1. Mel Feller, MPA, MHR, Asks About Your Passion.
Mel is the President/Founder of Mel Feller Seminars with Coaching for Success 360, Inc. and Mel
Feller Coaching. Mel Feller maintains offices in Texas and in Utah.
The dictionary definition of passion is, “a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire
for anything.” Why do people start their own businesses? Is it for money, for freedom – from
corporate structure or otherwise, power? What
would you want to do it if you did not need to
work? Some people might answer that they
would want to lie on a beach or watch television,
all day that might not pay you! However, is it
possible to do something you would want to do
whether or not you were making money – and
actually make money? Of course – but if it were
that easy, everyone would be doing it.
I have always suggested you should do what you love, but I had not followed my own advice
sometimes. Why is it so important to pursue what is important to you? Here is what I have
learned since deciding to focus on my passion:
It comes naturally. When you have a passion for something – you enjoy it and it means
something to you. That does not mean it will not be work, because as I said and as we know,
everyone would do it in that case. However, creating a plan and following through on it will
certainly be easier when you are passionate than going after something you have no interest in.
It keeps you motivated. It is easy to get an idea and be excited about it – and then move on the
next one. When launching a business is not due to genuine interest, but necessity, it can be
difficult to stay on track. While having new plans and dreams is great, how powerful is it when
you can pick something up and finish it!
It is not about the money. Of course, money often does play a part in it, but that is not why you
do it. Money should never be what drives you, if you can help it. Pursuing only for money can
leave you feeling desperate and certainly not happy or secure when it does not pan out.
It teaches you discipline. When you stick to something, you can accomplish it and make a career
out of it. Being committed is necessary and you have to train yourself to get to that mentality.
Once you have developed a routine and a plan for what you need to do to succeed, you will be
more dedicated to the ultimate goal.
You are proud of it. Sure, everyone is pleased when they are promoted, feels pride in a big
Mel Feller, MPA, MHR, Asks About Your Passion.

2. accomplishment, or when they start and own a business. However, imagine the exponential
increase you would feel when you do something you believe in.
You advocate for it. Not as the typical business promotion – but as “guess what I get to do for a
living?” People can tell when you are truly excited, and if you feel good about your business, it
will help others feel that very same way as well.
It makes you feel good about yourself. Maybe this is a given, but who does not need a boost of
confidence now and then? Don’t you always feel better when you do something you believe in
rather than something you do not? Alternatively, almost as bad, something you are apathetic
about? At the end of the day, feeling good about yourself and being happy about what you do
every day will lead to fulfillment that you likely couldn’t get otherwise.
Now the Second Phase:
It has been said that nothing in the world has ever been created without a thought initiating the
process.
Thomas Edison made hundreds of attempts at the light bulb before he found success. When
asked why he kept persevering, he replied, "For each attempt that failed and was discarded, it put
me one step closer to the one experiment that would succeed." For each thought, each belief
that created a reality that was not quite right; a new thought took its place, creating a better
reality.
We have all heard of these success-from-failure stories and they often help to motivate us to try
our personal best, to keep persevering. However, how can we keep trying in the face of
overwhelming odds? How do we get past the negative beliefs, the distractions, and the lack of
support from our family and friends? What can we do when we are tired of trying?
Your thoughts do create your reality, and in learning to modify your old, entrenched thought
patterns, you can modify your reality. There are three ways to modify our thoughts. First,
changing your attitudes and beliefs about your current reality often shifts your focus and
awareness so that you can begin to find peace in your life. Second, creating an image or thought
of the new reality you want to create and keep that in focus as you go about your day. Third,
through psychotherapy, gain insight into the birth of the thought and heal it. Which in turn
allows the passions to truly shine while making sure you have a plan to move forward with.
Priorities are What Follow
The first step in creating your own reality is to determine which reality you are looking for. Often

3. we do not reach our dreams because we never have a clear idea of what dreams are the most
important to us. What is it you want most in this lifetime? Vital good health? A loving and
supportive mate? Success in your business or career? A nice home? Freedom from emotional
turmoil? An opportunity to start the dream business?
Whether your dreams are physical, emotional or spiritual, first write a list of what you want. You
may find that you want something in each of those categories. In writing your list, be specific.
Instead of writing "a good marriage," be specific: what specific actions and emotions are you
looking for in your definition of a good marriage? In place of "good health," you might write
"freedom from arthritic pain" or "more energy."
Do not feel pressured to write the list all in one sitting; take some time to allow things to bubble
up from your soul. Organize the list in any way you would like, but make sure you determine
which items are more important to you than the others are. You may want to write the list, and
then take a few days to think about it. Finally, review it one last time; re-arrange priorities, or
adding and subtracting items as needed.
Because your needs and life situation may change, your list will remain flexible and will change as
time goes by. Try to remain open to these changes, even if it means rearranging your list of
dreams. Perhaps a simple, mild change to an item is all that is necessary in order to keep up with
the times.
Work the Plan and Plan the Work
Now that you have a list, the next step is to determine a means of visualizing or imagining that
outcome, and putting that image out into a work plan.
Each of us must take personal responsibility for attaining our happiness. While I firmly believe the
Universe can help us manifest our dreams, we must be ready and willing to do whatever is
physically necessary to move us in the right direction. As Goethe said, "Until one is committed,
there is hesitating, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of
initiative, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid
plans: The moment one definitely commits oneself, Providence moves too. All sorts of things
occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues
from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and
material assistance which no man could have dreamed would come his way." However, it is up to
you to use those "incidents and meetings and materials" in order to complete the plan.
The purpose of a business plan, or your plan for passion, for a self-employed person who is
financing their own business, is to have a central repository for all strategic thinking about the
business for the coming year or two. Here is what should be included:

4. Your business idea in three sentences.
Your target audience.
The challenges that your target audience faces.
The benefits of using your products and services to meet those challenges.
Your company brand and image.
Your projected revenue and expenses for a year.
If you project more expenses than revenue for the first year, a statement about where the
money will come from to pay for those expenses.
A list of your major competitors, and how you are different from them.
At least six marketing techniques you're planning to use over the coming year, when you plan
to implement them, and what results do you expect from them.
A list of people who you will need to hire to implement your business plan or marketing plan
(unless you have the business skills and time, yourself, to do all the work).
You should review your business plan, and update it, annually. I recommend reviewing the
marketing section of your business plan quarterly, so that you can gauge the success of your
marketing campaigns.
By following your passions, in writing, putting a plan together and finally executing that plan your
love and passion for what your life will look at is now a map to arrive at your destination.
Mel Feller, MPA, MHR, is a well-known real estate, business consultant, personal development
consultant and speaker, specializing in performance, productivity, and profits. Mel is the
President/Founder of Mel Feller Seminars with Coaching For
Success 360, Inc. and Mel Feller Coaching, a real estate and
business specific coaching company. His three books for real
estate professionals are systems on how to become an
exceptional sales performer. His four books in Business and
Government Grants are ways to leverage and increase your
business Success in both time and money! His book on Personal
Development “Lies that Will Sabotage Your Success”. Mel Feller
is in Texas and In Utah. Currently an MBA Candidate.
Mel Feller, MPA, MHR