I was closer to a seat in the boardroom than ever when I quit my pay rise and went all in as an entrepreneur.
Since I was a little girl, I always did the sensible thing. So when I got into teaching, it felt wrong stepping into the private sector. I took a pay cut then, too.
The problem was that I was the breadwinner. My purpose was to provide for the family and finance multiple property renovation projects.
At first, I had early wins, which gave me a boost, and then I backed off and didn’t reply to inquiries very quickly. Took a back seat and fell into full-time mum mode.
Following my passion had become a one-way ticket to financial ruin. What made it worse was that despite it being my dream, I procrastinated.
I hated showing up on socials and doing what was necessary. And here is the first lesson on following your passion.
Lesson 1: It won’t always be fun, and that’s normal.
Fast forward, I have built a business that replaces my old salary. But gives me freedom to be the present mum I want. In time, I’ll start the mission to a million. Which brings us to the other elephant in the room…
What are you optimising for? What is your end goal?
Lesson 2: Optimise for what matters
It’s a myth that if you follow your passion, the money will come.
Sometimes, the thing you really want to do doesn’t make sense in the business world. People don’t need or want what you have to sell. Or the world is always saturated.
And other times, it’s just about creative monetisation. We live in a world where people can make money from a niche interest by posting online, like creating YouTube videos or writing on Medium. I know someone with a $3kpm passive income from this alone.
You need to define your vision. Grab the dream life planner to make a start.
If money is your passion, great..
If it’s impact.. great..
Perhaps it’s a job. skill, people you love in a place you love.
Let it align with your inner values.
What if I don’t know what I’m passionate about?
BTW, this was me… I was a workaholic whose reading consisted of personal development and my job.
The truth for most people is that passion is not preexisting; it’s cultivated [Cal Newport]
Lesson 3: Passion needs cultivating
Take Steve Jobs as an example, most people get his famous speech wrong. When he said to do something you love, he had to fall in love with what he did.
His interest pre-Apple was Eastern spirituality. He needed to make $1k, so he sold some computers. As time went on, he cultivated an unwavering passion for Apple.
Start learning. Start taking action. Start creating. Start speaking. You’ll soon find you cultivate a garden of things you love.
A life without passion feels directionless, lacks purpose and unfulfilling.
Lesson 4: Passion sells
The algebra of wealth is follow your talents, not your passion – except with passion:
- You are more likely to push through setbacks
- You will find it easier to sell ideas
- You build a community
- Confidence & passion sells
My favorite example is Richard Branson, undemniably successful in business. Not because there was any financial viability with his plans but because he cultivated so much passion for his vision.
Many times in the past, I considered writing a book on self-improvement. Each time I considered the time investment, I opted for a sensible career move in corporate.
I felt numb. I remember one day arriving to work like I was sleep walking through my life. I knew exactly what emails would greet me. What bugs would pop up and the response from my director. This wasn’t living.
Like most people, I was waiting for Friday.
Lesson 5: Follow the emotion
Emotion makes us feel alive. It’s why sad movies and thrillers can bring tears to your eyes. You feel alive.
It’s this emotion tied to beliefs, activities, topics and interests that are the passions in your life.
And finally
Lesson 6: Passions evolve
They are not set in stone, they move and flow from this and that throughout the stages in your life.
So here are my three questions to help you decide whether to follow your passion:
3 Questions to Follow Your Passion.
- Is your passion aligned with your life’s purpose and values?
- Finances: Will my passion help to create sustainable income for the life I want? Or will I need alternative sources?
- How would my life be better if I followed my passion than if I didn’t?
Whether you are still in the throws of deciding or have taken a step, remember that inaction is also a decision.
Time spent doing what you love is not wasted
Paraphrase from John Lennon
Thanks for reading
Sue Parker
