Recently, I had a discussion with someone about careers. She and I both are a firm believer that if you hate your job, you’re much more likely to suffer from depression. And, if that’s the case, it’s worth the effort to get a different job – at least one that you like a little bit. Too many people are miserable at their job and therefore, their misery tends to spill over into every part of their life.
Granted, some people suffer from depression due to chemical imbalance, toxic relationships, unresolved trauma, etc. However, many people who get up every day to work a job they dread aren’t dealing with such issues. They just don’t like what they’re doing career-wise.
I understand because I’ve had jobs that I have disliked. I also knew that I had to work and took whatever came my way. At those times when I was in dire need of an income, I took whatever job I could get and made the best of it. Those jobs did not cause me depression, as I was already struggling with it. In fact, the income helped relieve some negative feelings.
All in all, I knew in my heart I was not STUCK there forever.
This woman I’ve been talking to about jobs vows to never stay at a job she hates. She won’t just up and quit, but she will certainly make the effort to get her something different – something that she can look forward to each day.
I’m not sure where we as a society came up with the idea that you must stay at one job your whole life. I’m not advocating switching jobs all the time, but I am advocating trying out various niches and avenues until you find something you like!
The topics of work a job you love or turn your passion into profit are dear to my heart because I’ve been on both sides. I’ve worked jobs that I really didn’t like. I’ve also worked extremely hard to get to the point where I’ve turned my passion into profit.
After a divorce over a decade ago, I went through a period of depression and had no idea what I was going to do. I had a huge wake up call. I had had the privilege of staying home with my children most of my adult life and therefore, had become spoiled in that regard. Let’s just say my work ethic was less than stellar. There I was having to work in order to pay my rent, buy food, and pay the bills ALL BY MYSELF!
It was super stressful.
I began getting those resumes out in the mental health field, as that was my background, but ended up at Starbucks for four months until I landed a job as a case manager for a social services agency. Let me assure you that if you think working at Starbucks is a cake job, it’s not. It was actually the hardest job I’d ever had. It was extremely busy. I had to be there at 4:45am. It seemed like I had a thousand things to memorize. My boss pushed us to work with lightning speed and customers were not always patient and/or nice.
One morning my emotions were so touchy, a couple tears streamed down my face as I was handing this man his coffee. I tried to hold them back, but couldn’t. How embarrassing! It wasn’t because I didn’t like the job. I was simply overwhelmed on all life levels.
That man was so sweet though, asking me if everything was alright and tried to reassure me with his tenderness. I remember thinking, “What a thoughtful man.”
During the next couple of years, I learned some valuable lessons about work. I did what I had to do in order to make it. After my brief stint as a barista, I worked in case management for a year. It was an alright job that I liked, but didn’t love. Then, I got laid off when the economy plunged in 2008.
I was faced with a dilemma. Keep doing jobs that I don’t really like or really go for it and work on building a career that I love.
Could I really turn my passion into a profit?
I went for it. I wanted my own business, and I knew that I wanted to be a writer. So, I began looking into that field and it wasn’t long before I began landing some writing gigs. I took time to learn the business.
Now, it took a couple of years before I was actually making full-time money, and during that time I worked various jobs doing whatever I could to make ends meet. The jobs weren’t always pretty! I painted rental houses for two investors, I did housecleaning (and hated every minute), I mowed yards, worked seasonal at JC Penney’s, and did a little bit of carpentry. Bet and believe I did not want to do all those things, but you have to be willing to do what it takes while you are turning your passion into profit.
Today?
I am doing what I love and then some! I am an author and content writer. I am always honing my writing skills and learning the business side. Most days, I love what I’m doing and can say I’m still passionate about this career.
And, I love sharing with others how they can turn their passion into profit too!
The first step to turn your passion into profit is to learn what you’re passionate about.
What do you truly love to do?
What makes you excited to get out of bed each day?
Start writing down what you’re passionate about. Then, narrow your focus down to one passion you’d like to turn into profit.
Success comes with baby steps and a solid commitment. Once you decide what passion you want to pursue as a career, it’s time to start creating a step-by-step plan. This might feel overwhelming at first, but remember, it’s about baby steps at this point. You’re getting some excitement and momentum going.
You’ll want to do some research in your career choice. For example, if you love fishing and want to turn that into a profit, start seeing what others are doing in the fishing niche to earn money. Some are selling tackle and bait. Others are catching fish and selling it. Still others may be writing articles for fishing magazines and/or websites.
As you research, write down key ideas and thoughts in a notebook. You can also find plenty of great videos on YouTube about various business start-ups. This first phase of doing your homework is important.
You may want to seek out a mentor who is already doing what you want to do. With the internet so handy, you can reach out online via email all around the world to connect. Sure, not everyone is willing to give you some advice as to how you can turn your passion into profit, but some are. Seek those folks out. You can also hire a business or career coach to assist you with this transition into a new career.
You might not want to give up your day job just yet. It takes time to build a business. Try not to get discouraged if it doesn’t go as fast as you wish.
Let all your family and friends know about your desire to turn your passion into a business. You’d be surprised at how well word of mouth advertising works. At the same time, don’t negate the power of the internet. Set yourself up a Facebook Business page and start providing good content for your audience. Over time, you’ll start getting the attention of those that are interested in what you’re offering.
The most successful businesses out there may have a couple things in common:
They help solve a problem for people or businesses and/or add value to their lives.
Figure out what problem your passion will help solve or how it will add value to others’ lives.
Do your best to enjoy the process of turning passion into profit. It’s easy to get frustrated when the money isn’t rolling in the way you want. Try to look at it all as an opportunity to learn valuable life lessons. If you’re doing what you love on most days career-wise, that’s a pretty big blessing in and of itself. If you desire more income, remember that as with any business, it takes time, dedication, wisdom, planning, executing the plan, and sometimes even failing.
If you fail at something, dust yourself off, get up, and try again. Consider it all as opportunity to learn.
I hope this article has helped you learn more about turning passions into profit. I can attest to the fact that it’s possible, but it does take various ingredients, time, and resilience.
If you want to try out a new career doing what you love, begin envisioning it and take your first steps.
It’s possible!
Photo by Taryn Elliott from Pexels
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2 comments on “Tips For Turning Your Passion Into Profit”
The Passion
I read and got an understanding of what is being said. I get it that some think my passion is what they think but without coming out and saying it. I don't procrastinate on things I hesitate and know what I am doing. I don't know nobody starts a business because with others think. I do see that I have lost control of my own life and what I want to do because of it. I worked jobs that are not recorded in my history to make ends meet. I also worked the job that I had to leave because of unfair treatment. I just wonder why I can't do what I need to do get to point of what others see in me because of what they did to see it. It is said to get a Facebook page and come out and do your passion for service to others. I have thoughts of what are saying to me and what is it that I suppose get on Facebook and do. I am not Greg Lewis and I don't do what he does. I haven't able to connect because I can't do like I need to. I am human first and I do have human ways. A lot has happened over the years and my mouth can be real and don't need to dig my hole any deeper. I am trying to get the passion of my craft of making things like my decorations. I want my book to be done professionally. I want to talk to people with the known gift so I can work through my know-how. This magazine that being shown to me to do is others Ideas and I am happy with this. I talk to God as my guidance with my belief and I say some things that man don't think are real. This is not fair what is being done to me. I need to be mentally and physically fit to do what I need to do.
Passion to Profit
Ideally there is no magic way to jump on the bus to success; although, the tips given in this article are helpful & lead to additional Ideas that can propel us forward. Thanks for the share ?