Passion and Performance in Entrepreneurial Contexts: An Interest-based Approach

Abstract

Extant research proves the central role of passion for individual development and entrepreneurial performance. However, the phenomena of multiple sources and domains of passion and their effects are largely unexplored. Particularly, this concerns individuals whose entrepreneurial journeys originate from pursuing interesting ideas and activities unleashed by a passion that is basically not entrepreneurial. Current passion theories can neither entirely capture nor consistently explain the effects of complementing and conflicting domains of passion. It is thus a theoretical and empirical puzzle of how and why multiple sources of passion(s) develop and impact performance. This article identifies and compares predominant theories and elaborates an interest-based approach that reconciles constitutional theoretical differences by proposing self-concordance of interests, activities, goals and passion(s) as the precondition for extraordinary entrepreneurial outcomes. The resulting framework facilitates a new empirical perspective to explore the dynamics of passion(s) and makes an important contribution to the literature of passion and performance.