Finding Your True Passion

Being miserable isn't fun.  I tortured myself for 8 months trying to figure out my passion.  I had no idea where to even begin - so I started reading:

1)   "The Four Hour Work Week" by Tim Ferriss - is a bit extreme but it made me think completely differently;

2)  "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell - is amazing (I read it like a reference manual and it is covered in notes) and this led me to

3)  "Outliers" also by Gladwell.  I also started studying technology and internet based companies:  Apple; Zappos; Groupon; and Four Square for examples.

Soul searching at many stages ended in complete exasperation that I would never find my true passion.  But I was told – just keep digging – you will find it.

Then a friend pointed out I was passionate about taking care of my skin.  I hadn’t thought about it that way – for me, it was a way of life.  For the past 10 years,  I had made a point to keep my face out of the sun and it had paid off.  However, the summer before I had been diagnosed with Basal Skin Cancer.  I did a ton of research and found the best information on www.skincancer.org.  I had Mohs surgery and had multiple laser treatments to minimize the scar.  Today you can barely see it but I was at risk for getting it again and I needed to step up my game.

Read more: Darkest before the Dawn

After researching UVB and UVA, three facts stood out:

1) these radiation rays are equally strong in December as they are in August;

2) most of the skin changes as we get older (dark spots and wrinkles) are accelerated by the sun and it is called Photoaging; and

3) here is the kicker....these damaging rays go through glass.  When you are in your car.....or sitting in front of a window at work.

If we spend as much time preventing as we do reversing the signs of aging - beauty should be a lot easier.

I couldn't find an anti aging daily moisturizer with SPF 30 that didn’t feel thick and heavy and leave my skin with a white sheen.  That’s when I started digging.  I had my passion all along – I just hadn’t realized it would be the basis to start my company.

Read more: Starting a Company is like Falling in Love

If anyone has any other suggestions for great books on successful company strategies etc I'd love to hear from you.