We’ve heard it before: “Do what you love – Love what you do” but it’s not always an easy path to follow.
“Sure, let me only paint because I love it! But, it won’t bring in much money!” Or, “I think I will write that novel I have been thinking about for years, because I love writing. But, what if it doesn’t sell?”
That’s all still possible. You don’t have to give up what you do for a living to pursue what you love to do. If you are one of the lucky ones that does do what they love for income, then yay for you! We applaud and envy you! But for many, it isn’t always that simple. In fact, it’s never that simple. Even the guy that runs marathons and lives off part of the charitable contributions has days when he wonders why he is doing it.
Pursuing a path, whether for business or pleasure, in what you love to do takes some serious thought and planning.
A few helpful tips in making ‘doing what you love’ a reality, are:
1. Stop making excuses as to why you can’t do it.
2. Take time to put a plan together and focus on building and growing.
3. Find others who have taken a similar journey and talk to them – you will learn loads.
4. Be realistic about what you want to do.
5. Start off slow and consider keeping your normal day job, whilst you moonlight with the new venture.
6. Learn learn learn – there is no waste in learning more about what you want to do. Even if you love it, there will be something you can learn to make it even better.
7. Give it a practice run before diving in head first – many businesses that went under within the first year didn’t trial it. Ask others what they think about your idea. Would they invest in it? Would they buy into it? The key here is to ask people who will be honest, those that have nothing to lose by lying.
8. Be patient – yes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. In fact, most things were never built in a day. So, take a breath, put your patient hat on, and take one day at a time.
9. Swallow your pride – there may come a time when your mad hatter idea doesn’t look to be working out, but that’s okay. You tried. You gave it your best shot. And, then you may have to put your pride in your pocket and walk away from it.
Now, you may be thinking to yourself that we are only talking about pursuing a career you love, but one can also just do side things that you love.
It may be painting for fun. It may be volunteering at the local community. It may be small trips around your state and neighboring states. Whatever it is that you love to do, do it, because you really will be loving what you do, no matter how small it is. And that is why we are on this great earth – to make the most of everyday and love every minute.