Some people spend their whole lives in a cubicle, punching the clock, doing as they’re told and that works fine for them. I’m not that person.
At one time in my life I was a social worker and I literally felt like the rules and regulations were completely soul-sucking. I hated sitting at desk. I just didn’t fit into a typical office environment.
It’s been a long journey for me, following my passion. I thought I was totally on track with what my heart was saying until I went to the World Domination Summit last year, which pretty much made my head explode- in a good way. Prior to this event I thought my passion was for art and crafts, with a little event planning on the side, but nothing I’ve done before even scratches the surface of how I feel about helping others and deeply studying what makes others tick, emotions and happiness.
I’ve owned a couple of craft businesses over the last 10 years: Knot Ugly, DIY Lounge, and Jen & Jocelyn, but I’ve decided that I’m no longer interested in making and selling my designs. I’ve said everything I need to say with my hands, professionally at this point. Now that the crafter chapter of my life is over, I’m ready to see where the world of helping others and understanding life and its people better has to take me.
One of the many truths in pursuing your passion is that most people have more than one- what you’re passionate about can change and shift over time. What I wanted when I was a new mom, starting my first craft business, was to make things. Now that I’m half way through my life, I want to do my part to help make the world a better place. I want to help others understand themselves, their feelings and the world better. I want to lend a hand to people setting them up for success and happiness.
When thinking about pursuing your passion for business it’s really important to consider what is the thing that you could do for hours every day? What wakes you up at night with a call that must be heeded? What can you spend hours on and not realize that time has even passed?
I have to say that the work I’m doing now, I’ve never had such a fire in my belly for anything in my life. I get so excited about it in a way that I’m not sure I ever quite felt about crafting. Sure, I loved crafting, but this level of passion is like the difference between a good date and Mr Right. How can the two be compared to each other?
There are so many other truths in pursuing your passion for business, like even if you love your work, there will be days that you HATE it, or there may be parts of your work that you really would like to avoid.
The fear, uncertainty, vulnerability, long hours and financial set backs associated with running your own business are pretty scary at times. But on the flip side, if you’re willing to take the risk and let yourself exist in a world of no promises, just self-made opportunities, the sky is the limit and the world is yours for the taking.
The truth is not everyone should pursue their passion professionally. If you like your job, keep it, but infuse some passion into your life in the form of hobbies or small side businesses.
We all need passion. I, for one, seem to need huge amounts of it. It’s what drives me- us all. Passion is the reason for creating, doing, trying longer and harder than it makes sense to, to produce the best we have to offer. It’s our life purpose.
“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.” Hebbel
I’m one of those multi-passionate people who’s pretty good at a whole lot of things (I think only excellent at maybe one) and has interest in trying out everything I’ve ever wanted to try.
I broke free from my cubicle confinement 5 years ago, and in the years I’ve been self-employed since, I’ve made a living as a: blogger, jewelry maker, graphic designer, consignment boutique owner, copywriter, vintage seller, indie PR rep and most recently- writer & coach, which I call, “mojo-maker.”
See, now I’m at the point I’m making up my own job title because I’ve been through so many already that weren’t the right fit! Mojo-maker somehow encompasses everything I do now- what I want to create, what I want to share with others, what I’m best at.
I can honestly say I’m happier right now in my “career” (I put that in quotes because I’m writing this in my pjs with my feet up and Mrs. Eastwood & Co on in the background) than I ever have been, like I’ve finally hit the nail on the head of what I’m “meant” to be doing.
As much fun as every shift in my career has been so far, every time I came to a point where I lost my motivation, where something told me “I don’t think this is quite what you had in mind for your life- keep searching.”
So I did. I explored and experimented and tried lots of new things- tried everything really that I ever had an inkling to try. And only through the experience of each one was I able to find out that they were all great ways to spend a day, but they weren’t fulfilling me in the way I yearned to be fulfilled- so I moved on.
And through all that trying, changing and shifting, through never having a “career” definition my relatives could pin down or understand, by being that girl whose every conversation included, “um actually, I’m doing this now!” - the constant evolution and what felt like an exhausting, never-ending search is what led me to where I am now: fully engaged in my work, excited everyday, seated and immersed in what I’m most passionate about- finally!
The path was windy for me, and liable to have many more curves up ahead, but everything I’ve done up til now is what led me to this, is what gave me the skills, resources and experience I needed to be able to do what I’m doing now, to finally be able to do what I’m best at.
So moral of the story? Don’t give up searching for the thing that fills you, because it’s only in the search that you’ll find it. It’s in narrowing down what doesn’t fulfill you by trying all the things you’re interested in. It’s in allowing yourself to invest time and energy into the things you love, just to see what happens. You don’t have to know where you’re going, you just have to walk. Take something you love and explore it, really get inside it, and follow your instincts from there.
Yes there are hard days, doubtful days, miscommunication days, days filled with fear- but even those don’t detract from how worthwhile it all feels- and that’s how I know, I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
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Are you living your passion or still searching for exactly where it lies?
Have you struggled with finding it? Pursuing it?
What fulfills you most in life and are you getting enough of it?
We’d love for you to share your thoughts & experiences about pursuing your passion with us, in the comments below or on your own blog!
Wow. Real stab in the heart stuff; everything I read here at the Maven Circle is like that for me – a sign perhaps? Probably. Great stuff girls.
I might be having a particularly bad day (week….year!) in the work area but I feel like I am not really on the right track anymore. I agree, it does change, your passion and direction on things. But mine changes so bloody often! And I have trouble with really identifying what it is that moves me. Sometimes creating can make me disappear into another world, sometimes its really arduous. You know?
I have a good job; a high responsibility job in the arts sector. But lately I have been feeling the weight of how exposed this role is to public criticism (its a community service job in a way) and its just not my bag. I don’t have the constitution for it; I want to tell everyone to get over themselves (heh) and see the big picture. Perhaps this is what I need to tell myself.
anyway, I digress a little. I think its great to be reminded to identify your passions and I struggle with this weekly and sometimes win. I find though, that its hard to decide to make such large changes on your own. I am single and have been for a long time. It makes it very hard without that support system. This may sound like an excuse not to act (and essentially is) but it does limit my ability to be experimental, or try things out. I’d dearly love to be at least part time but I’m finding the concept of having no back intimidating and scary.
thanks for the post today, really enjoyed reminding myself to identify what is important.
Hi Jo, so many of us have been where you are right now- looking for your compass, trying to figure out if you’re where you want to be. In some ways this can seem like a burden: when plans changing, goals shifting, new dreams come to light, but another way to look at it is that you’re sensitive enough to know what you need and what you don’t want. What a gift that is! Keep listening to it and leaning in the direction of what you need. Good luck. – Jen
Oh Jo, we love you! I think it definitely is harder to make the shift into pursuing what you love fulltime without a support system there. I made the move when I was just dating my now husband, living with a roomate, fully supporting myself and only after I had many months of rent/bills saved up just in case I made zero moola after I quit my job. I also went down to part-time for a few months before I quit to aid in the transition- really helped.
It was scary and hard but one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life and although I’ve had to hustle here and there to get some quick money when mortgage is due, I think sometimes when your only option is to do what it takes to make it work, that’s exactly what happens.
Since going down to part-time isn’t an option right now, I hope you’ll keep exploring and trying some new things outside of work, to see what really excites you- maybe you haven’t hit on the head what really moves you yet, which is perfectly ok. Is there something you’ve always wanted to try that you haven’t yet? Or an older passion that you gave up at some point? A class or group that could help you dive into a new hobby?
We’re here for you, Jo! Love hearing from you and having you share with us here! -jena
thanks gals! It is so lovely to get that feedback and as usual has given me something to think about. So nice to have the support. cheers.
jo x
I’ve been hearing the call of what I should be doing for 13 years and I am finally going after my dream of having a creative business – my own line of art rubber stamps. But what I would have created 13 years ago is different to what I am creating now. The core idea hasn’t changed. I knew it was calling me because I would feel envy hearing of other people working for themselves, having their own products. Wishing I was them. So I’ve started on the adventure. What I am discovering is that the further you go once you start, the more clear you become on what you want it to be. Starting instead of just dreaming gives you tremendous clarity which helps you steer where you are meant to go. Which may not have been where you intended to go when you started. But it leads to what truly feels right.
Wonderful, Coral! Glad you’re finally getting to make your way toward pursuing your passion. Lots of luck! – Jen
Woohoo! Good for you for going for it, Coral! You’re right, what seems fuzzy and scary when it’s in dream territory still starts to get a little more clear and realistic once you start to walk along the path- I really think movement toward something can help everything, especially if you remain open in both direction and destination. Sounds like you’re on your way! Keep it up!! -jena
I’ve been in business for 9 years but have almost always had a part-time job or two at the same time. I was laid off at the end of April from the job that I’d had since 2006 and only just this week I finally found out that I’ve been accepted into the employment department’s self-employment assistance program. It gives me the ability to collect unemployment benefits while working on my business full-time. In other words, I’ve been given the go-ahead to do this and NOT have to look for another job.
So finally after all these years, it’s all about me – and when the unemployment runs out later this year it will REALLY be all about me.
A full time artist at last! I am so excited to finally be able to give 100% to the thing I am most passionate about. I think even more than making art and running a business, I am passionate about working for myself and no one else. That is a big motivator for me – the fact that I am in complete control of this operation and don’t have to answer to anyone. That is a dream come true.
It’s funny how when things like lay offs happen it feels like it’s a bad thing- you did such a great job of explaining that sometimes the silver lining is better than the thing we thought we needed and have lost. I’m so happy for you, Christine! You’ve wanted this for a long time and it’s finally yours. It may not have happened the way you wanted or expected, but you’re here and now you get to focus on your business and what you want. You’re on the path! Hooray for dreams coming true! – Jen