The creator of Dilbert, entrepreneur Scott Adams shares the secret of his success.
Scott Adams: How to Be Successful - WSJ
When I was a commercial loan officer for a large bank, my boss taught us that you should never make a loan to someone who is following his passion. For example, you don't want to give money to a sports enthusiast who is starting a sports store to pursue his passion for all things sporty. That guy is a bad bet, passion and all. He's in business for the wrong reason.
My boss, who had been a commercial lender for over 30 years, said that the best loan customer is someone who has no passion whatsoever, just a desire to work hard at something that looks good on a spreadsheet. Maybe the loan customer wants to start a dry-cleaning store or invest in a fast-food franchise—boring stuff. That's the person you bet on. You want the grinder, not the guy who loves his job.
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Personally, I've found that advice to be completely true. The things I've made money from are completely separate from my personal interests. That way there's no emotional attachment getting in the way of making the correct business decision.