Money First, Passion Second?

Today, I spoke at The Alfred E. Smith High School, a vocational high school in the Bronx Burrough of New York City twice to conduct a workshop for The Fleet Youth Entrepreneur of the Year Award for NYC. Sheena and I conducted the first workshop together and then I did the second one alone. This was actually the first time we?ve ever spoken together. I was really impressed by Sheena?s poise and ability to project a powerful image. We complement each other very much, and I really look forward to speaking with her more.

The major lesson I learned on a emotional/core level today is that focusing mostly on money gets student attention big time. I?ve known this at some level for awhile now, but I?ve sort of resisted focusing on it during talks because I feel so strongly that entrepreneurship is about much more than money.

However, moving forward my feelings on Extreme Entrepreneurship are?I would like to focus more on money first and then more on other benefits as people become more of an Extreme Entrepreneur. This approach will contrast the current approach of equally blending all of the benefits. Interestingly, my partner and I initially started our web development business in 1998 mainly because we saw the money potential. It was only after experiencing being an entrepreneur that I began to appreciate its other benefits. Perhaps, this new approach would maximize the money and the overall message in the long-term by simply giving the right messages at the right times to the right people?

Some of my worries following this approach are:

1. Company Bramding. Will talking about money first, influence how we people perceive what we talk about later? For example, if the Da Lai Lama spoke about how to be a millionaire now, it might hurt the whole ?spirituality? thing he has going on.
   
2. Personal Branding. Will people be more cynical of the idea in the short-term?
3. Artistic Integrity. Does this approach sacrifice Extreme Entrepreneurship?s artistic integrity (see my recent post entitled The "Sell Out" / "Starving Artist" Dilemma) no matter what? What if this approach sends the same message and is more effective in the long-run?