I think I found another good test to tell if something is more than an interest and possibly a passion. Two different people in the last couple of weeks had similar questions, and when I heard each of them… I got excited!

One of them runs a youth sports program and has a specific philosophy and approach to working with young athletes and including the whole family as much as possible. He was asking around to find out who knew some useful information about marketing to spread the word about his organization.

I met with him and gave him an overview of what I know and how I would apply it to his organization. The more he talked about his plans, the more I found myself getting excited about his dream. It made it very easy and automatic to pull out the files of marketing information shoved into the corners of my head. As he mentioned a plan or specific goal, I could present a strategy along with the underlying principles for using it. He was energized, too, and started seeing all sorts of new possibilities for getting the word out.

The second person is a good friend who is already self-employed and has some ideas for adding another profit center to her work. She has a knack for knowing creative and artistic people, plus a love for the quirkiness of modern-day Texas, especially the counter-culture Austin variety. She wants to sell handcrafted and artisan items like candles and soaps made from pure ingredients and essential oils, unique jewelry incorporating Texas stones and crystals, handmade decorations and gift items, and… well, some other amazing ideas that I’ll keep quiet for now.

Since she’s already self-employed and has been involved in craft festivals, expos, and fairs where she has set up booths, she has some wonderful low-cost and no-cost Guerrilla Marketing ideas set to go. But we brainstormed for a while and came up with creative new approaches that neither of us would have thought up alone.

I wasn’t thinking in terms of, “I have just the consultation package for small business development to sell you.” I was thinking, “Wow! What a great business! How can I help make it happen?”

That’s where I felt the passion. I want to be in more brainstorming sessions and have a front-row seat to watch things take shape. I want to be part of the inside story as a creative idea pays off, as the business idea gains traction with the public, as struggles are endured and overcome, and as confirmation of the great idea comes in the form of ongoing success.

And what shall I call that?

May You Know the Joy of Sharing Your Gifts,

Steve Coxsey