Ever wonder how people take doing what they love and turn it into a career? Do you think this is only meant for the rich, the lucky or the insanely talented? The truth is, turning your passion into a career is like most of the steps you've taken in life - it's not more difficult, it's just different. Got a burning desire to stop working on someone else's dream and start building your own? Then keep reading my friend because these 6 Steps could not only change your mind, they just might change your life.
A few years ago I "lost my mind", left my career and began to pursue my passion instead. It wasn't easy. Believe me, this decision came loaded with plenty of personal guilt (did I really waste all that money on a degree to not use it?) and self doubt (what if I fall flat on my face?) But I felt a tug at my heart that kept encouraging me to step out in faith and give it a shot. And so I did.
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As soon as I took the leap into entrepreneurship two things did NOT happen: 1. I didn't lose my house, plunge into a whirlwind of financial catastrophe or suffer any other type of peril. 2. I also did not become an overnight success.
Making the move to become your own boss will change your life - but your life probably won't change drastically right away. You should expect this whole process to take a lot of energy and a good amount of time. And work. Lots and lots and lots and lots of work. But you can also expect the decision to follow your passion will give you a sense of pleasure and satisfaction like you may never have known. That's because now instead of toiling away for someone else you're taking steps toward paving your own path - and that feels good.
6 Steps to Take Your Passion & Put It To Work!
1. Ask Yourself Honest Questions & Give Yourself Honest Answers
Be honest and ask yourself, "What do I love doing?" The key here is honesty. Don't try coming up with an answer that you think sounds "good" or "cool" or "lucrative". Just honestly answer this question with the activities that you truly enjoy.
What could you spend countless hours working on without losing focus? What topics could you talk incessantly about without getting bored? These are the areas where you should focus. In this step don't worry about how you'll make money doing this stuff. Right now the most important task is to identify the interests that you love spending your time on.
What could you spend countless hours working on without losing focus? What topics could you talk incessantly about without getting bored? These are the areas where you should focus. In this step don't worry about how you'll make money doing this stuff. Right now the most important task is to identify the interests that you love spending your time on.
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2. Change Your Mindset
For some reason, our American culture has a suuuuper limited mindset regarding the idea of turning your passion into a career. So many people think:
a) You must know exactly what your passion is by the time you graduate high school. If you don't, then you better just settle for something safe, even if you hate it.
b) People who follow their passions are impulsive, free-spirits who live in the moment and are driven by their emotions.
c) Your passion must be complicated and extreme. Only incredibly lucky and overly talented people can actually make a career out of it.
What's wrong with this mindset is it's pretty much inaccurate. The truth about passion seeking actually looks more like:
a) If you turn 18 and haven't all of a sudden discovered your passion, that's okay. In fact, that's overwhelmingly typical. Your passion will come in phases and waves throughout your life. How you define your passion will also shift gears. You are going to grow and change over the years and so is your passion.
b) Passion seekers are, for the most part, pretty grounded individuals. We're not just a bunch of young, wander-lust driven hippies out here. Most successful creatives are people who think long and hard about each decision and direction they choose. Nothing willy and/or nilly about it.
c) While it would be wicked to have some extreme passion, like kite-surfing-photographer-philanthropist, most people's passions are quite simple. For example, my passion is teaching and working with people. Yours might be writing, gardening, cooking, building... all of which, I'd like to point out, could easily translate into a job.
When we tell the truth about passion discovery, and change our mindset toward it, we're able to see just how simple and realistic making a living out of what you love can be.
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3. Become a Problem Solver
Here is where we start looking at how your passion can earn you that cash money. Ask yourself this very lucrative question, "What problem can my passion solve?"
Now, when I say "problem" I don't necessarily mean "predicament". Think about yourself as a consumer; you need stuff, right? As consumers we are constantly relying on others to provide us with goods and services. So what is something that people want or need (the problem) that your passion can provide (the solution)?
For example, there are a lot of mothers out there who want to lose weight after pregnancy (the problem). I work with them (my passion) and teach the strategies I used that resulted in my very successful postpartum weight loss (the solution). Women (consumers) pay me to teach them something (service). The concept is pretty straightforward.
For example, there are a lot of mothers out there who want to lose weight after pregnancy (the problem). I work with them (my passion) and teach the strategies I used that resulted in my very successful postpartum weight loss (the solution). Women (consumers) pay me to teach them something (service). The concept is pretty straightforward.
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4. Stop Spinning Your Tires
During this process you are going to question yourself. You are going to look at other entrepreneurs who are crushing the market and wonder when/if you'll be as successful. You'll procrastinate and develop a fear of moving forward.
In short, stop doing these things.
It's good to be thorough about your processes but don't second guess yourself into confusion. Recognize that the fellow passion seeker who's out there killing it has probably had skin in the game a lot longer than you. Like I said in the beginning, I wasn't successful overnight. Not over night, over month and not even over year. It'll take a while to see a return on your investment and so if you want to close the gap on your timeline, I suggest you get moving. Tackle one project, one piece of the puzzle at a time and give her all she's got, Cap'n.
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5. Learn How to Plan & Set Goals
In order for your passion-turned-business to thrive you'll need strategies for mapping out short and long term business decisions. However, planning and goal setting is not everyone's forte. If you feel clueless when it comes to strategy or you have no idea where to start with your goals, then you need to sharpen this skill set. This step isn't difficult but it can be time consuming, especially if you're not really sure where to begin.
Luckily, there's a plethora of resources out there for you to tap into. One excellent resource, obviously, is the Internet. We live in an age where we are just a Google search away from limitless articles, videos and webinars designed to teach us exactly what we need. A great website to kick off your search is the U.S. Small Business Administration site www.sba.gov.
Another way to learn the art of planning and goal setting is from other successful entrepreneurs. Find yourself a quality mentor who's been through the trenches and would be willing to share their stories and advice. Take them out for coffee, lunch, heck - even spring for dinner! The wisdom they have to share with you will be priceless so treat them well, be a good listener and glean as much as you can.
The early phases of entrepreneurship can be lonely. This is especially true if you were used to brainstorming with team members at your former job. Networking with other budding entrepreneurs will help you feel like you're not so alone. Not only can you bounce strategies off each other but your network can also serve as a support system. Other people who are still in the early phases of making a career out of their passion are going to get you. When you need to talk things out, other new entrepreneurs are going to listen and want to help. So establish a wolf pack and nurture the heck out of it.
Luckily, there's a plethora of resources out there for you to tap into. One excellent resource, obviously, is the Internet. We live in an age where we are just a Google search away from limitless articles, videos and webinars designed to teach us exactly what we need. A great website to kick off your search is the U.S. Small Business Administration site www.sba.gov.
Another way to learn the art of planning and goal setting is from other successful entrepreneurs. Find yourself a quality mentor who's been through the trenches and would be willing to share their stories and advice. Take them out for coffee, lunch, heck - even spring for dinner! The wisdom they have to share with you will be priceless so treat them well, be a good listener and glean as much as you can.
The early phases of entrepreneurship can be lonely. This is especially true if you were used to brainstorming with team members at your former job. Networking with other budding entrepreneurs will help you feel like you're not so alone. Not only can you bounce strategies off each other but your network can also serve as a support system. Other people who are still in the early phases of making a career out of their passion are going to get you. When you need to talk things out, other new entrepreneurs are going to listen and want to help. So establish a wolf pack and nurture the heck out of it.
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6. Remember That You're In Control
At the end of the day, don't give this whole process too much power. You probably won't get everything right the first time you try and that's okay. You will also probably change your mind several times or shift gears completely. This does not mean that you are wishy-washy or that your idea is a flop. Did you ever change majors in college? And didn't everything turn out just fine? Remember that you have the power to take control of your decisions, your daily routine, your finances and all aspects of your future.
It can be tough sometimes, being the boss, especially your own boss. You have to hold yourself accountable, give yourself deadlines, answer all of the questions and fix all of the problems yourself. This new venture is now your baby and how you raise it is up to you. But I have no doubt that you are going to be very successful in this endeavor. Why? Because if you truly do possess that entrepreneur's spirit then you will stop at nothing to get what you want. When you are a true entrepreneur the drive to succeed is just too overpowering.
So get out there and CRUSH IT, my friend. And then come back later and tell me your success story. I can't wait to hear it.
It can be tough sometimes, being the boss, especially your own boss. You have to hold yourself accountable, give yourself deadlines, answer all of the questions and fix all of the problems yourself. This new venture is now your baby and how you raise it is up to you. But I have no doubt that you are going to be very successful in this endeavor. Why? Because if you truly do possess that entrepreneur's spirit then you will stop at nothing to get what you want. When you are a true entrepreneur the drive to succeed is just too overpowering.
So get out there and CRUSH IT, my friend. And then come back later and tell me your success story. I can't wait to hear it.
Now it's YOUR TURN to be heard...
COMMENT BELOW! Tell me:
What is/was your biggest fear with taking the PLUNGE and starting your own business?
What is your PASSION and what would you LOVE to do for a living?
Boss Babe. Super Mom.
Who says you can't be both?
Who told you that you can't have the best
of both worlds; killing it both at home & in your career?
My mission is to change the mindset that most American
women have, the mindset that says you have to choose
one thing or the other; your family or your career.
Every day I work from home, while being an attentive
mommy to my 7 month old son, teaching women the
strategies I'm using to take my life and make it my own.
mommy to my 7 month old son, teaching women the
strategies I'm using to take my life and make it my own.
This is my passion. My desire is to help you discover yours.
Follow along and subscribe to my blog because my mission
doesn't stop at just changing your mindset, I also want to
help you change your life!
Follow along and subscribe to my blog because my mission
doesn't stop at just changing your mindset, I also want to
help you change your life!
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