There’s something really exciting – and a little bit nerve-wracking! – about the idea of turning what you love into what you do. Whether it’s movement, creativity, helping others, or anything else that lights you up and makes you happy, the fact is that the line between passion and profession can feel both amazingly positive and full of pressure.
Maybe you’ve found yourself daydreaming at your desk and you’re imagining a life where your work doesn’t feel like just a job anymore… or maybe you’ve already tried something new, and now you’re wondering how to keep the spark alive while you also make a living. It’s a tricky balance, but it can be done, so keep reading to find out more.
Keep The Why In Mind
When you really love something, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement, but once it becomes your job, complete with deadlines, expectations, and not-fun tasks, it can sometimes turn out to be a lot less enjoyable than you thought it would be. The trick is to keep reminding yourself about why you decided to make the move in the first place – what was it you loved originally? What was that feeling it gave you?
If you’re able to stay connected to your original passion, it’s going to help you get through the less enjoyable parts of your career (because there will always be less enjoyable parts) so you can take more pleasure in the good parts. And you’ll be able to build your business more easily because you’ll be more motivated as well.
Passion Still Needs A Plan
Balancing passion and profession also means you need to get quite practical at times, and although there’s nothing wrong with loving what you do, it’s also very important to have a plan in place to help you build something and become successful as well. That might mean budgeting your time, setting boundaries, or perhaps even getting some proper training in place so you can be more confident in what you’re doing.
The fact is that if you want to turn your passion into a career, you’re going to need the right foundation, and training is massively important in that. So if you want to run a Pilates class, you’ll need expert Pilates instructor training, for example – it just makes sense. Not only will you know what you’re doing, but your customers will be happier too, and that’s going to lead to more business and referrals, which is exactly what any business needs.
Let It Evolve
Just because something starts as a passion, it doesn’t mean it has to stay exactly the same forever – maybe you begin by teaching a few classes a week, and then you decide to run your own studio. Or maybe you write, consult, or teach others what to do after that – you could even set up a franchise.
The point is that passion changes and grows, so it shouldn’t be too surprising to find that your business based on your passion is going to change and grow as well. The trick is to let it and see where it takes you.