Turning Your Passions into Profits

Have you ever wondered if you could get paid for doing work that you really loved?   Is it only for the few, lucky individuals who get the privilege of using their skills and interest to generate income?  No.  I believe we all can be involved in turning our passions into profits.  H. Jackson Browne said, “Find a job you like and you add five days to every week.” and Shakespeare is so often quoted so eloquently, “To thine own self be true.“  Whether or not you are looking for additional income, or if you are looking to find another job, the process you go through is very similar.

Many people choose a job or career because it pays well or it will bring them an immediate pay check.  There’s nothing wrong with working at a job simply to bring in some extra cash or to help pay regular bills or debt, but it is definitely the wrong approach when choosing a career.  Money by itself will ultimately not be a reason to keep a career you hate and quite often, negative feelings tend to spill over into the emotional, intellectual, and social areas of your life.

When choosing a career, first look inside to find out what would bring you joy and fulfillment and motivate you to embrace the workday.  In Dan Miller’s bestselling book 48 Days to the Work You Love, and popular seminar series, he says that looking inward is 85% of the process of finding proper direction and 15% is the application to career choices. 

My suggestion to generating income and the work you love is to positioning yourself based on three components.  Figure how God has uniquely gifted you in (1) skills and abilities, (2) personality traits, (3) values, dreams, and passions.  From these areas you can see clear patterns from which to make career and job decisions.     Once you can identify these areas, you can blend them to find meaningful work, while providing an income for your family. 

A recent Yale University study reported that 15% of the reason for a person’s success is due to technical skill and knowledge and 85% of the reason originates from that person’s personal skill: attitude, passion, self-discipline, desire, and ambition.

Bill Gates and Steve Job both attribute passion for their job as a major reason for their enormous success.  Now, I'm not trying to make anyone believe that passion is the only quality necessary, but sidestep passion and you reduce your chances for success dramatically. It therefore follows that if you have no passion for the company or the products and services provided by that company, you won't be motivated to do your job well.

Dan Miller, in No More Mondays suggests that we ask ourselves, “What opportunities might you have overlooked, or what setback might actually provide us with an opportunity to take our lives in a new and more fulfilling direction?” In these turbulent times of change, look for the hidden opportunities in the changes and turn your passion into profits. 

For more information, check out our free preview session on May 7th.

Ed Finnerty