HGTV Canada’s Bryan and Sarah Baeumler are no strangers to turning their passion into a labour of love — just take their most recent project!
Following their dream to buy an abandoned resort in the Bahamas and bring it to its full potential, chronicled on their new HGTV Canada show Island of Bryan, the Baeumlers transformed their passion for renovating into an unforgettable adventure — and a new dimension of their business.
“While vacationing on the boat, we were lucky enough to stumble upon South Andros — its blue waters and tranquil landscape were what really made us fall in love,” Bryan says.
The Baeumlers learned of a local resort that had been deserted for almost a decade and was up for sale.
“When we saw this gorgeous relic of a resort, we immediately saw an opportunity of a lifetime. With our own skills and knowledge, we knew we would be able to tackle a project of this scale,” says Bryan. “Although this is the biggest project we have tackled to date, and the workload and challenges are quite extensive, we are grateful every day for what we have been able to accomplish, the people we have met, and the experiences we have been able to provide our family. It truly has been an adventure of a lifetime.”
The Baeumlers will be the first to tell you, however, that you can’t run a business on passion alone. There’s sending invoices, paying taxes, sweeping up, managing inventory, hiring staff and more. While the administration and operational side of business isn’t necessarily what excites you, it all needs to be done to keep the business running smoothly and moving forward.
“We have a lot of passion, but we have to run the business. There have been times when our business was smaller, when we were first starting out, we wanted to focus on the things we loved doing … But the fact is, when you’re growing a business you have to run the business.”
Think your business idea will fly? Use this checklist to help you turn your passion into a successful business.
Is there a way to balance your passion with the practical needs of your business? While Sarah admits there isn’t a simple solution, here are some tips for balancing both sides.
1. Set a Time Every Day or Week to Deal with the Tasks You Don’t Love
Whether it’s invoicing on Friday afternoons or doing inventory checks Monday mornings, make the essential business tasks part of your routine so they get done. And by doing them regularly, these jobs won’t pile up and become overwhelming.
2. Consider Outsourcing
Running a business requires a wide range of skills — and you may not be proficient in every one of them. Numbers not your thing? Hire an accountant or bookkeeper to take care of your finances and manage your taxes. If you need to create a website but don’t know the first thing about the internet, find an expert to build it for you. Plus when you outsource tasks that fall outside your wheelhouse, you’ll likely get a better result than if you tackled them yourself.
3. Get the Training You Need
On the flip side, if you’re not comfortable outsourcing — or it’s just not in your budget right now — try to get proper training in the areas where you could use some additional knowledge. From computing to accounting to business writing, there are many courses and programs available to help you gain the expertise you need.
4. Work on the Business, Not Just in the Business
When you’re doing something you love, it can sometimes be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day without coming up for air. But for your business to succeed and grow, it’s important to look up and look forward. That means putting in the time to evaluate the market, take stock of your competition, identify gaps and opportunities and create a plan for the coming years. A successful business owner has vision as well as passion.
“The truth is, we all want to sit on the deck and stare at the horizon and enjoy a little sunshine.” says Bryan, “But you have to steer the ship first.”
While the Baeumlers are busy with their adventure renovating a boutique resort hotel on South Andros Island in the Bahamas, here’s what they have to say about the importance of fueling passion in your business.
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