mom sitting in front of the TV, watching her favorite soap opera. She glanced at me when I came inside, but she quickly turned away.
“Hi, honey!” she called out cheerfully.
“Hey, Mom.” I walked toward the kitchen and poured myself a glass of milk. “Sorry, I’m late.”
“It’s okay. We finished eating hours ago.”
“Oh. Right.” I took a seat next to her and sipped my drink.
“What happened to your hair?”
“Huh?” I looked down at my head. Sure enough, my long locks had been cut short. “Where did that come from?”
“You shaved it. Didn’t you?”
“Yeah. I thought it might be easier to manage.”
“Hmm.” Mom frowned. “I guess it could have been worse.”
“Worse how?”
“There are plenty of guys out there who look better bald than you do.”
“Thanks.”
Mom laughed. “That’s not what I meant. It’s just that you’re young. Your hair will grow back eventually. In the meantime, maybe you should get yourself a hat.”
“A hat?”
“Sure. Like the kind you wear when you go fishing.”
“Fishing?”
“Of course. Men often use hats to protect their skin from the sun. Maybe you should consider wearing one too.”
“Okay. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good idea.”
After dinner, Mom and I watched TV together for a while. During commercials, she asked me questions about school. When the show returned, we talked about other topics. I learned more about her life growing up, which helped me understand where she was coming from. I also discovered that we shared a lot of interests—especially music and movies.
In fact, I enjoyed spending time with my mom so much that I started to wonder whether it would be possible for us to spend more time together. But then I remembered how distant she seemed whenever I mentioned my plans to start my own business. Perhaps she wasn’t interested in having me over anymore.
The following day, I woke up early and headed straight to the library. I wanted to check out some books before heading to work. I figured that reading about entrepreneurship would help me figure out what I was doing wrong.
As I browsed through the shelves, I noticed a familiar face standing near the entrance. It was Ms. Jones, the librarian. She smiled when she saw me, and I waved back.
“Hello, Lucas,” she said. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, thanks.”
“Have you read any good books lately? I’ve been looking for something new to read.”
“Actually, I haven’t gotten around to reading anything yet.”
Ms. Jones nodded. “I see. Well, I hope you find something interesting soon.”
“Me too.”
We chatted for a few minutes longer. Then, without saying goodbye, she left.
Once I finished browsing the fiction section, I went to the nonfiction area. There, I found several titles that caught my eye. One book, in particular, stood out: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber.
According to the cover, this was an updated version of the original E-Myth series. I flipped through its pages and skimmed through the table of contents. A couple of chapters sounded promising, so I grabbed a copy.
Before leaving the library, I checked out a handful of other books, including How to Be Your Own Boss by Robert Kiyosaki, and The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau. I planned on reading them later that evening.
On my way home, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up some food for lunch. Afterward, I spent the rest of the afternoon working on a plan for my future business.
Over the next three days, I continued my research and made notes about everything I learned. By Thursday night, I felt ready to take action. I decided to get up early the next morning and visit the local bank.
***
My alarm clock rang at 6:30 AM. I rolled out of bed and stretched my arms above my head. My muscles ached from all the exercise I’d done the past week. I hadn’t realized how much I missed running until now.
While brushing my teeth, I considered going back to sleep. But instead of hitting the snooze button again, I decided to get up and start my day.
By 7:00 AM, I was dressed and ready to go. I packed a small bag with a change of clothes, toiletries, and a few snacks. Then I drove to the nearest branch of the First National Bank.
When I arrived, I parked my car in the parking lot and walked into the building. The lobby smelled like fresh coffee, and the walls were decorated with colorful paintings. To my right sat a large display case filled with candy bars and cookies. Behind it, I spotted a counter staffed by two employees. They greeted customers as they came in.
I approached the teller behind the counter. “Hi. I need to open a savings account.”
She looked up from her computer screen and smiled. “Oh, okay. Let me have your driver’s license, please.”
I handed her my ID card and waited patiently for her to finish typing in my information. Once she had verified my identity, she gave me a stack of forms to fill out.
I took a seat in front of the desk and began filling in the blanks. As I did, I glanced at the people waiting in line behind me. Most of them appeared to be middle-aged or older. Some of them carried briefcases and folders. Others wore jeans and T-shirts.
A few minutes later, the teller called me over. “All set. Here is your debit card.”
I thanked her and slid the plastic rectangle across the counter. She handed me a slip of paper with my account number written on it.
“Thank you.”
Then I turned toward the exit and left the bank.
After exiting the building, I walked down the sidewalk and crossed the street. On the opposite side, I entered the bank’s parking garage. A sign outside the entrance informed visitors that the first hour of each day was free. However, after that, there would be a fee of $1 per half-hour.
I paid the attendant and climbed into my car. When I reached the top level of the parking structure, I exited onto a busy road. Traffic zipped by on both sides.
I followed the directions to the bank printed on the piece of paper I received earlier. After driving for ten minutes, I pulled into the parking lot of a shopping center. From here, I could walk to the bank.
The sun was just rising over the buildings ahead. Its rays illuminated the sky in shades of orange and pink. The air was cool and crisp, and I inhaled deeply. I loved this time of day—when everything seemed fresh and new.
At 8:15 AM, I stepped inside the bank. It wasn’t crowded yet, but there were already a dozen people standing in line. I joined the end of the queue and waited.
It didn’t take long before I reached the front of the line. The teller asked me for my driver’s license. Then she typed my name into her computer and scanned my card. Finally, she handed me a receipt.
“Here you are,” the woman said. “Have a nice day.”
As I walked away, I noticed something strange. There was no mention of an opening deposit. Instead, the receipt simply read: Account Open.
I wondered if I should ask someone about it. But then I thought better of it. If I wanted to learn more, I needed to do some additional research. So I headed straight for the library.
***
Once I got home, I opened my laptop and searched online for articles about saving money. I found several good ones. One article suggested setting aside 10% of every paycheck. Another recommended putting 20% of your income into a retirement fund.
But what really caught my attention was the third tip: Start by making a list of all your expenses. Next, try to cut out unnecessary spending.
That sounded easy enough. I figured I could probably save a couple hundred dollars without too much effort. And once I saved a little bit of cash, I might even feel comfortable taking my savings to another bank.
So I wrote down a list of my monthly bills and looked for ways to reduce those costs. For example, I canceled my cable TV subscription. That alone saved me almost $100 per month.
Next, I started looking at other areas where I could trim my budget. Did I really need to pay for Netflix? Or Spotify Premium? Couldn’t I find free alternatives to these services somewhere else?
For the next week, I continued my search. I tried different websites and apps until I finally found a few things that worked for me.
One website allowed me to stream movies and television shows for free. With this site, I could watch whatever I liked whenever I wanted. Best of all, it only used data when I actually watched something. My internet provider charged extra for streaming video, so I decided not to use this option.
Another app helped me keep track of how much I spent on groceries. This way, I always knew exactly what I’d eaten during the previous month. Plus, it showed me which items cost the most.
Finally, I discovered a website that offered coupons for local restaurants and stores. I downloaded the app and started using it right away. Whenever I went grocery shopping, I checked the website for any available deals.
Within two weeks, I had trimmed my budget considerably. Now I felt confident about moving ahead.
I made a second trip to the bank, withdrew all my funds, and deposited them in a new account. Then I closed my old one.
This time, I chose a bank located near my apartment. I visited their website and filled out an application form. Afterward, I drove to the bank and spoke with a customer service representative.
He explained the process. First, he gave me a blank check. He told me to write down the amount I wanted to transfer from my old account to my new one. Once I did, he took the check back and placed it in a locked drawer.
Then we began the actual transaction. Using a special machine, the employee transferred my funds between accounts. While doing so, the system automatically updated my balance.
When the bank employee finished, I thanked him and left.
***
Now, three months later, I’m sitting in my living room watching a movie. As usual, I’ve ordered pizza and beer for dinner.
My phone buzzes. I pick up the device and see a text message. It reads:
$1,000.00
I smile as I type a reply.
Thanks!
I can’t believe it. Just three months ago, I couldn’t afford to buy anything beyond basic necessities. Today, I have nearly $2,500 in savings.
Of course, this is far from being rich. In fact, I still live paycheck-to-paycheck. But I know I’ll get there soon.
The key has been keeping track of my expenses. By writing everything down, I realized just how much I spend each month.
And now that I’ve cut out some unnecessary expenses, I’ve managed to save a lot of money.
I think I’m ready to start investing. How would you suggest I proceed?
The End