Entrepreneurs are motivated by belief and emotion – intensely held and fervently expressed. But intensity alone doesn’t win. Sacrifice alone doesn’t win. It takes more.   Belief has to be backed up by reason. Emotion has to be more than energy – it has to enhance focus. Getting the mix right is harder than it might seem.

Purpose and passion are close cousins. They are both grounded in belief. And they come together to build expectations – for investors, employees, your family, customers, and colleagues – all members of successful teams. And it is a tricky balance.

All who believe in you expect and understand that you must have passion. However, if passion overtakes reason, you will seem inauthentic and slide into the abyss of failed expectations. Do it often enough and you will lose the confidence of your team, investors, family and all others.

What is the purpose of your company?  What do you stand for? Is it merely to make money? Or is it a belief that something in the world that you uniquely understand should be different – and better?

And how strongly is the belief held? Is it held so strongly that you are willing to ignore all contrarian evidence? Being laser focused? Or are you willing and capable of being an active listener that changes frame when the market is speaking to you.

Having a clearly understood “purpose” is different from having a “sense of purpose.” That is where passion comes in. It binds the two.

Establishing balance between purpose and passion is key. Clear purpose, authentically expressed will build confidence. Showing passion will foster belief, and will encourage others to share that belief. Taken too far – passion can be perceived as overcoming good common sense.

One way to think about it: “Excite, but don’t ignite.”