I’m ceo and cofounder of my startup. Currently going through techstars. The product is good, has really good traction, solving a big problem in an industry I don’t care about. I have deep passion for social issues and specially education.
The only thing that motivates ALOT me about my current company is that we can make a lot of money so I can just eventually leave and do something I’m passionate about with that money.
Am I doomed?
Nope. Passion and a healthy obsession can be cultivated and it’s on you as a leader to bring that. Followers and other passive people expect to be motivated, so find a way to motivate them. If there is demand for your product that means you’re helping somebody solve a problem that’s important to them, so consider digging in and trying to develop empathy for them around that.
Plus, when you’re a proven success and rich you’ll be in a better place to make a difference. I’m not sure if you’ve ever worked in a social impact industry but I have and I can tell you that they bring many of their own frustrations and are very difficult to actually make an impact in and be profitable at the same time. Plus you’re almost always at the mercy of regulation that can change at any moment and sink your entire life’s work overnight. My wife works at an Ed tech company right now and it sounds brutal.