Be Passionate and Keep Going. On the Role of Passion for Helping Entrepreneurs for the Public Good in Solving Identity Contestation

Abstract

In modern times, characterized by grand challenges, new forms of entrepreneurship are crucial. Among them, this research embraces the perspective of entrepreneurs for the public good, individuals who act to embed new societal values while solving wicked problems. However, the context they are embedded in may trigger a sensation of oppression, and entrepreneurs may experience role overload. Feeling that their role identity is threatened, their entrepreneurial identity might be contested. On the basis of identity work theory, the study theorizes on the peculiar moment of entrepreneurial identity contestation, arguing that passion might help entrepreneurs in solving and elaborating on their identity. According to several scholars, entrepreneurial identity is capable of predicting passion. Thus, embedding the dualistic model of passion, I theorize on its role in entrepreneurial identity contestation, seeking to broaden the identity work literature. Firstly, I focus on a peculiar moment of the entrepreneurial identity work, that is identity contestation. Secondly, I integrate the dualistic model of passion within identity work, suggesting the positive shade of obsessive passion. Lastly, the study, embracing the proposed perspective of entrepreneurship for the public good, aims to lay the foundations for intriguing research on how grand challenges, as contextual conditions, shape entrepreneurship.

Keywords: Identity contestation, obsessive passion, entrepreneurship for the public good, entrepreneurial passion, harmonious passion, entrepreneurial identity work.