From Passion to Profits: 5 Ways Passion fuels Successful Entrepreneurship

Many of us fantasize about becoming entrepreneurs. We dream of setting our own terms and accumulating wealth. But before these rewards can be reaped, what exactly fuels the entrepreneurial mind set - the bravery and insight to build a successful company?

The answer is passion. Entrepreneurs are profoundly passionate about what they do. Their passion inspires the vision for start-up and sustains them through the inevitable highs and lows of growth. Passion is also the magnet that attracts the right people for success including customers, employees and mentors.

This has proven true for both Meiling Esau, creative director of the regionally-renowned fashion label, Meiling as well as Natalie Glitzenhirn-Augustin, founder of Glitzenhirn Augustin & Company and Financial & Corporate Services Limited. They both share how passion drives business development from start up into a lasting legacy.

(1) Passion motivates the entrepreneur to launch.

• For some, like Meiling, their calling is evident from childhood. The daughter of a talented dressmaker in Trinidad and Tobago, she shared “I grew up sitting in my mother’s sewing room. At an early age, I knew I wanted to follow in her footsteps.” She set off for fashion school in London during the 1960s and upon her return home, began working for a regional manufacturer of women’s clothing. She soon realised, however, that there was growing local demand for the cutting-edge trends of international metropolises. Jumping at the opportunity to bring a new product to market, she launched Meiling to give people something “they saw in magazines but could not be found in Trinidad.” As a first mover, she helped to pioneer an indigenous fashion industry which, today, is international in its reach.
• For others, finding one’s entrepreneurial passion is a journey of self-discovery. This was the case for St Lucia-based, England-born and of Montserratian-descent Natalie Glitzenhirn-Augustin. Natalie initially dreamed of and studied for a career at the United Nations. However, a family tragedy would change her life irrevocably and she switched focus to study law. She migrated to St Lucia and discovered her affinity for commercial and corporate law. In 2000, Natalie opened her own law practice, Glitzenhirn-Augustin & Company. A serial entrepreneur, she is also Managing Director of Financial and Corporate Services Limited. Her companies specialise in corporate and commercial law, real estate, offshore financial services, administration and private clients advisory. Like Meiling, Natalie discovered her passion could fill an unmet need. She confides that “I am not necessarily doing what I set out to, but I am absolutely doing what I am meant to do.

(2) Passion makes the entrepreneur client-focused. Both Natalie and Meiling disclosed that their passion motivates them to have uncompromising customer service standards. Natalie’s clients are always assured of “confidentiality, efficiency and service.” For Meiling, impeccable craftsmanship and timely delivery are an imperative. In turn, their customers are unfailingly loyal and the greatest ambassadors for their companies.

(3) Passion underpins an entrepreneur’s ability to pivot. Passion encourages curiosity which bolsters the entrepreneur’s ability to respond to change. Meiling advises all entrepreneurs to “always be relevant, always know what is on at the moment.” Having served 3 generations of clients, she is always exploring the latest influential trends. Moreover, when Covid-19 public health restrictions closed retail stores, Meiling pivoted again by deepening her digital marketing knowledge. She refreshed her boutique’s online presence, increased social media marketing and even hosted a virtual fashion show. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, today her export options are increasing.

(4) Passion encourages employees to be invested in the success of the business. Natalie makes it a priority that all of her staff understands the value of their role to the overall success of the businesses. She states “The clients are not my clients; they are our clients. This is not my business; this is our business.” As such, her team has grown to love the companies as much as her and are all committed to its success. Natalie is convinced that the passion that she and her staff share has kept the ventures growing over the past 20 years.

(5) Passion inspires successful entrepreneurs to mentor others. Having built strong brands, Natalie and Meiling are eager to pay it forward. It is for this reason they both volunteered to be Ambassadors for the Republic Bank Limited’s Entrepreneurs Business Builder (EBB) programme. The EBB works to support women entrepreneurs in transforming their companies into technology-enabled and future-proof profitable businesses. Through targeted personal, business and technology development interventions, participants benefit from leapfrogging obstacles that most entrepreneurs overcome after much trial and error.

Meiling encourages women entrepreneurs to join the EBB noting that “everyone has a dream, and this programme can help you to realise your dream” through structured guidance from a premiere regional financial institution. Natalie also opined that the EBB can help entrepreneurs successfully channel their passion into their purpose. She counsels, “Never be afraid to ask for guidance or say that you don’t know…It is great to have the support…You look at things differently, you realign and refocus.”