On the roots of my passion...

Where does my passion for business come from? To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. I've always been interested in starting businesses from a very young age (my first business idea was a bit duff, aged 9 wanting to set up a paid 'fairground' in my parents' huge garden for the local kids to patronize!). I used to think it was because of the money-making aspect behind it, which I've now realised is false.

Money isn't a motivator to me. Of course; I'd love to have lots of it to give away to charities, spend on my friends and family, like most people, but it's not my reason for doing things. For me; money is a by-product of running a successful business, profit and cash flow are like oxygen, the business needs it to survive and prosper.

My parents' were self-employed for almost 20 years; yet although this is shown to increase your likelihood of becoming self-employed yourself, I don't think this is the reason either.

Business is probably the thing that excites me most (please don't tell my girlfriend this!). I lie in bed and night and analyse particular business models; be it a global corporation like Starbucks or the local newsagents at the end of my street. I sit and wonder what it is that they are doing right, wrong and how I could improve on it. I'm standing in line at the cinema; waiting to buy tickets and I literally CANNOT stop the cogs turning in my mind, wondering how they could treat their customers better, serve them faster, make the experience more enjoyable or improve the product on offer etc.

THIS is why I'm embarking upon this journey. It's not some sort of lifestyle choice. It's not a resolution to somehow improve my life or prospects. I'm doing this because I HAVE to, rather than want to. For the past few years whilst I've been involved in a very enjoyable, "lifestyle job", my mind has been continually asking me the question, "OK; so you've had your fun, when are you going to start a business?!"

If I don't do this now, I'll always wonder. It's the perfect time for me, despite the state of the global economy. I have no dependents; I have no mortgage payments to worry about, and apart from my wonderful girlfriend, I have no obligations to anyone but myself.

Business is in my blood. I'm not particularly sure why, but it is. What's the thing you're most passionate about? Think about it for a few seconds. It's not an effort to think about it, because you enjoy it, in the same way I do with business ideas. I think about fleshing them out, design logos, develop business plans and imagine them becoming brand names. This all might seem like pie in the sky, but now is the time for me to act and actually do it. 2010 is going to be a huge year...