The writer and poet Maya Angelou famously said, "Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it." Thankfully, now is one of the best times to consider a career change. the so-called "gig economy" is booming, and people are increasingly turning to online services, from Etsy to Amazon, to shop for products and services that would have traditionally been sourced from the high street.
In a time when more than 70 percent of workers say they don't feel satisfied with their career choices, more and more people are turning their passions and hobbies into a career. So, if you are tired of your nine-to-five and want to spend your time turning your passion into your business, here are some tips on how you can make that change.
Learn from the Best
History is full of people who turned what they are passionate about into a successful business. When you are first starting out, it might seem odd to style yourself on a celebrity or famous sports person, but it is important to bear in mind that everyone has to start somewhere.
Bill Gates, 2015's richest man in the world, famously founded a company, Traf-O-Data, by the time he was 16 and created what would go on to become the Windows software from his garage.
Victoria Beckham, more commonly known as Sporty Spice, transitioned from a famous pop-star to a famous fashion designer, despite the road bump of less than stellar solo career between those two successes.
Sports fans looking to make their passion a career to do well to follow the example of Pat Connaughton, who turned down a draft pick from the New York Yankees to finish his MBA.
After playing baseball for both the San Diego Padres and the Baltimore Orioles, Connaughton not only pursued his passion into setting up his own successful real estate business, he also plays basketball for one of the top teams in this NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks!"
Find Your Niche but Keep Innovating
When starting a business, it best to concentrate on what you do best. If your business is based on your passion, that should be easy. Your niche is exactly what you love doing and you already have something you can devote your attention and creativity to.
In order to make your passion into a successful career, you'll also have to learn to analyse the product or service you're offering and find a way to improve it. Thankfully, it's always easier to innovate on something you are already excited about.
You are already a fan of what you do and can turn that love, excitement, and a store of what might seem like crazy ideas, into new and innovative approaches.
Make the Best Use of Your Time
Making any significant career change is a risk, but the best way of making sure you can turn your passion into a new and better career is to devote all your time and effort to it, and use that time to its best effect.
Time management is crucial, especially if you are planning on starting a business of your own, and, if you find yourself working from home, finding the right rhythm to optimise your workday can be difficult.
Thankfully, most if not all of the tips for maximising office productivity can be applied to your new office of one. Making sure you have the right set up, from ergonomic chairs to the right amount of natural light, can limit distractions, improve your mood, and make sure you are able to fully focus on the task at hand.
Live Your Brand
It's no secret that people respond to passion and authenticity. One of the many benefits of choosing to pursue your passion as your career is you already love what you do and can translate that to your employees, customers, or clients.
If you are able to take that same excitement you feel for what you are doing and make it part of your brand, then you'll find others will respond to it in a positive manner.
Making the Change
Making the decision to pursue your passion can be nerve-wracking, as all big decisions are. But, if you are willing to take the plunge then it might just be the best move you ever made. After all, spending every day championing something you love doesn't really sound like work at all, does it?
By employing your time efficiently, learning from those who came before you, and keeping your brand focused, innovate and, above all, passionate, you can turn an exciting hobby into an exciting new career.
