How Can You Turn Your Passion Into Your Profession?

What’s life without a little bit of passion? You hear so many stories of software engineers who love bikes and go for long biking tours. You hear of teachers who love to sing and dance and never lose an opportunity to perform with their students. You hear of photographers who get up early and go for weekend trips to wildlife parks and sanctuaries. You hear of marketing professionals who turn into culinary experts and serve excellent meals for parties. You hear about so many professionals doing something on the side, something they felt deeply passionate about but could never really pursue. If you are a student or professional who is wondering how to turn your passion into a profession with some financial stability, this article highlights some aspects for you.

Identify Your Passion

Be sure about what you feel passionately about!

Is it a form of art, a sport, hospitality, or a social cause like helping the underprivileged? What do you see yourself doing and feeling really satisfied with at the end of the day?

Also, ask yourself if you would like to convert the experience of pursuing your passion into a livelihood?

The question stated above is a critical question that many youngsters miss. For example, if you rest and recuperate by doing art then turning that into an occupation may take away that joy. For example, you may be passionate about food and thus, start a restaurant. However, as the crowd picks up you may discover that monitoring a sweaty kitchen and stubborn chefs is something you don’t enjoy. So, soon the restaurant you started with such passion turns into a nightmare and a financial drain.

Hence, ask yourself, “What am I passionate about?” and list all the things you feel strongly for.

Then ask yourself, “Which of these would I like to provide as a service or product to the world?”, and not just indulge in it for your own pleasure and happiness.

By reflecting on the two questions above, you can save your time, effort, and money by many years.

Also Read | What Will Be A Good Career Option For You?

Do Ground Research

Start researching, and understand what others who have the same passion as you, are doing. Seek answers to the following questions:-

• How are they working? Where are they working?
• How do they fetch paid work? What is their lifestyle?
• What drives them?
• What courses did they pursue? How did they learn their craft?
• What are their challenges?

Follow them on social media and see how you can learn as well as support what they are doing. This will be a good learning outcome, in terms of understanding the practical nuances of pursuing your passion.

Again, ask yourself if you are willing to do what it takes to make this a profitable venture? Are you willing to stick with it in the long run?

The reason passion projects fail is rarely lack of finances or market, but mostly the lack of patience to wait for the rewards to come in. In today’s world of 15-minute deliveries, you may be wired for instant success. Also, the peer and social pressure of others in well-paying jobs makes this even more difficult.

Enrol For Courses

Start looking at degrees, diplomas, and courses that will help you establish your brand in your passion. If you want to be a photographer, enrol in a good photography course. If you want to be a cyber safety expert, take up a good course and burn that midnight oil. Similarly for art, music, drama, so you learn to shine in your field. Do understand the credentials of the institute and teachers before you take admission.

The other advantage of enrolling in professional courses is that it expands your network and helps you meet like-minded people. A good professional network goes a long way in helping you grow and learn. The degrees that you get will help you establish your credibility in the specific field and build your confidence too.

Enrolling In The Right Course Helps You Network

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Look For Relevant Internships

If you find organisations and start-ups that are already doing the work you want to do, consider interning with them. An internship will help you hit the road running and help you learn some practical aspects of pursuing your passion. After a few internships, you may choose to setup an organisation of your own, seek employment, or may even look at being a solopreneur to make ends meet initially.

Understand Your Finances

Take a hard look at your living and other expenses and ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you on a student loan that you need to pay back soon?
• Are you in a position where you need to contribute financially to your family?

If your answer is ‘yes’ to either of the questions, you may need to look for options that give you a regular income first. Even if you are very motivated to pursue your passion, you will realise that it is hard to follow your passion on an empty stomach without a roof over your head. Some options that help with the financial angle are shared further.

Also Read | How To Earn Money Online As A Student: Check Out 5 Ways To Make Money Online

Balance Your Job And Passion

Many students and professionals pursue their passion part-time while pursuing a well-paying job through the week. If you do this for a couple of years, you can create a modest bank balance to finance your own start-up. You may want to first make a humble beginning and work for weekends to kick start your passion project. This way you also get some experience in running it part-time and have a better reality check of the situation and market. This is usually a less risky way to convert your passion to a profession.

Save And Invest

Try to save over fifty percent of your pay and make sure you invest it in a blend of low-risk deposits, equities, and debt funds, so you get better returns. Systematic saving and investing make you financially more stable and give you the confidence to take the necessary risks for your career. Make your lifestyle minimalistic and learn to live with big and small budgets for your work and personal life.

Seek Loans And Funding

Banks and angel investors do support entrepreneurs with sound business plans and profit motive. Make your business plans in detail and try to build a model to scale your work. Track your expenses and see how you can cut losses and frills. A frugal plan with no frills is useful for a start. Connect with angel investors and banks, and showcase your proposal and business plan. For social ventures, you may also get funding from Corporate Social Responsibility funds of big organisations.

Network

Dedicate time to meeting new people with diverse interests and capabilities. The more you connect with professionals who have similar value systems, the stronger you will feel socially. Try to look for win-win collaborations and see how you can help each other.

Follow Rituals That Energise

Following your passion can be a lonely experience filled with self-doubt and many upheavals. Identify rituals that you can repeat every day, so you stay focussed and motivated. Morning meditation, gratitude journaling, daily goals, daily affirmations and such, can make a huge difference to your mindset and motivation levels. Try different techniques and see which combination blends with your personality and follow it.

Also Read | Learning To Manage Your Money: Basics Of Financial Planning

The journey of turning your passion into your profession can be a roller coaster. So, ensure that you take each step carefully and gradually reach what you aim.

Dr. Srividya is an Organisational Psychologist, Career, and Personal Growth Coach. She works with teens, parents, adults, and returning professionals, to help them align their personal and professional needs, desires, and overcome personal and professional challenges. She can be reached at www.lifevidya.in.