A great idea and money aren’t the only two things required to start a business, just ask Angela Englander of Ways To Wellbeing.

Angela, a trained psychotherapist who specializes in trauma therapy and now operates offices in Cambridge and Tillsonburg, says passion is just as important.

“No one just starts a business. You start it because you’re passionate about something and you want to take a risk,” she says. “You start it because you want something to be different.”

But sadly, Angela says, many people who go into business for themselves often lose sight of what inspired them to take that plunge in the first place.

“I feel people get exhausted, or burned out,” she says. “I think so many people have that vision and as they enter that threshold and go beyond to start their own business, but quickly realize there are a lot of hoops to jump through.”

Keeping that vision in focus will be the topic of a discussion Angela will lead entitled ‘Harnessing Your Passion to Achieve Your Purpose’ in January. Part of our continuing YIP Growth Learning Series, her talk will look at ways for business owners to find inspiration as they overcome obstacles when it comes to achieving their dreams.

“Sometimes, people just get discouraged and they need to find that passion again to push through those hurdles and obstacles and realize they’re on the right path,” says Angela, explaining her session will feature a ‘Hero’s Journey’ component in which a journey to success is laid out in various stages leading to a transformation.

As well, she will ask participants to outline what motivated them in the first place to start their own businesses.

“I will be using that to help you find your own guiding light towards where you’re meant to be,” she says, adding people sometimes need to ‘readjust’ when they realize they’ve strayed from the original path they set out for themselves. “It’s hard for people to adapt.”

Angela says some business owners may feel isolated, assuming that others are much more successful.

“Life throws everyone curveballs,” she says. “We all have obstacles to face.”

Angela says she will encourage participants to look inside themselves to determine what was their original vision and purpose for going into business, noting the answer will help them get out of the ‘hole’ they may feel they’ve stumbled into.

“We’ll look at what originally got them into this, because that’s going to help them climb out,” she says.

‘Harnessing Your Passion to Achieve Your Purpose’ will take place Friday, Jan. 10, at the Chamber office from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. This event is sponsored by Deluxe Payroll.

For more information, or to register, click here