Fan First

If you want to be great at something, you have to be a fan first. You have to truly love a craft, sport, or business to be successful.

It might sound obvious. But it’s not as obvious as you think.

The Thought Leader Dilemma

In my day job, I talk to a lot of people who dream of becoming thought leaders in their field. There are a bunch of ways to do that, but they come to me for podcasting.

One of the first things I ask is, “What are your favorite podcasts or hosts?”

And more often than I’d like to admit, people say they don’t listen to podcasts or can’t name a favorite. It always blows my mind. How can you strive to do something that you don’t love or have an emotional connection with?

Why Passion Matters

You probably run into this in your life. When you ask someone why they chose to do what they do, or why they started a business, it’s sometimes met with “not sure,” “it looked like a good fit,” or “a lot of people are doing it.”

And I understand that this is a first-world problem and that there are a lot of people doing things they don’t want to do. I’m not talking about folks that are “doin’ what they gotta do.”

But with the short amount of time we have on this big blue ball, why would you pursue something that you weren’t passionate about?

See to Be: The Power of Inspiration

I’m a big believer in See to Be. You’ve got to see something or someone do something for you to strive to be great or do great.

History is filled with people who started as super fans before literally changing our world.

• Walt Disney was an obsessive fan of animation and cartoons, beginning as a newspaper cartoonist before bringing Mickey Mouse to life.
• Martin Scorsese, a devoted film buff, spent his childhood watching movies due to asthma keeping him indoors, later becoming one of the greatest directors of all time.
• Phil Knight’s love for running led him to sell Japanese running shoes from the trunk of his car, which eventually led to the creation of Nike.

Taylor Swift: The Ultimate Fan-Turned-Success Story

Taylor Swift is a perfect example of this too. She’s inarguably the most popular entertainer of this century. But she didn’t become the biggest music star because “it looked like a good fit” or “a lot of people are doing it.”

She did it because she loved making music, performing on stage, and connecting with fans. Heck, her first hit single was a tribute to country star Tim McGraw.

The Secret to Taylor Swift’s Success

Recently, I caught up with my old friend Ryan Star on my YouTube show, Good Listen. Ryan, pardon the pun, is a star in his own right. He had a bunch of hits in the early 2000s, like “Breathe” and “Start a Fire.” He broke down Taylor’s secret to success perfectly:

“Taylor is a great example. She’s like a master of her craft. She studies it. She loves it clearly,” Ryan explained. “She understands pop culture. She was in country. Great. And then she started finding the pop world and collaborating with those people that were kind of cutting edge and coming up. When really cool indie Brooklyn kids were listening to The National, she was also listening to The National and Bon Iver too. And she’s like, ‘well, that’s where I want to take this.’ She’s such a fan.”

Say what you will about Taylor; she’s not only talented, but she sees and appreciates talent. She’s not intimidated by it or jealous; she’s just a fan.

Make Sure Your Next Project is a Passion

Now, this is not a creed to quit your miserable job and become a full-time glassblower. Like I said, sometimes we gotta do what we gotta do.

But when it comes to your next project, your next business, or your next creative pursuit—make sure it’s something you love.

Because at the end of the day, it all starts by being a fan.