Build Career Around Passsion

How to Create a Career Around Your Passions

ByAngel Hernandez
 May 9, 2023 11:55am PDT

Are you tired of feeling unfulfilled in your career? Do you want to turn your passions into a successful career but don't know where to start?

In this blog, we’ll provide you with tips to help you build a career around your passions and explore real-life examples of people who have done just that. 

 

  1. Identify your passions:

The first step to building a career around your passions is to identify what they are. Start by asking yourself what makes you happy, what you enjoy doing in your free time, and what activities you find the most engaging.

Here is a shameless plug to a helpful video, made by yours truly, to help you find your passion and more. 


What's an Ikigai? | How to Create Your Own In 4 Steps

Once you’ve identified your passions, brainstorm ways to incorporate them into your career.

  1. Research & Experiment:

Common research techniques for finding passions that lead to careers include self-reflection, informational interviews, online research, job shadowing, and skill assessments. A combination of these techniques may be effective in identifying fulfilling career paths aligned with your passions.

          Here are some of the top ways to research:

  • Read extensively: Read books, articles, and blogs related to your passion and industry to keep up with the latest trends, developments, and best practices. Tip (1) : Listen to books for free on Libby, all you need to input is your library card... Or a friends. Tip (2) : Listen to audiobooks with the speed increased to process information more quickly. 

  • Take courses: Consider taking courses via Coursera or Udemy online, to learn new skills or enhance your existing ones. Look for courses that are specifically designed for your industry or niche.

  • Connect with industry experts: Attend conferences, workshops, and networking meetups to connect with people who are already working in your chosen field. This will help you to learn from their experiences, gain insights, and potentially make valuable connections.

While research is an essential component, it's equally important to gain hands-on experience through experimentation.

One way to experiment is by taking on side projects or freelancing in your chosen field. Currently my top freelancing site of choice is Fiverr, because you can reach out to freelancers via email there to let them know what you want done exactly, instead of being forced to book a series of zoom meetings to figure out which is the right one for you. 

Doing this type of work will allow you to gain practical experience and develop a portfolio of work that you can use to showcase to potential clients or employers. Not to mention it'll give you a nice chunk of change for a rainy day.

In addition to experimentation, ongoing learning is also crucial. Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in your field of choice by attending conferences, reading industry publications, and participating in online forums like Quora and Reddit.

This will help you to remain competitive and relevant in your industry.

"It's not just about what you are doing, but also what you are becoming."


-Angel M. Hernandez

  1. Build a Network:

Networking is crucial for building a successful career around your passion. Attend industry events, join professional associations and connect with like-minded people.

Here are practical tips from someone who needs no introduction. 

The Key to Successfully Networking Your Way Into Your Dream Job

Again, reach out to experts and influencers in your field to learn from their experiences and gain insights.

No matter how annoying or pushy you think you're being when reaching out to people, do whatever helps you stand out (within moral/ethical reason). Remember to use your time wisely, and the punchline to all networking has always been right in front of you... It's the people!

"The closer you get to the sun, you more likely you could become it."

- Gary Vaynerchuck 

  1. Build a Portfolio:

Create a portfolio that showcases your work and abilities.This can be in the form of a website, social media accounts, or a physical portfolio. 

In this case, Margaret Frazier landed her job at S'Well by building and leveraging her social media marketing portfolio.  

Creating a Portfolio for an Interview

Having a portfolio is a great way to showcase your skills and experience to potential clients or employers. With the job market only becoming more competitive right now, finding a way to stand out from the crowd has never been so crucial.

"Portfolios are everything, promises are nothing. Do the work."

-Chase Jarvis

  1. Be Patient and Persistent:

Building a career around your passion is not a quick or easy process. It requires patience, persistence, and hard work. 

Here's what the former wolf of wall street has to say about patience.

How to Persist, Be Patient and Succeed | Jordan Belfort | Goalcast

Last note, the ironic thing about patience is that the more of it we use the more of it we have. 

So don’t be discouraged by setbacks or rejections, instead learn from them and use them to improve your skills and re-strategize your approach. 

Now, let’s take a look at some real-life examples of people who have built successful careers around their passions.

  1. James Clear:

James Clear is a writer, entrepreneur, and author of the bestselling book “Atomic Habits”.He started his career as a baseball player but eventually transitioned into writing about habits, productivity, and personal growth.

Today, he runs a successful business around his passion for writing and helping others improve their lives.


James Clear in 2010.jpg - May 7, 2010 by James Clear is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

 

  1. Martha Stewart:

Martha Stewart is a household name in the world of lifestyle and home decor. She started her career as a model but eventually turned her passion for cooking and entertaining into a successful business.

Today, she is a bestselling author, TV personality, and businesswoman.

Martha Stewart (48926315347) (cropped).jpg - October 19, 2019 by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

  1. Matt Mullenweg:

Matt Mullenweg is the co-founder of WordPress, the world’s most popular content management system. He started his career as a blogger and eventually turned his passion for blogging and technology into a successful business.

Today, WordPress powers millions of websites around the world.

Matt Mullenweg in 2019 by Christopher Michel is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

In conclusion

Building a career around your passions is not an easy task, but as you can see, it is definitely possible.

  • Identifying your passions
  • Researching & experimenting
  • Building a network
  • Creating a portfolio
  • Being patient & persistent

In sticking with these 5 fundamental steps, you can create a career around your passions.

Just remember, success does not happen overnight, but with hard work and dedication, you can achieve your goals and build a career that you truly enjoy. 

Which of these points do you plan on implementing today? Would love to hear in the comments below. 

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