¿Tu hobby puede ser negocio?

Starting a business is like going on a roller coaster of emotions, with the highest climbs and lowest dips, all the while wondering if the ride will really turn out to be successful.

Anyone can start a business, but it is infinitely more difficult to grow and maintain it. When a company faces difficult times and challenges, it is the passion and commitment of the entrepreneur that will ultimately keep the business afloat. Also, if you don't have a true passion for your project, everyone else will notice: clients, team, mentors andinvestors.

That is why focusing on your mission is essential. This will allow you to make decisions faster and more effectively control the ups and downs of running a business. Therefore, we share three tips to turn your passion into a successful business:

Do you know enough? If not, start asking
You have the passion and you want to start a business. But do you know enough about the industry? Having an industry overview and understanding best practices will help you start up and produce products, build a customer base, and shape the vision for the company.

If you have a good idea, but are not too familiar with the field to start, use your network of contacts, talk to people who have started a business in your industry and who could help you gain traction. This is like forming an informal council meeting from people who have traveled a similar journey to yours.

When I started NatureBox with my colleague Ken Chen, food was our passion, but we honestly didn't know much about running a food business. So we started to do networking and to discuss our idea with industry innovators to gain their insight and learn their strategies, tips, and tricks for running a successful business. Our great watershed came when we attended a food exhibition and met some suppliers willing to work with us. Until then we didn't know how to find manufacturing partners.

dare yourself
There is no better way to start than to dip your head first. In the beginning, you probably won't have an exact plan and will make significant changes to your model. But the benefit of starting a business around a passion is that you know why you are doing it, and this will help you overcome the barriers that come up along the way. It is this enthusiasm that will keep you motivated by the product you are selling.

Ken and I kept our full-time jobs when we created the first NatureBox site, and we used product photos taken with our cell phones. We were testing whether there was a market for people who wanted healthy snacks delivered to their doorstep, and we immediately saw an opportunity - more than 100 people signed up in one weekend. Now we had to decide whether we were going to ship our first orders or simply return their money to customers and take it as a successful test. We decided to move on. We understood that there is no better time to do it than the present.

Surround yourself with people who share your vision
It's no coincidence that everyone at NatureBox has an interesting story about how food shaped their lives - whether it's a weight loss career like mine, or a history of living in a country setting. We hire employees based on these experiences as they help shape the business.

Since you will most likely work long hours at the beginning, personal drive and sharing similar values with your colleagues are essential to overcome this stage. This enthusiasm translates into a positive customer experience. And that's what will ultimately build the business.

Turning your passion into a successful business not only allows you to earn money while doing something you love, it helps you establish yourself for lasting success. Most importantly, passion is essential to making decisions in the long-term interest of the customer and the company, which will help set longevity for your brand.