"Do what you love and the money will follow?"

I think it's interesting that I am more likely to here the "Do what you love, and the money will follow" is a myth from male business owners/entrepreneurs than from women business owners/entrepreneurs. ( This is just a generalization, not an attack on you guys :) )

The "Business of Bliss" is a book about female entrepreneurs who have become successful doing what they love. The title comes from an annual feature done in the August issue of the magazine "Victoria" where they profile women in business...their "dream" businesses. Victoria magazine also puts out another books called "Turn Your Passion Into Profits" and apparently has a new one called "A Shop of One's Own." Both interview women with successful businesses based upon their love/passion. They go through the same struggles and failures as other businesses...and the same successes.

Does starting a business based on what you love guarantee success. No. However, I think that most people who start businesses based on what they love get so caught up in the "love" part that they don't focus on the business part. You do have to honestly ask yourself if your "love" can be turned into a viable business. Not every hobby can be turned into a business. And there might not be a market for it in your area (which is why the internet has helped many people as they can reach their audience better). And there are dozens of other factors that have to be looked at as well (as most everyone here has pointed out).

If you have something you love try it out on paper to see if maybe it really can be a viable business. Brainstorm various ways of turning it into a business Do your business research like you should on any business idea. Many times that wants in the community match our own loves. If you love surfing you could open a store, start a website where you sell books on how to surf or whatever, you could teach it, you could create artwork or greeting cards about/for surfers, etc. It's endless. Base it on what you love/like, what you're skills are, what you're willing to sacrifice for it, etc.

That sacrifice thing reminds me of another reason why those "doing what they love" fail. They think because they love it that it's going to be easy and are disillusioned when sometime's it's hard work. So they quit thinking it should be easy when in reality ANY business has it's difficulties.

All in all I think whether you base a business on what you love or not, it comes down to businsess is business. You have to treat them the same way, take the same steps, before the "money will follow".

Okay, that's just several of "my two cents."