I am excited to bring back Derek Goodman of Inbizability.com. If you missed it, make sure you check out his previous guest post about recovering and rescuing your business during COVID-19.
Everyone wants a job they can be proud of, and work they can approach with confidence and passion. However, too many people go about this the wrong way. More often than not, people try to foster passion for work they’re already doing. This can work, but there are no guarantees. After all, passion has to do with your values and what matters to you most. You’re not likely to become passionate about a job that doesn’t already excite you.
However, you can turn your passion into a career. Starting a business can be a huge, scary undertaking, but Lady Unemployed can help you get off on the right foot. Here’s a guide on how to identify your passion and learn how to turn it into a career that drives you:
Discovering Your Passions
Starting a company is a lot of work. You have to develop a business model, figure out financing, and get your legal ducks in a row. The way you form your business early on can define the path your business takes. It’s important to figure out exactly what you want to do before you dive into this nitty-gritty work to ensure that effort isn’t wasted.
However, some people simply don’t know what their passions are. If this is you, don’t fret. These introspection tools will help you discover exactly what ignites your soul:
- Start a daily mindfulness practice. MYOB notes this will help you learn how to pay attention to the present moment, making you more open to events, tasks, or issues that spark your interest.
- Keep a notebook with you (or start a running note in your phone) where you can jot down ideas or moments that excite you.
- Set a specific interval – weekly tends to work well – and give yourself time to reflect on your notes. Try to identify common themes. Are you drawn to people who need career help? Does your heart swell at the thought of a specific cause or concept?
- Once you’ve got a general idea, move to the imagination phase. How can you see yourself making a change in this field or arena? What talents do you bring to the table? This will help you figure out the niche in the market that only you can fill.
Give yourself a couple of months (at least) to move through this introspection phase. This will give you time to figure out which sparks will burn out on their own, and which you can nurse into the roaring fire of true passion.
Get to Work
Once you’ve identified what excites you and started to come up with ideas for how you can make that into a career, it’s time to start actually doing it. If you have limited experience in the field or industry, you could look into volunteering for an organization that needs the kind of work you’re willing to do. Nonprofit Hub notes charities and other nonprofits often need volunteers who are willing and able to do skilled work, and they may be open to newbies. This will help you test the waters and narrow your focus.
Next, get started on developing your business in earnest. Depending on what you want to do, this may be anything from gathering a client list to creating an inventory and more. A business coach can help you figure out how to set goals and take the right steps to get your new business off the ground successfully. Use the resources at your disposal to give your business a great start.
Finally, make sure you have all the necessary tech as you begin this venture. A powerful internet connection, reliable laptop, printer, bookkeeping solutions, filing system, and software specific to your business are all must-haves. If you need to buy certain pieces of equipment, like a laptop or printer, you can typically unearth significant savings, making it easier to keep your budget in check.
Turning your passion into a career is a lot of work, but it’s well worth it. There’s nothing like spending your days doing work you care about, and seeing results that speak to your soul.
About the Author
Derek Goodman created Inbizability.com, a site to offer you tips, tricks, and resources to help in realizing business ability and potential now. He is an entrepreneur who always wanted to make his own future. He knew growing his own business was the only way to do that.