Turn Your Passions Into a Career

Working in a passion-led career may seem like a farfetched dream, but it is possible. You can live out your passion by creating a career that you love, or simply working in a current industry or career field that aligns with your skills and passions.

My Story

When I began my college journey, I did not know what I would major in. I enrolled at Auburn University as an interior design major, but quickly realized that there were so many other options that wanted to explore.

I did not want to confine myself to the limitations of one major. Choosing a major made me feel as if I was neglecting important passions and skills that were an important part of who I am, and more importantly, who I wanted to become. So, what did I do? I went on a process of self-discovery--much like the self-reflection/self-inventory exercise from a previous post.

However, my process took place over the course of several years. I made sure to get involved in organizations, causes and activities that I enjoyed. I also participated in many leadership conferences and classes, which all provided me with various personality assessments that actually helped along the way. I began to pay more attention to the things that I enjoyed participating in and noticed the skills and key strengths that I possessed.

After four years in college, I realized that I wanted a career that would allow me to help others, use my creativity and not limit me to any particular industry. This is when decided to become a public relations major. Two years later, I graduated with a degree in public relations and a double minor.

Today I am the Marketing and Communications Specialist at Moovin4ward Presentations. My primary passions are creativity, self-expression, helping others, and making a difference in the lives of youth and young adults. Working for a company that strives to motivate, inspire and empower youth and young adults helps fulfill my passion. I have a chance to express myself creatively each day by designing marketing materials and writing fun and informational pieces for our blog.

You see, there are tons of ways that you can choose to live out your passions. Find what works for you. There is no rule that says that you should take the most conventional road (i.e. having a passion for education and being a teacher). If there is not a career that aligns with your passion, create one!

As I have said before, combine your passions and skills to create something great. Continue to improve the skills that you have and work to gain new ones. There are infinite possibilities for those who are willing to work toward personal success!

How are you living out your passion? Respond below and tell us what you’re passionate about.

"It is a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together."

Series Intro: Find Your Passion & Love Your Career!

Passion:¹ 

An intense desire or enthusiasm for something

Synonyms: fire, energy, love, appetite,

Meet Tasha.

Tasha and her boyfriend, Robert, are having dinner at their favorite restaurant. The dinner is going great, as usual, until Robert notices that Tasha is distracted. Tasha has officially checked out of her and Robert’s conversation and has checked into the conversation at the next table. As soon as someone uttered the three magic words, “today’s educational system,” Tasha’s focus completely shifted. She is instantly compelled to join in on the conversation and relay her input. This is nothing new to Robert since he knows how Tasha feels about the state of today’s educational system. She has books on the subject of education and loses track of time every time the subject comes up with friends and family.

It is very possible that Tasha is passionate about education and the state of the educational system. 

Why?

A passion is anything that ignites a fire in you and causes a desire to take action. When you are passionate about something, you tend to feel energized when talking about this thing, idea or subject. You also feel the same energy when acting out this same thing.

What do you believe Tasha should do about this passion? Does she have to become a teacher?

Most would think so, but no.

Suppose Tasha does not have the desire to be in a traditional classroom setting.

The Road Less Traveled.

Having a passion in a particular area, does not mean that you have to take the most obvious path. There are countless options available for Tasha to incorporate her passion into a career that she loves.  Yes, she could become a teacher, but she is not limited to that career path.

Here are a few other options for Tasha:

• Lobbyist for education on Capitol Hill
• Consultant to educational systems, schools, and/or teachers
• CEO of non-profit that focuses on helping students who do not receive quality education

 

You Have to Start Somewhere.

You see, your passion should simply be a starting place, do not feel limited by what you can do. Always think outside the box. Take into account your other skills and desires to see how you can make them work for you.  It is all about self reflection and really getting to know yourself what you like to do, what you love to do and what you hate doing. Once you really take an inventory of your needs, wants, talents and gifts, discovering your passion will be a piece of cake!

During the next few weeks, let's focus on your passion. More specifically, finding your passion and using it to create a career that you love.  We will explore and discover ways to convert your passion into a career! It is not too late. It does not matter what stage you are in your career or how old (or young) you are :-) .

Let me hear from you! What are you passionate about? Are you living out your passion?

“If you don’t build your dream, someone will hire you to help build theirs.”

                  -Tony Gaskins

Reference:

passion. Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. n.d. Web. 29 .Feb 2015 <http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/passion>

Try Something New to Save Time!

Your time is important. So you want to do all that you can to use it wisely, because once it's gone, it's gone. So here's a bright idea... try something new using your technology.


Seriously! Try reading the instruction manual for your smartphone--which, by the way, you purchased to help you be more organized. Or... how about actually visiting the manufacturer's web site of your smartphone to find new software updates and releases that may further your productivity.  I'm almost certain that you will find several time management applications already on your phone that you didn't know were there and/or have ever used.


I had my Blackberry two years before I realized that I can actually go online and upgrade all the software to look and feel like the brand new blackberry that a friend had just purchased. Keep in mind that the body of your phone may get old and rusty, but the computer software it uses is upgradeable. More importantly, those tasks that used to take 3 steps now only took one.

Here's another time saving technical thought... sync all of your calendars! When you are managing multiple calendars (phone, computer, desk) and having to re-enter data from one to the other, you're wasting more of your valuable time.


There are lots of great ways to save some of your valuable time for more useful occasions, look for new ways--using technology-- to help you save.

Get Back On Defense

Having played sports growing up and now enjoying the thrill of cheering for my children as they play, I have a tendency to illustrate life's lessons through sport analogies.  There was one that I repeated to myself on a regular basis after I started my business that I'd like to share and it's "Get Back On Defense!"

It is instinctive to want to celebrate after you put the ball in the air and score a 2-pt jumper; even more exciting with a 3-pointer or a drive to the goal through several defenders to a score.  I can only imagine how I would celebrate actually dunking on someone (on a 8 ft goal and not a trash can).  The thrill of the moment sends you in the air for a high five or as guys do it, bump chest.  But you must realize that the game is still being played... IT'S NOT OVER til the final buzzer.  If you stop to have a party every time you score a couple of points, you can lose focus and lose the game because while you celebrate, your opponent is scoring.

I'm saying this to say, as you progress towards your life's goals, you will undoubtedly hurdle an obstacle or two or three.  Acknowledge the victory, but KEEP MOOVIN4WARD!  Graduating from high school is a big, BIG deal.  But some enjoy it so much that they stop there, not realizing they are but half way, if that.  Others get excited about actually making it to college.  Maybe the goal was to be the first in the family to achieve that goal.  But many fail to stay the course and don't reach graduation because too much attention was on actually getting there and not on getting out. 

By all means enjoy your milestone successes, but don't allow those successes to take you out of the game.  There are many more 3-pointers, drives, and maybe even an unanticipated dunk in your future.  Until the buzzer sounds, stay in the game.  Don't lose focus!  Hustle back down the court!  Get back on defense!

-Sharon A. Myers