Turning Passion Projects into Sustainable Organisations
Is it possible to turn an idea into reality, and make it work well?
Passion is the spark, that thought about something that we would love to do but we never get round to actually doing it. I hear you:
- it is too hard
- it has been done before
- I can't do it!
- I am just not that type of person who does things like that
- What if I fail?!
- I am not creative enough
So how do you go about turning a spark of a passion into reality?
Turning a bold idea into a thriving organisation requires structure, strategy, tenacity and followers and comrades in arms!
If you think that 131,000 social enterprises in the UK contribute £78 billion to the economy and that 37% of entrepreneurs started with a passion project we should be encouraged as individuals to be bold and follow our ideas through, particularly if it supports societal wellbeing.
Mark Walton’s journey with Shared Assets is a real masterclass in how to build something meaningful from the ground up.
Shared Assets began as a project, that Mark and a friend secured funding for, transitioning first to a temporary social enterprise pop-up and then over time, it became a Community Interest Company (CIC) supporting land justice across the UK.
Mark and his team embedded their values into governance, built partnerships, and scaled impact all the while staying true to their mission.
The Power of Collaborative Leadership
No founder succeeds alone. Collaborative leadership is essential for scaling passion into impact.
What does collaborative leadership look like?
It is a leadership style where:
- The leader co-creates goals and vision with the team and stakeholders.
- They empower others to lead and innovate providing support and encouragement.
- They build trust through transparency and shared ownership nurturing an inclusive culture
A Practical Guide to Doing It Well:
- Define Your Mission Clearly: What problem are you solving?
- Choose the Right Structure: CICs, charities, or hybrid models.
- Build a Leadership Team: Use psychometrics to align strengths.
- Invest in Training: Equip your team with leadership and management skills.
- Use Coaching to Stay Grounded: 1:1 support helps founders stay focused and resilient. take a look at my earlier articles on the cost of coaching and what coaching is
Take a look at the support I offer to those who have a sparkle in their eye but don't know what to do about it.
leadership development, coaching, and psychometric profiling.
To hear the full conversation with Mark, visit The Unlikely Executive Podcast episode 18
Passion starts the journey but it is collaboration that sustains it. Mark Walton’s story is a reminder that with the right people, structure, and mindset, you can build something that truly matters.
