How to Follow Your Passion

Imagine a world where money isn’t an issue—what would you do with your time? For a moment, set aside financial concerns. What activities or projects would captivate your attention? Whether it's dedicating yourself to a cause, traveling the world, or something entirely different, think about what you'd pursue if you had the freedom to do anything. Reflect on your childhood or college aspirations, before life's responsibilities took over. You'll be amazed at how many of those dreams are still within reach.

• If you're uncertain about your passion, ask friends and family for their input—they might suggest paths you hadn’t considered.
• Don’t rush to find your passion—sometimes it takes time to surface. Trust that your thoughts will eventually lead you to discover what you truly care about, so be patient and allow it to unfold.
• Reader Poll: We surveyed 371 Mytour readers who have pursued new passions, and only 15% chose creative activities like drawing or singing. [Take Poll] So don't hesitate to explore unconventional options—sometimes the unexpected paths lead to the most rewarding experiences!

Research what it takes to achieve your passions, and consider reaching out to a career counselor. Start by exploring online resources or visiting your local career center (whether on a college campus or through your city's business department) to map out your goals. You may already have a vision of where you want to go, but the road to get there is often the toughest part. Websites like Mytour, offering insights from thousands of professionals, are a great starting point. However, don’t overlook the invaluable personalized advice that career counselors can provide—they can help you fine-tune your resume and skills to better navigate your path to success.

• Career advisors are available online. If you don’t have one in your area, look for remote or online career services.
• While searching for 'How to be X' on Google is helpful, it’s just the beginning. If you’re truly considering a career shift, thorough research is essential.
• If your passion involves launching a business, look into your local Small Business Association or Small Business Defense Council for resources like loans, legal advice, and other startup support.
• Seek out local low-cost classes and seminars as a way to begin learning and to network with others who share similar aspirations.

Look to your professional role models for inspiration. If your dream is to be a successful musician, learning about the lives of your musical idols can offer valuable insights. While you won’t be able to perfectly replicate their paths to success, there’s a lot to gain from their experiences. At the very least, their stories will emphasize the importance of perseverance. You’ll face obstacles along the way, but knowing that others have overcome similar challenges can motivate you to keep going.

• What kind of training or education did your role models receive? What moments in their journeys seem to be common across many success stories, and how can you follow those steps?
• What challenges or obstacles did your idols face that you can learn from? For instance, a budding entrepreneur might read about Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak to understand the crucial role of clear contracts and transparent communication in business partnerships, helping to avoid financial pitfalls down the road.

Connect with others who share similar passions. The reality is, if you go it alone, you might spend years struggling to put together a project that could be completed in a week if you teamed up with others. Everyone is facing challenges, but that doesn’t mean you all need to make the same mistakes. When one person starts seeing success, it often opens doors for everyone involved.

• Reach out to people you know who are pursuing your passion, and ask if you can learn about their daily routines. Most people who’ve been through it are happy to share their experiences with someone who’s just starting out.
• Look for online communities and forums that offer advice, stories, and networking opportunities in your field. Sites like Reddit have dedicated groups for almost any passion imaginable.

Take a hard look at the challenges involved in pursuing your passion, and create a plan to overcome them. Don’t shy away from the tough realities. Acknowledging the difficulties of following your passion is an important step toward overcoming them. Pursuing a passion isn’t easy, and that’s why many people give up on it. Honestly evaluating these factors will help you decide if your passion is worth pursuing. If you’re undeterred by these challenges, it’s a clear sign that this is something you’re meant to follow.

• Salary Expectations: Did you know that most Etsy sellers earn less than the average household income? On the other hand, doctors may earn high salaries, but medical students rack up substantial debt that follows them even if they later choose a different career path. Be sure you understand the financial realities before committing.
• Education and Training Time: If becoming a college professor is your passion, be aware that it will take years of study before you’re ready to step in front of a classroom. Very few dreams can be realized overnight.
• Everyday Struggles: Most careers are not as glamorous as they appear from the outside. That’s perfectly fine, but you don’t want to be caught off guard. Speak to others in your chosen field about what a typical day is like—what they love about their work, and what they wish they could change.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US

What do you find to be the biggest challenge in chasing your passion?

Your dream job may not provide enough to live on right away. This is a tough reality to accept, but one you must face in order to be fully prepared for the challenges ahead. Whether you're making a career change or starting your first job, it's unlikely that you'll land your ideal position immediately. Do your research to identify good entry-level roles, but ensure you have a financial cushion for the leaner times:

• If changing careers, aim to save at least 6 months of living expenses.
• If possible, consider taking a part-time job, even one you don’t love, to support your transition.
• Explore temporary or freelance work, such as driving for a service like Uber or doing odd jobs on TaskRabbit, to cover your bills while still pursuing your passion.

Freelancing can help you ease into a full-time job. Whether you're entering the job market for the first time or making a career change, employers typically seek candidates with experience. The problem is, you need a job to gain that experience! This can be frustrating, but the best strategy is to take matters into your own hands. Your skills are valuable, and there are many ways to 'self-employ' and gain experience:

• Volunteer for organizations that could benefit from your expertise.
• Offer mentorship or tutoring in your field.
• Start a blog to discuss trends and topics relevant to your area of interest.
• Sell initial runs of art or products online.
• Apply for temporary roles or part-time internships.
• Work for free in the beginning to build your portfolio.

Market yourself and your talents. Unfortunately, success rarely comes without putting yourself out there first. People who get noticed often have an established presence. So, you must take the initiative and be your own advocate. How you market yourself will depend on your passions and skills, but here are a few general strategies:

• Be where your passion thrives: If you're aiming to become a professional athlete, try to play for the best teams available. If acting is your dream, make your way to LA.
• Build an online portfolio: Websites like Wix, Adobe, and WordPress offer templates to showcase your best work and contact info.
• Engage in online communities: Participate in forums, contribute to discussions, and connect with others who share your passion.
• Establish a daily social media presence: Choose the platform that best aligns with your field—Instagram for visual arts, Twitter for writers, Pinterest for businesses—and post regularly to build your audience.

Incorporate your passions into your current life and job. If you dream of becoming a renowned author or transitioning into a journalism career, don’t wait for the perfect opportunity. Start by volunteering for writing tasks at work, writing for a local paper, or tutoring others in writing. Look for blogs that accept guest contributions. Find ways to weave your passion into your current job, and it will make applying for dream positions easier.

• Find opportunities to engage in your passion regularly, whether through new tasks at work or volunteer activities in your community.

Have a backup plan if things don’t go as expected. What will you do if your passion fades, proves more difficult to pursue than anticipated, or if unforeseen issues (such as health or accidents) derail your progress? Pursuing your dreams is a leap, but it’s wise to have a safety net in place. Think through potential setbacks, including unlikely ones, and know when it’s time to pivot.

• A minimum of six months’ worth of savings is recommended before making the leap, giving you a buffer in case of unemployment.
• Keep an eye out for other job opportunities in your field, even if they aren’t directly related to your passion. These jobs may serve as stepping stones to your 'dream job.'

Transform your passion into a 'side-project' to gain experience with less risk. This can be done while you're still at your current job, giving you the chance to test the waters without letting go of your financial security. Pursuing your passion doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing decision—life is more nuanced than simply jumping in headfirst. If you're only able to dedicate time to your project after work, wake up early for practice, or spend your spare moments writing poetry, that's completely fine. Many successful figures, from Einstein to T.S. Elliot, began with modest starts. Don’t feel pressured to quit everything just to start your passion—simply start.

• "When is the best time to plant a tree? Yesterday. When is the second best time? Today." This saying highlights the importance of taking action now rather than waiting for the 'perfect' moment.

Take daily steps towards your passion, whether it's research, practice, or work. Make it a habit to prioritize your passion every day, even if it’s only for 15-20 minutes. You could be learning a new cooking technique, researching career change requirements, or practicing scales on the piano—what matters is that you're consistent. If you can't dedicate some time to your passion each day, it will be much harder to build a life around it.

• Make your passion part of your daily routine. Set aside the same time each day to focus on your dreams or create achievable daily goals.
• Focus during this time, aiming to improve a little each day. Short, daily practice is proven to be more effective than a single, long session each week.

Find a supportive network of collaborators and friends to help you through the tough times. As a struggling musician, for instance, you'll quickly realize you're not alone. Many passions are challenging, and even if it feels like everyone else is ahead of you, remember that everyone is facing their own battles. Avoid being overly competitive or isolated, as this will only make your journey lonelier and harder. Help others in your field, whether it's assisting an artist moving into a studio, collaborating on a skit with writers and actors, or promoting other startups.

• At some point, you'll need help and support from your community, regardless of your field. Be there for others, and they'll be there for you when you need it.
• Share your passion with those who need encouragement. If you see someone else struggling to take the next step, offer your support and a push in the right direction.

Stay informed and up-to-date, staying on the cutting edge of your field. Breakthroughs often occur when old methods stop working. Even in tough times, keep pushing yourself to learn and grow. These moments will define who succeeds and who falls short. Information fuels your creativity, so immerse yourself in books, new experiences, and different perspectives. Be open to new ideas and you'll not only improve, but you'll also find more joy and fulfillment in your passion. #Judge success by your happiness and fulfillment, not by external rewards like money. If you're following your passion, material concerns will seem less important. At the end of the day, pursuing your passion is about doing what you love, and remembering this will help you keep moving forward, even during tough times. Success isn't measured by wealth, but by whether you're happy doing what you love.

• How do you decide between a low-paying job you love and a high-paying one you don't? Everyone will have a different answer, but consider how much time you spend at work. If you're unhappy, is the extra pay worth it?

• If you find yourself deeply interested in many things, start by focusing on the ones that are most achievable for you.

• Children can easily become victims of the things we never achieved in our own youth. Avoid imposing your obsessions on your child, and instead, allow any younger person to approach you and share their perspective on what you have to offer.