How to turn your passion into a career

Do you have a passion that you want to turn into a career? Are you itching to do something, but aren’t sure how to make it happen? If so, you are not alone. Many people feel stuck in their current job and don’t know how to turn their passion into a career. In this post, we will explore the benefits of doing what you love for a living as well as explain the steps you need to take to make your dream a reality. Becoming an expert on your favourite topic is no easy feat, but with the right attitude and determination, it might be easier than you think.

Why is it so important to do what you love?

According to a Gallup poll, 70% of employees are disengaged from their jobs and are less productive as a result. Studies have also found that people who love what they do have higher levels of creativity, productivity and job satisfaction. Those who are lucky enough to do what they love for a living are rewarded for their passion and skill. They often earn more money and get better opportunities in the process. This is especially true in creative industries like writing, film-making, design and entrepreneurship.

How to turn your passion into a career

You may have heard that in order to turn your passion into a career, you must first make a business out of it. While this is true, it’s not all that helpful. To make your dream come true, it is important to set goals and create a plan to achieve them. Here are the steps that you should take to turn your passion into a career:

Define what you are passionate about

The first thing that you need to do is define what you are passionate about. This might be a hobby, a subject, a type of job or a skill that you’ve developed over the years. It might be something that you’ve been interested in since you were a child.  You might even have multiple passions that you want to turn into a job.

The important thing here is that it’s something that you love to do and something that you would do even if no one paid you for it. Maybe you’ve always been interested in cooking or you’ve recently taken up a new hobby like woodworking. Perhaps you are passionate about a certain cause or social issue and decide to volunteer your time to an organisation or charity that shares your values and mission. It’s possible that you are interested in real estate or investing and decide to take a class to learn more about how to grow your wealth.

Create a plan and set deadlines

Now that you know what you are passionate about, it is time to make a plan for turning your passions into a career. Make a list of all of the skills, resources and contacts that you will need to acquire to succeed. Be sure to include both short-term and long-term goals. Once you have listed everything out, prioritise it based on how quickly you will need it. Next, create deadlines for each of these milestones so that you stay on track.

“. . .[clear goals] are all the tiny, daily steps it takes to accomplish [our] mission. They exist over much smaller timescales. Becoming a great writer is a [life’s] purpose. . .Writing a novel is the next level down, a high, hard goal that could take years to complete. Writing 500 words between 8:00 A.M. and 10:00 A.M.—now, that’s a clear goal.”  

Steven Kotler, The Art of Impossible

Be sure to schedule time every day to work on your goals. If you are trying to acquire a new skill, make it a daily habit. This can be as simple as reading a book on a certain topic, to taking a course at a local school or university. You can also make a list of the people you want to surround yourself with who can help you reach your goals.

Visualising your goals will help you stay motivated and make it easier for you to achieve them. If you ever feel stressed or overwhelmed, take a moment to look back at your list of goals. Keep this list with you at all times so that you can refer to it whenever you feel like giving up.

Network, network, network

You should establish connections and meet people who can help you succeed, and the best way to do this is to network. Find ways to reach out to people and start a conversation. Go to networking events, join online communities or reach out to people in your field on social media. The more people you meet, the greater your chances of finding someone who can help you advance your career goals.

Join industry groups and attend conferences to meet people who can help you grow your business. You can also reach out to others in your network to see if they would be willing to meet for coffee to chat about their experience and advice. You will be able to receive more assistance when you need it the more people you meet and help.

Find out how to turn your passion into cash

There is a difference between doing something that you love and doing what you love for a living. While you may be able to turn your passions into a career, you might not be able to make enough money to live on. Find out what it would take to make a living doing what you love by researching the industry and talking to people who are currently in it.

Are any certifications or degrees required? What is the average income? How hard it would be to get a job if you don’t have any experience? Keep in mind that you don’t have to choose a job that pays the most or lets you work from home. Find something that you love, and the rest will fall into place.

Calculate how much money you’d need to save up each month to reach your goal, and create a realistic plan for how you’ll get there. If you want to pursue your passion, but it doesn’t currently pay the bills, don’t give up. If you can’t quit your job right away, start actively searching for ways to make your current job more fulfilling. You may need to try a different company, position or career path.

“I was a bartender for the first decade of my writing career, which allowed me the time to develop my craft without the terror of having to pay my bills off the results. This was critical to my success. This is also why Tim Ferriss tells entrepreneurs to start out with a hobbyist approach to their first start-up: nights and weekends. Curiosity into passion; passion into purpose; and purpose into patient profit—that’s the safest way to play this game.”

Steven Kotler, The Art of Impossible

Take the risk and quit your job

Quit your job, start a business, travel the world, volunteer, launch that side hustle or take time to explore what makes you happy. The only way to find out if it’s right or not is to try it out. Quitting your job isn’t a decision to be taken lightly, but it’s also not something to be feared. It’s risky, but it could be the best decision you’ll ever make. The sooner that you take the risk, the sooner you will know if it was worth it. With the right amount of work and determination, you can turn your passions into a career.

In summary…

If you’re ready to take the first step and make the transition, then you should start by creating a vision of what your life will look like when you’re able to live the life of your dreams. Once you’ve got a visual of what your life might look like, you need to make a plan to get there.

If you are passionate about something, you don’t need an excuse to do it. Once you’re doing what makes you happiest, you’ll be able to find your passion and turn it into a career.