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Article
Passion Inspires:
Motivations of
Creative Entrepreneurs
in Creative Business
Centres in the
Netherlands
Pawan V. Bhansing1
Erik Hitters2
Yosha Wijngaarden2
Abstract
This study focused on the context in which entrepreneurship in the
cultural and creative industries (CCI) takes place. We investigated
entrepreneurs’ inspiration, which refers to a specific type of motivation
that allows the transformation of creative ideas into creative products.
To explain this, we operationalised ‘passion for work’, which measures
how passionately engaged entrepreneurs are with their work, as well
as ‘localised passion’, which measures the passion others in one’s prox-
imity have for their work. Ten locations throughout the Netherlands
composed of creative entrepreneurs made up the setting of this study.
Our results show that localised passion has two components (passion
The Journal of Entrepreneurship
27(1) 1–24
© 2017 Entrepreneurship
Development Institute of India
SAGE Publications
sagepub.in/home.nav
DOI: 10.1177/0971355717738589
http://joe.sagepub.com
1 Department of Arts and Culture Studies, Erasmus School of History, Culture and
Communication, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
2 Department of Media and Communication, Erasmus School of History, Culture and
Communication, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Corresponding author:
Pawan V. Bhansing, Department of Arts and Culture Studies, Erasmus School
of History Culture and Communication, Erasmus University Rotterdam,
Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
E-mail: b.pawan@gmail.com
2 The Journal of Entrepreneurship 27(1)
atmosphere and passion in others), which have a positive effect on
inspiration. Moreover, there is a mediating role of passion for work in
this relationship.
Keywords
Entrepreneurs, motivation, inspiration, passion, cultural and creative
industries
Scholars studying entrepreneurship are increasingly interested in the
context in which entrepreneurship takes place (e.g., Hindle, 2010;
Parkinson, Howorth, & Southern, 2017; Williams & Vorley, 2015;
Wright & Marlow, 2011). Traditionally, scholars studying entrepreneurs
have focused on individual traits and behaviours (Brockhaus, 1982) in an
effort to investigate who the entrepreneur is. This approach has deliv-
ered, among other things, the understanding that autonomy plays a
central role (Brockhaus, 1982) and that the personal drive of entrepreneurs
is key to their success (Cardon, Wincent, Singh, & Drnovsek, 2009).
However, despite their need for independence, entrepreneurs are still
individuals who generate ideas and perform their activities embedded in
social and professional environments. Context, or in other words, the
‘circumstances, conditions, situations or environments that are external
to the respective phenomenon and enable or constrain it’ (Welter, 2011,
p. 167), may be an important factor in many entrepreneurial activities.
A focus on the context may generate a deeper understanding of particular
traits and behaviours and may highlight the influence of environmental
elements such as location, while also providing insights into how entre-
preneurs implement mechanisms related to their entrepreneurial drive.
An entrepreneur’s motivational state of mind plays a central role in
his/her organisational success (Amabile, 1997; Shane, Locke, & Collins,
2003) and context may influence that motivational state. How entrepre-
neurs feel about their entrepreneurial activities is highly important in
connecting an entrepreneur’s creativity to innovative organisational out-
comes (Cardon et al., 2009). Connecting context to motivational aspects
is not uncommon. For example, in social psychology research it has been
well established that the presence of others influences the performance
of tasks (Zajonc, 1965). The economic geography literature mentions the
influence of the buzz or feel of a location, created by interactions between
individuals (Bathelt, Malmberg, & Maskell, 2004). Nevertheless, while
entrepreneurs’ attitudes, feelings and emotions have received considerable
Bhansing et al. 3
attention, it is still unclear how such motivational factors are formed and
sustained (e.g., Baum & Locke, 2004; Foo, Uy, & Baron, 2009; Segal,
Borgia, & Schoenfeld, 2005) and how other individuals may provide a
context for entrepreneurs’ motivations (Carsrud & Brännback, 2011).
In this study, we focus on entrepreneurs working in the cultural and
creative industries (CCI), co-located in creative business centres (CBCs)
and the relationship between contextual factors and motivation. We refer
to ‘inspiration’ as the motivational state of the entrepreneur that is ‘evoked
in response to getting a creative idea and that compels the individual to
transform the creative idea into a creative product’ (Thrash, Maruskin,
Cassidy, Fryer, & Ryan, 2010, p. 470). As individuals arguably do their
most creative work when they feel passionate (Amabile & Fisher, 2000),
it becomes imperative in studying entrepreneurs in the CCI to under-
stand passion and the relationship between passion and inspiration.
Passion is at the heart of entrepreneurship (Cardon, Gregoire, Stevens, &
Patel, 2013) and is defined as ‘consciously accessible intense positive
feelings experienced by engagement in entrepreneurial activities associ-
ated with roles that are meaningful and salient to the self-identity of the
entrepreneur’ (Cardon et al., 2009, p. 517). It can nurture creativity and
the recognition of new opportunities (Baron, 2008), enhance mental
activity and provide meaning to everyday work and has been argued to
be the fuel for entrepreneurial activities (Brännback, Carsrud, Elfving, &
Krueger, 2006). We propose to add contextual attributes concerning
place to the conceptualisation of passion. This ‘localised passion’ has
two components: the first is passion as a characteristic of the CBC
(passion atmosphere) and the second is the perceived passion in other
entrepreneurs in the CBC (passion in others). Next to this, we operation-
alise ‘passion for work’ as a type of passion that is personal.
We take on the assumption that the motivations of entrepreneurs in
the CCI are complex, as their activities are not strongly founded in the
exploitation of opportunities, but more in creative entrepreneurs’ need
for autonomy and creativity (Amabile, Conti, Coon, Lazenby, & Herron,
1996; Hesmondhalgh & Baker, 2010; Neff, Wissinger, & Zukin, 2005).
These entrepreneurs may be somewhat different from those in other
industries as they may be less concerned with providing solutions to the
needs and wants of consumers when deciding on the characteristics
and constructing the quality of the product or service (Colbert, 2003).
We argue that localised passion and passion for work are antecedents for
inspiration in the processes of new product and service development and
will show that passion in others is contagious and inspiring.
4 The Journal of Entrepreneurship 27(1)
Theory
Inspiration
Motivation refers to being energised or activated to do something.
In general, motivation theories explain why individuals perform activi-
ties in a certain way. We link to the research of Deci and Ryan (2008a),
who approach motivation at a macro level; as such, it relates to activities
and goals that are not singular, for example, personality development,
self-regulation, life goals and aspirations. They discuss types of motiva-
tion and social conditions that enhance or diminish motivation for specific
activities, rather than amounts of motivation. Their basic assumption is
that human motivation is related to culture and the social environment.
Furthermore, Deci and Ryan (2008b) argue that intrinsic and extrinsic
motivation are tied in with the need for autonomy and competence and
that motivational processes are influenced by context, such as social
climate and the ambience of a situation. Therefore, we argue that the drive
that someone has for his or her entrepreneurial activities is not easily
explained by the activity’s intrinsic enjoyment or its extrinsic instru-
mental value. Motivational mechanisms that allow a broader perspec-
tive, rather than a narrow focus on specific tasks and short-term goals,
may better explain entrepreneurs’ motivational traits and states in the
span of their career. For example, role models can motivate an individual
to achieve success. The accomplishments of star athletes, musicians and
award-winning scientists are often showcased in an attempt to enhance
people’s long-term goals and aspirations (Lockwood, Jordan, & Kunda,
2002). Thrash and Elliot’s (2003) conceptualisation of inspiration, as a
motivational state, offers such a broad perspective with respect to the
creation of products and services.
In the CCI, entrepreneurs can be seen as persons who are in need of a
continuous state of motivation with respect to their work. Artists and
other creative individuals are involved in an ongoing creative process
and attribute their best work to unknown forces and mechanisms
(Ghiselin, 1952; Harding, 1940). Such accounts are generally perceived
as ‘inspiration’. Thrash and Elliot (2003) identify three characteristics of
inspiration. Inspiration is evoked and triggered by a stimulus object.
The individual has little control over this state and it seems to arise with-
out an apparent cause. It implies transcendence beyond the ordinary
concerns and limitations of routine human behaviour and an increasing
awareness of new possibilities. Moreover, inspiration entails motivation;
it compels individuals to realise their ideas. As such, inspiration may be
Bhansing et al. 5
applied directly to the specific domain of creative activity (Oleynick,
Thrash, LeFew, Moldovan, & Kieffaber, 2014). Thus, inspiration is the
motivational response to a creative idea and the process that transforms
creative ideas into creative products and services, rather than the source
of the creative idea (Oleynick et al., 2014).
Early studies referencing inspiration did not fully conceptualise inspi-
ration as a motivational state and were more concerned with its origins.
Rothenberg and Hausman (1976) noted that in Greek mythology, the
Muse was known to whisper into a poet’s ear, delivering knowledge and
the skills to communicate it. In the organisational literature, early studies
of inspiration were simplified and focused on the inspiring qualities of
leaders (e.g., Shamir, House, & Arthur, 1993). Taylor and Lobel (1989)
demonstrated how one’s peers may inspire. They found that cancer
patients are inspired by other patients who are doing better than they are.
Other studies indicate that inspiration may also be evoked by specific
objects when an actor is open to perceiving or experiencing inspiration
(May, 1975; Rogers, 1961). Recent empirical studies on inspiration have
mostly been concerned with its role as a mediator or moderator of
eudemonic states. Souitaris, Zerbinati and Al-Laham (2007) found that
feeling inspired is central to entrepreneurship education and increases
students’ intention to start a business. It is closely related to personal
growth and optimal functioning in the work place (Straume & Vittersø,
2012), is key in obtaining goals (Milyavskaya, Ianakieva, Foxen-Craft,
Colantuoni, & Koestner, 2012) and influences positive affect and vitality
(Thrash, Elliot, Maruskin, & Cassidy, 2010). Moreover, Thrash, Maruskin
et al. (2010) investigated writing processes and established that generat-
ing creative ideas and being inspired are distinct and that ideas precede
inspiration. In this study, we build on these more recent studies and
Thrash and Elliot’s (2003) work by approaching inspiration as a specific
type of motivational state that is connected to the realisation of ideas.
In addition, studies in the field of geography hint at the importance of
location as the context of inspiration. Drake (2003) provides anecdotal
evidence for the relationship between place and individualised creativity
and argues that the attributes of localities can be considered a catalyst for
creativity. He suggests that next to visual materials and stimuli, the crea-
tive atmosphere created by co-located creative enterprises is conducive
to individual creativity. Within economic geography, it has been argued
convincingly that creative entrepreneurship needs to be understood as a
socially and spatially embedded process, resulting in certain places at
certain times developing as foci of remarkable creativity and entrepre-
neurship (Audretsch & Belitski, 2013; Pratt & Jeffcutt, 2009; Scott, 2006).
6 The Journal of Entrepreneurship 27(1)
They suggest that the entrepreneurs co-located in a place can be seen as
an attribute of such locations, which may subsequently be important in
evoking inspiration as a motivational state.
Passion
It is argued that passion fuels motivation, enhances well-being and pro-
vides meaning (Vallerand et al., 2003). Earlier studies discuss passion in
relation to creativity (Goldberg, 1986) and have asserted that passion is
linked to personal goals and emotions (Frijda, Mesquita, Sonnemans, &
Van Goozen, 1991). Vallerand et al. (2003, p. 757) define passion ‘as a
strong inclination towards an activity that people like, they find impor-
tant, and in which they invest time and energy’. For an activity to be
recognised as something about which the individual is passionate, it has
to be a significant part of an individual’s life. When the individual
accepts this as being an important part of him or her, such activity is
internalised in the identity of the individual (Vallerand et al., 2003).
Passion was an underdeveloped concept before Vallerand et al. (2003)
established a tool to measure how harmonious or obsessive individuals’
passion is for their favourite activity. This in turn allowed further con-
ceptualisation and measurability of types of passion concerning activi-
ties that are reoccurring or ongoing, such as entrepreneurial passion
(Cardon et al., 2013) and passion for work (Baum & Locke, 2004;
De Clercq, Honig, & Martin, 2013).
Individuals who are passionate about their work act in accordance
with their ‘pre-existing capacity for a particular way of behaving, think-
ing or feeling’ (Linley, Govindji, & West, 2007, p. 9). They use their full
potential and are more likely to internalise their work in their identity,
being willing to dedicate time and resources to their work (Forest et al.,
2012). Liu, Chen and Yao (2011) studied the employees of large com-
mercial banks and a porous metal company and found that harmonious
passion mediates the effects of autonomy on creativity. This confirms the
assumption that the fundamental human need for autonomy yields moti-
vational forces that can release the human creative potential (Amabile,
1997; Ryan & Deci, 2000) and suggests a crucial role for passion in
motivational processes.
Cardon et al. (2009) argue that passionate entrepreneurs may have
increased levels of creativity and persistence. Recent studies in the
management and organisational literature have developed measures
underscoring that passion is a central element in entrepreneurial activities
Bhansing et al. 7
(Cardon et al., 2013), while the passion of entrepreneurs can positively
influence the investment decisions of venture capitalists (Chen, Yao, &
Kotha, 2009). According to Cardon et al. (2013), passion is the heart of
entrepreneurship. It can nurture creativity and the recognition of new
opportunities (Baron, 2008), enhance mental activity and provide mean-
ing to everyday work, and it has been argued to be the fuel for entrepre-
neurial activities (Brännback et al., 2006). Moreover, Cardon (2008)
argues that a manager or entrepreneur can positively affect an employee
with their passion for work in such a way that passion acts in a conta-
gious manner, inciting the creativity of others. She developed a concep-
tual model for passion contagion that is based on transformational
leadership, emotional mimicry and social comparison.
Passion for Work in the CCI
Entrepreneurial passion in the creative industries may differ from that in
other industries as the creator of the product is involved in the develop-
ment of a product or service from the generation of the idea to deciding
on what the marketable characteristics are of a product. Passion in the
context of cultural and creative entrepreneurs not only refers to the
passion they have for running a business, which is more prevalent in
other industries (Thorgren & Wincent, 2015), but more the desire to have
their creative processes result in marketable products. These activities
may consist of routinisable and non-routinisable activities (Burton, 2003),
meaning that passion in this setting includes the day-to-day work of
creative entrepreneurs performed in order to turn creative ideas into
creative products. In this line, we link to the work of Baum and Locke
(2004), De Clercq et al. (2013) and Richie et al. (1997) and their concep-
tualisation of passion as the ‘extent to which people experience feelings
of pleasantness and joy when engaging in intensive work-related activi-
ties’ (De Clercq et al., 2013, p. 656). Using this conceptualisation,
De Clercq et al. (2013) confirm, for example, that passion for work is
related to entrepreneurial intentions.
Localised Passion
We argue that the contagious nature of passion makes it likely that entre-
preneurs are affected by the passion of others in their environment
and thus the context in which they work. Mowday and Sutton (1993)
8 The Journal of Entrepreneurship 27(1)
characterise context as ‘stimuli and phenomena that surround and thus
exist in the environment external to the individual’ (p. 198). For Johns
(2006), such contextual factors serve as a main effect or interact with
personal variables such as states and affect behaviour. Although entre-
preneurs have a high need for achievement and independence (Brockhaus,
1982), they of course do not operate and realise their ideas in a vacuum.
They are individuals functioning in social and professional environ-
ments, influenced by experiences, objects and—more importantly in this
study—other people. Social facilitation theory (Zajonc, 1965) confirms
that the presence of others improves the performance of simple tasks and
undermines the performance of more complex activities. Nevertheless, a
larger number of solutions are generated in the presence of others when
they are experienced as pleasant (Perry-Smith & Coff, 2011). Moreover,
the effects of social facilitation do not always require the direct presence
of others. Building on social facilitation theory, Kilduff, Elfenbein and
Staw (2010) argue that having rivals benefits tasks for which success is
more founded on effort than on precision or accuracy. The early work of
Allport (1920) showed that when one person is working visibly hard,
others will follow. More recently, as mentioned before, Cardon (2008)
has pointed out how passionate employers can transfer this passion to
their employees.
We propose that passion exists as a type of local ‘buzz’ that is created
by the presence of a larger group of peers centralised in a specific place
and that this affects the motivational state of the entrepreneur. It is widely
acknowledged that the creative industries are concentrated in cities
that provide a creative milieu (Grandadam, Cohendet, & Simon, 2013),
which should result in high-quality creative outputs. Similarly, co-located
firms are expected to perform better (Asheim, Cooke, & Martin, 2006)
than comparable firms that are not co-located. Drake (2003) emphasises
the role of place in the creative industries and shows that creative work-
ers characterise the feel of a place or locality as its ‘buzz’. According to
Bathelt et al. (2004, p. 38) ‘buzz refers to the information and communi-
cation ecology created by face-to-face contacts, co-presence and co-
location of people and firms within the same industry and place or
region’. One can argue that local buzz has its own characteristics related
to its own outcomes; for example, innovative buzz may lead to the crea-
tion of innovative products. Buzz consists of specific information and
continuous updates of this information and intended and unanticipated
learning processes in organised and accidental meetings. Actors continu-
ously contribute to and benefit from the diffusion of information, gossip
and news by just ‘being there’. We particularly argue that face-to-face
contact, co-presence and co-location are the windows through which
Bhansing et al. 9
passion is recognised and affects inspiration. In locations with a high
concentration of entrepreneurs, buzz may take on the characteristics
of these entrepreneurs as they make up the activity of the location.
We conceptualise localised passion as an accumulation of the passion of
individuals centralised in one location that can be noticed as ‘something
in the air’. This consists of two dimensions: a ‘passion atmosphere’ indi-
cating the particular feel of a place and ‘passion in others’ denoting the
appreciation of passion for work of other entrepreneurs in the location.
Taking into account that one entrepreneur may be more open to expe-
riencing local buzz than another and that one may be more passionately
engaged in entrepreneurial work than others, we investigate if localised
passion has a positive effect on inspiration and if this is mediated by the
entrepreneur’s passion for work. As mentioned before, inspiration is
evoked and sustained by a trigger or stimulus, which can be an object,
act or person (Thrash & Elliot, 2003). We argue that the locality and its
characteristics are also a stimulus for feeling inspired to turn creative
ideas into creative products. As such, localised passion may serve as a
context that evokes inspiration. In addition, the passion that the entrepre-
neur has for his/her entrepreneurial activities, such as new product and
service development, may already motivate, that is, inspire, the realisa-
tion of their ideas. We propose a three-path model (Figure 1) in which
passion atmosphere is mediated first by passion in others and second by
passion for work before it influences inspiration.
Figure 1. Three-path Mediation Model
Source: Authors’ own.
10 The Journal of Entrepreneurship 27(1)
Research Setting and Data Collection
We examined entrepreneurs in 10 CBCs in the Netherlands. These 10
locations are members of the Dutch Creative Residency Network, a
partner in our research project. At the time of data collection (April 2015
to August 2015), the Dutch Creative Residency Network had 24 members
and represented 1500 creative entrepreneurs. Our partner CBCs were
spread throughout the Netherlands and were of different sizes. The man-
agers of these locations rent out office and/or work spaces to creative
entrepreneurs. The smallest CBCs in our sample accommodate 50 entre-
preneurs and the largest CBC houses 400 entrepreneurs; in combination,
our partner CBCs house 998 entrepreneurs.
The backgrounds of the creative entrepreneurs are diverse, including
visual arts, preforming arts, food, design and creative marketing compa-
nies. These creative entrepreneurs are typically exposed to uncertain and
competitive market environments and scarce resources, which demand a
high level of radical or incremental innovative efforts. Traditionally, the
entrepreneurs renting space at CBCs desire a relatively low-cost housing
option and low economic search costs. Furthermore, CBCs have been
widely used as a strategy for urban renewal and the reuse of vacant office
buildings and factories (Evans, 2009). The CBCs are found across
Europe and North America.
All data used in the analysis were obtained through administering the
Cultures of Innovation in the Creative Industries (CICI) Survey Part I.
The questionnaire mainly focuses on motivational concepts, interactions
and housing satisfaction. It was developed based on visits to the partici-
pating CBC locations, 10 interviews with managers of the locations, 40
interviews with entrepreneurs housed at these locations, existing scale
measurements and a focused literature review. We used existing scales as
much as possible. The existing scales were adapted to our setting and
translated and back translated, thereby reducing the risk of comprehen-
sion problems. In addition, the questionnaire was tested by four entrepre-
neurs located in CBCs which were not partners in our research project.
The questionnaire was available only in Dutch and in an electronic and
print version.
Our units of analysis were creative entrepreneurs in CBCs, in other
words, those individuals who rent work spaces in CBCs. The managers
of the CBC locations were instrumental in notifying the entrepreneurs
about our study. In most CBCs, the management distributed an email
informing the residents about the CBC’s relationship with the research
project and with instructions guiding them to the online questionnaire.
Bhansing et al. 11
After 2 weeks and 4 weeks, follow-up reminders were distributed by the
locations’ management and after 6 weeks our research team approached
the residents by telephone, requesting them to complete the question-
naire, or the locations were visited and entrepreneurs were personally
asked to complete the questionnaire. At one location, the management
choose to inform the residents by delivering them a mail package which
included a paper version of the questionnaire and an accompanying letter
with instructions on how to guarantee their anonymity and informing
them about the availability of the online version. The study was framed
as an investigation of the importance of CBCs in entrepreneurs’ pro-
cesses of creativity and innovation. We received 358 responses of which
319 were usable. This makes the response rate 32 per cent.
Measures
Dependent Variable
We measured inspiration using the eight-item scale developed by Thrash
and Elliot (2003). This instrument measures the frequency and intensity
of inspiration. It contains four stem statements (e.g., I experience inspi-
ration), each followed by an intensity item (how deeply or strongly?) and
a frequency item (how often?), measured on a seven-point Likert-type
scale. The internal consistency of this scale was high with Cronbach’s
α = 0.91. Oleynick et al. (2014) argue that the inspiration scale may be
used to assess trait or state inspiration. We treat inspiration as a motiva-
tional state with respect to the activities of creative entrepreneurs housed
in a specific location.
Independent, Mediator and Control Variables
We developed a new instrument to measure localised passion. This meas-
urement aims to capture (a) the degree to which individuals notice that
other individuals at a specific location are passionate about their work
and (b) the extent to which the feel of the location is characterised by
passion. This instrument was constructed from our personal impressions
of CBCs, interviews with location managers, interviews with creative
entrepreneurs in our CBC partner locations, the literature (Drake,
2003) and existing scales for entrepreneurial passion (Cardon et al.,
2013; Chen et al., 2009). From our own impressions and initial interviews
12 The Journal of Entrepreneurship 27(1)
with location managers, we ascertained that these locations may have
‘something special in the air’ and in the interviews preceding our
questionnaire we asked participants specifically to describe the ‘buzz’ in
the location. The responses indicated the presence of passion and
motivation.
We developed 17 statements and asked our respondents their level of
agreement using a seven-point Likert-type scale. Principal component
analysis (PCA) was conducted on the 17 items with orthogonal rotation
(varimax). The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measure verified the sampling ade-
quacy for the analysis: KMO = 0.93 (‘superb’ according to Field, 2009).
Bartlett’s test of sphericity (χ² (136) = 3790.54, p < 0.001) indicated that
correlations between items were sufficiently large for PCA. An initial
analysis was run to obtain eigenvalues for each component in the data.
Two components had eigenvalues over Kaiser’s criterion of 1 and in
combination explained 61.78 per cent of the variance. Table 1 shows the
factor loadings after rotation. The items that cluster on the same compo-
nents suggest that component 1 represents the passion atmosphere and
component 2 the perception of passion in other entrepreneurs. Reliability
analysis showed Cronbach’s α = 0.897 for a six-item scale for the first
component and resulted in the exclusion of one item (Table 1 item 7) from
the second component, providing a scale with Cronbach’s α = 0.925.
We developed a new instrument to measure passion for work, that is,
how passionate the creative entrepreneurs are about their work with
respect to their daily product and service development activities.
The passion instrument was constructed on the basis of interviews with
creative entrepreneurs in our CBC partner locations. The interviewees
often revealed how passionate they were about what they do, for exam-
ple, ‘I am really passionate about …’, ‘it is just great to…’ and ‘I can’t
imagine not doing this’. We developed eight statements from the inter-
views and sought our respondents’ level of agreement using a seven-
point Likert-type scale. PCA was conducted on the eight items. The Kaiser–
Meyer–Olkin measure verified the sampling adequacy for the analysis:
KMO = 0.898 (‘great’ according to Field, 2009). Bartlett’s test of sphe-
ricity (χ² (28) = 1114.27, p < 0.001) indicated that the correlations
between items were sufficiently large for PCA. An initial analysis was
run to obtain eigenvalues for each component in the data. Table 2’ : One
component had eigenvalues over Kaiser’s criterion of 1 and explained
53.95% of the variance. Table 3 shows the factor loadings. Reliability
analysis resulted in the exclusion of one item (Table 1 item 8) for the
component and provided a seven-item scale with Cronbach’s α = 0.854.
Bhansing et al. 13
Table 1. Rotated Factor Loadings Localised Passion
Component
1 2
1 The entrepreneurs in [location] are
proud of their work.
0.791 0.258
2 The entrepreneurs in [location] are
persistent.
0.781 0.105
3 The entrepreneurs in [location] feel joy
from their work.
0.761 0.328
4 The entrepreneurs in [location] are
serious about their work.
0.760 0.202
5 The entrepreneurs in [location] are
good in their work.
0.749 0.196
6 The entrepreneurs in [location] show
enthusiasm about their work.
0.726 0.374
7 The entrepreneurs in [location] have a
positive attitude despite any obstacles
they face.
0.673 0.324
8 The entrepreneurs in [location] are
optimistic.
0.659 0.334
9 The entrepreneurs in [location] become
lively when they talk about their work.
0.619 0.392
10 The entrepreneurs in [location] are
energetic.
0.598 0.478
11 The entrepreneurs in [location] do not
let negative events affect their mood.
0.554 0.136
12 The entrepreneurs in [location] create a
unique atmosphere.
0.267 0.800
13 I feel the passion of other entrepreneurs
at [location].
0.171 0.779
14 The entrepreneurs in [location] create a
motivating atmosphere.
0.374 0.778
15 I feel something special in the air at
[location].
0.091 0.757
16 The entrepreneurs in [location] create a
creative atmosphere.
0.396 0.754
17 The entrepreneurs in [location] create a
good atmosphere.
0.443 0.687
Source: Authors’ own.
14 The Journal of Entrepreneurship 27(1)
Table 2. Rotated Factor Loadings Passion for Work
Component
1
1 My work is just great. 0.831
2 My work enriches my life. 0.816
3 I get energy from my work. 0.811
4 My work really fits me. 0.792
5 I consider my work my passion. 0.707
6 I want to keep on improving my work. 0.678
7 I cannot imagine doing other work. 0.641
8 If I would not make any money with my work I would
still do my work.
0.551
Source: Authors’ own.
This instrument differs from Cardon et al.’s (2013) entrepreneurial
passion scale, which in essence measures an entrepreneur’s contentment
with starting new ventures and investigating market opportunities, but
shows similarities with Houlfort et al.’s (2015) passion for work scale,
which is an adapted version of Vallerand’s et al. (2003) harmonious and
obsessive passion scale. Because entrepreneurship in the CCI enables a
high rate of new product development that is often detached from
consumers’ needs and wants and closer to the mission of the entrepreneur
(Colbert, 2003), our concept of passion work is closer to previous studies
(Baum & Locke, 2004; De Clercq et al., 2013) than measured passion
that reflects the extent to which people love their work.
In addition we constructed control variables for the respondents’ age,
the number individuals working in the organisation (organisation size),
how often the entrepreneur interacts with other entrepreneurs in the loca-
tion (interaction, measured on a six-point scale starting with ‘less than
once a month’ and ending with ‘twice a day or more’) and dichotomous
variables for gender (1 for male and 2 for female) and CBC location.
Results
Table 3 reports the means, standard deviations and correlations of the
variables. The table shows significant correlations between the dependent,
independent and mediator variables. Inspiration is significantly corre-
lated with passion in others (r = 0.313), passion atmosphere (r = 0.310)
and passion for work (r = 0.417), with p < 0.01 in all cases.
Table 3. Correlations
Mean SD 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 Inspiration 5.4 0.9
2 Passion in others 5.5 0.8 0.310**
3 Passion atmosphere 5.2 1.1 0.313** 0.656**
4 Passion for work 6.1 0.8 0.417** 0.255** 0.226**
5 Gender 1.3 0.5 0.171* 0.103 0.128* 0.096
6 Employees 3.9 7.4 0.067 −0.003 −0.028 0.029 −0.112*
7 Age 41.1 10.7 0.084 0.120* 0.117* 0.073 0.109 −0.012
8 Interaction 4.0 1.4 0.139* 0.156* 0.234** 0.052 −0.069 −0.098 −0.159*
Source: Authors’ own.
Notes: **Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (two-tailed). *Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (two-tailed).
16 The Journal of Entrepreneurship 27(1)
Passion atmosphere is significantly correlated to passion in others
(r = 0.656) and passion for work (r = 0.226), with p < 0.01. Also, passion
in others is significantly correlated to passion for work (r = 0.226,
p < 0.01).
We tested a three-path mediation model (passion atmosphere →
passion in others → passion for work → inspiration) using a causal step
approach, see Table 4.. We extended Baron and Kenny’s (1986) single
mediator method to a three-path model, as the total effect of our depend-
ent variable (passion atmosphere) on our independent variable (inspira-
tion) was significant (Taylor, MacKinnon, & Tein, 2008) (Model 3a:
β = 0.245, p < 0.001). We also found that the relationship between the
independent variable and the dependent variable and the first mediator
variable and the second mediator variable became non-significant and
the β value was reliably reduced when controlling for the mediator.
We found significant relationships between passion atmosphere and
passion in others (Model 1: β = 0.658, p < 0.001), passion in others and
passion for work (Model 2b: β = 0.188, p < 0.01) and passion for work
and inspiration (Model 3c: β = 0.338, p < 0.01). As expected, our statisti-
cal analysis shows that all paths are positive and significant, indicating
that passion atmosphere effects inspiration first through passion in others
and second through passion for work. In addition, it is interesting to note
that our results do not show a significant relation between our interaction
variable and inspiration in the models tested.
Discussion and Conclusion
Turning creative ideas into creative products or services is a crucial
activity for the creative entrepreneur. We consider inspiration to be the
motivational response to a creative idea, preceding this process of trans-
formation (Oleynick et al., 2014). This article has investigated the role of
the context in which the motivations of entrepreneurs take shape.
For this, we approached motivations at the macro level to gain a better
understanding of the realisations of creative ideas with respect to new
product and service development. Overall, entrepreneurs are often
characterised as being motivated by a high need for achievement and
independence (Brockhaus, 1982) and this is generally connected to a
theoretical perspective that focuses on individual characteristics.
However, we argue and show that individuals in the entrepreneur’s envi-
ronment also influence the entrepreneur’s motivation or drive in the
realisation of creative ideas.
Table 4. Multiple Regression Analysis
Passion in Others Passion for Work Inspiration
Model 1 Model 2a Model 2b Model 3a Model 3b Model 3c
Beta tBeta tBeta tBeta tBeta tBeta t
(Constant) 7.471 ** 9.407 ** 7.723 ** 5.294 ** 3.924 ** 1.187
Control variables
Gender 0.051 1.144 0.051 0.888 0.042 0.728 0.156 2.790 * 0.147 2.645 * 0.133 2.545 *
Organisation size 0.015 0.354 0.054 0.967 0.051 0.924 0.094 1.733 0.091 1.696 0.074 1.461
Age 0.087 1.843 0.033 0.543 0.017 0.278 0.072 1.228 0.057 0.969 0.051 0.929
Interaction −0.001 −0.027 0.012 0.212 0.013 0.218 0.093 1.642 0.093 1.659 0.089 1.687
CBC location 1 −0.137 −0.887 0.065 0.320 0.090 0.451 0.004 0.019 0.028 0.146 −0.002 −0.013
CBC location 2 −0.218 −1.974 * 0.082 0.567 0.123 0.854 0.099 0.713 0.138 0.995 0.096 0.741
CBC location 3 0.018 0.216 0.081 0.724 0.077 0.699 0.059 0.546 0.055 0.520 0.029 0.293
CBC location 4 −0.039 −0.384 0.074 0.560 0.081 0.620 0.118 0.924 0.125 0.987 0.097 0.820
CBC location 5 −0.083 −0.600 0.229 1.270 0.245 1.367 0.132 0.760 0.147 0.852 0.064 0.396
CBC location 6 −0.084 −1.503 0.063 0.870 0.079 1.092 0.022 0.316 0.037 0.532 0.010 0.159
CBC location 7 −0.002 −0.027 0.036 0.341 0.037 0.348 0.064 0.627 0.064 0.636 0.052 0.548
CBC location 8 −0.100 −0.897 0.054 0.371 0.073 0.504 0.030 0.211 0.048 0.340 0.023 0.175
CBC location 9 −0.118 −0.718 0.039 0.183 0.061 0.289 0.132 0.644 0.153 0.752 0.133 0.693
CBC location 10 −0.110 −0.981 0.060 0.411 0.081 0.557 0.031 0.221 0.051 0.362 0.023 0.178
Independent variable
Passion
atmosphere
0.658 14.148 ** 0.203 3.352 ** 0.080 1.028 0.245 4.203 ** 0.128 1.718 0.101 1.445
Mediator variable
Passion in others 0.188 2.531 * 0.178 2.491 * 0.115 1.693 *
Passion for work 0.338 6.489
R20.465 0.093 0.112 0.156 0.173 0.275
Adjusted R2 0.438 0.048 0.065 0.114 0.129 0.234
F17.555 ** 2.072 * 2.377 * 3.74 ** 3.954 ** 6.704 **
Source: Authors’ own.
Notes: **Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (two-tailed). *Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (two-tailed).
18 The Journal of Entrepreneurship 27(1)
Based on literature from psychology (Zajonc, 1965) and economic
geography (Bathelt et al., 2004), we conceptualised the influence of
other individuals in a specific location as ‘localised passion’. The results
of our study suggest two factors of localised passion: passion atmos-
phere and passion in others. The survey items measuring the first may be
considered a new instrument for ‘something in the air’ or ‘buzz’ or the
aggregate level of passion that can be noticed in a specific location and
those measuring the second address the perceived passion for work in
other entrepreneurs. In addition, we developed a measurement for passion
for work as a way of measuring entrepreneurial passion. This measure
does not directly relate to starting a (new) business (Cardon et al., 2013)
or displays of passion (Chen et al., 2009). Passion for work is more in
line with Vallerand et al.’s (2003) measurement of harmonious passion
and Baum and Locke’s (2004) and De Clercq et al.’s (2013) approach to
passion. It comprises how involved an entrepreneur is with a broader
range of professional activities, which we considered to be more appro-
priate for the CCI.
Our main finding is that there is a relationship between localised
passion and inspiration. Moreover, our results provide empirical support
for our expectation that passion has a positive significant influence on
inspiration. This relationship follows a three-path mediation model
for the creative entrepreneurs located in CBCs. First, the passion in the
atmosphere that the entrepreneur notices has a positive influence on
perceiving passion in other entrepreneurs at the location. Second, the
perceived passion of other entrepreneurs influences how passionately
engaged the entrepreneur is with his/her own creative work. Finally, the
more passionately engaged the entrepreneur is in professional activities,
the more inspired he or she will feel. This means that the more the loca-
tion as a whole is characterised by passion (localised passion), the more
the individual entrepreneurs are inspired to turn their creative ideas into
creative products or services.
Our results suggest that passion is an antecedent for inspiration.
Localised passion seems to be internalised in the way entrepreneurs feel
about their professional activities and this positively increases the indi-
vidual passion of the entrepreneur. This suggests that the context in
which entrepreneurs try to realise their ideas affects the motivational
process and that the mere presence of passionate peers in the nearby
environment has a positive effect. In our setting, the other entrepreneurs
are located in the same building, but do not necessarily observe the pro-
fessional activities of other entrepreneurs directly. It seems that the
entrepreneurs are aware of other entrepreneurs, that these entrepreneurs
Bhansing et al. 19
may face similar issues and barriers and that they are involved in similar
creative processes. Moreover, our results suggest that this awareness is
not significantly influenced by the degree of interaction the creative
entrepreneur has with other creative entrepreneurs within the building.
Our study provides new evidence that motivation is a complex, but also
a deeply social process; social facilitation occurs not only when others
observe activities directly but also by knowing that peers are working
passionately in their environment.
In addition, our findings also suggest that inspiration may be evoked
by people and the feel of an environment. This way of evoking inspira-
tion may stand next to the objects that Vallerand et al. (2003) mention in
their conceptualisation of inspiration. As entrepreneurs are involved in
making new combinations and the development of new products and
services, surrounding themselves with a passionate environment and
individuals may provide a more controlled and steady supply for the
evocation of inspiration. This also underscores, next to the high need for
autonomy, the importance of the social aspects and the context of
entrepreneurship. The co-located working environments offered by the
CBCs in our study thus prove to be essential for entrepreneurship in the
creative industries. They provide a passionate environment for many of
the small businesses which are typical of these industries. Our results
corroborate earlier indications that creative entrepreneurs need specific
contexts and the presence of others to be inspired (cf. Drake, 2003).
Limitations and Future Research
This study has some limitations that offer opportunities for further
research. First, our focus has been on entrepreneurs housed in CBCs.
Although this allows us to take into account the context of these entre-
preneurs, other studies may want to focus on sources of inspiration for
entrepreneurs working from home or in regular office buildings. Such
types of location may not provide an ample supply of passion and for this
reason entrepreneurs may be less inspired, or alternatively they may set
other mechanisms in place. Second, this study is limited to one country
and one—albeit very heterogeneous—industry. Other effects may be
found by replicating this study in countries that are less individualistic or
in industries that rely less on the creative capital of the entrepreneur.
In such a context, sharing and interaction may have a stronger influence
on inspiration. Finally, future studies could attempt to investigate crea-
tive entrepreneurs in greater depth within the context of CBCs. Next to
20 The Journal of Entrepreneurship 27(1)
sourcing inspiration, this context may provide other key factors for
creative entrepreneurs, such as identity, brand and reputation. This would
further explain the key elements for success in the context of creative
entrepreneurs in CBCs.
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