However, even with all of the personal evolution behind every major success, they have a hard-coded, unique DNA. The rules, so to speak, that foundationally drive who they are as a person, their interests and their passions. You can’t ignore your DNA, and it’s this that I think is so important NOT to forget.

I think so many people get energized and excited about business idea after business idea, starting this one, switching to that one, trying this fad, that hot topic. And you know what? No matter how much they learn, no matter how many books they read or keynotes they watch or successful entrepreneurs they interview, they will never find their elusive success if they ignore who they truly are when chosing their niche. NO MATTER WHAT. Because there could be the biggest business opportunity around right-handed jibjabs, but if you don’t care about those jibjabs, if they wouldn’t be what you’d say when you answer the age old “if money and time were no object, what would you do with your time?” question, if your passion isn’t there, it won’t work. It’s not worth your effort, and it’s definitely not worth your valuable time.

If you love crochet, if you spend ten hours a day thinking about The Simpsons, if you just can’t get enough peanut brittle (woo!), be true to that! Step up, tell the world of your love, and be honest with yourself. Be honest with your DNA. Build your business around THAT passion. Not only will it lead you, when coupled with continual learning, closer to your picture of success, but you will be a thousand times happier while on the journey.

What’re your thoughts about DNA and it’s impact on entrepreneurs? Are you currently building a business around your passion? Do you think it’s more difficult to be successful when you don’t love what you’re doing? Or do you think it’s all the same?

First, identify and admit to the problem. Yes, I know entrepreneurs are a fairly self-confident bunch that tends to shy away from ever admitting something’s wrong, but do I need to mention the Lost episodes again? They will be your day’s fate if you don’t admit to needing a jolt in the motivation department. Even before admitting to it, though, is the need to realize that you could even have a problem. This comes from nothing else than previous effort to personally develop yourself to be a confident, perceptive, positive businessperson. Read this on a good day and repeat out loud: I am a confident, positive person overflowing with motivation, drive, and commitment to working towards my goals. Some days making positive progress will be easier than others, and I am ok with that. I realize that on those days it will be up to me to identify, admit, and fix the problem to get myself back on track. My achievements are no one’s responsibility but my own. WAHOO ENTREPRENEURSHIP! Ok, that last bit is optional, but you get the point. Admit on a good day that it could happen, so that when the just-kind-of-so-so day rolls around you’ll be willing and able to get right to work on fixing things.

So, you’ve identified you’re in a funk. You have admitted a need to step back and take a moment to fix it. Now what? A few suggestions:

Remind yourself of your purpose Call your business partner, review the About page on your website, re-read your mission statement. Step back in time to when you first launched your business. Why did you do it? Who inspired you to begin this crazy journey? What is that passion, that purpose, that pushes you forward day after day after day? Reinspire yourself with that core purpose and your list of daily tasks will suddenly seem less of a burden and more of a means to a very important, and very passionate, end.

Trim your to-do list If you’re anything like me, your daily to-do list can often turn into more of an in-my-dreams wish list than a useful display of necessary tasks. On a day you’re struggling this can cause distraction and stress and can easily stall you from completing a single thing in its entirety. Identify three items that, even if you accomplished nothing else all day long, the day would still be declared a success if completed. Get rid of all the mental noise and focus your efforts on those three important tasks.

Go to work on yourself Remind yourself how you got into this entrepreneurial situation in the first place. Most likely it was an inspiring self-improvement book, a motivating audio, an encouraging mentor, or some combination of the three. If nothing else, find a comfy spot and curl up for an hour with a great personal development book. Lean back in your chair, close your eyes, pop in an inspiring cd of your favorite motivational keynote speaker, and soak it all in. Remember how you developed yourself into someone who takes responsibility for their life and goes after what they want. Remember what placed the seed of passion that launched your business in the first place.

Everyone has those days. Let the day slip by if you want; everything will still be there tomorrow, after all. Like most things in life, though, if you want to save your lackluster day you most certainly can. Pause and step back from everything for a moment. Remember your purpose, review your list of tasks, remind yourself of the type of person you’ve become. You’ll know it’s time to stop when your inspiration bubbles up and your brain starts buzzing again.

Barefoot Executive: Achieve it in 7 Steps

What did you learn about your passion?

Gary recently posted a keynote on his blog from a talk he gave at the BookExpo America 2009 event a couple weeks ago. Applicable to anyone and everyone, way beyond those in the book or publishing industries, I think this keynote is the VERY BEST definition of what Gary’s message is all about and why’s it’s so darn inspiring. It also perfectly appeals to the side of me that wants to simplify things in every possible way. His point is, simply, to find your true passion. Is it golf? Is it legos? Is it photography or the A-team or upside-down knitting? Whatever it is, focus on it. Stop doing the crap that you hate. Leverage your passion to define your personal brand and use internet marketing and social media to turn that passion into a paycheck. Find that passion, work hard, build relationships, and make your life your own. Oh, and do it NOW!

Watch Gary’s talk here: Gary Vaynerchuk at BEA 2009