In yesterday’s Boston Sunday Globe, I was quoted in an article entitled “Turning a Passion into a Profession.” The piece shares the story of people who left their regular jobs in pursuit of their passion. Here was my contribution to the article:
And his approach to realizing his dream was well-conceived because he was not only doing something that created value for himself, but for others as well, said Steve Shapiro, a motivational career speaker from Quincy.
“If you’re serious about pursuing your passion, you have to do your homework and put yourself through training and only make the leap when you’re ready,” he said. “And once you are, you can’t just dip your toe, you have to jump in with both feet.”
Shapiro said it’s important not to get restricted or intimidated by the reality checks that will be thrown at your dreams, but to understand that there will be sacrifices along the way.
The author of the article, Kate M. Jackson, also asked me to write 5 tips for a side-bar. They were not published, so I am including them here.
1. Focus not just on passion, but also on skills and value. Following your bliss is not enough. You must have the necessary skills to be successful. Ask yourself the following questions: What are you known for being good at? How can you gain other necessary skills? Who can you collaborate with to fill your skill gaps? In addition, you must create value for others. Ask yourself the following questions: How can you make a living at this? How can you help the world value your contribution? How can you creatively stay true to your passion while having the success you desire?
2. Overcome decidophobia, the fear of making decisions. Remember, in life there are no right decisions or wrong decisions. There are only decisions. And once you make a decision, avoid rethinking it. Although you want to learn from the past, don’t question the wisdom of your decision. Always move forward. Movement in any direction is better than stagnation or indecision. As the saying goes, “When you sit on the fence, you get splinters in your butt.”
3. Give up your safety net. When it’s time to follow your passion, don’t just dip your toe. Jump in with both feet. Your safety net only makes you play small. Instead, play full out, fearlessly. We let fear of failure prevent action when failure is the mother of success. The things that don’t turn out as expected are often the greatest learning opportunities.
4. Listen to advice, but don’t be dissuaded by it. Most people in your life choose to live by traditional measures: a steady pay check and a secure job. They will try to convince you that following your passion is too risky. Although they may have words of wisdom worth heeding, do not let their “old school” ways stop you from branching out and following your dreams. Do your homework. Be honest with yourself. And then do what you know is right. Most of the naysayers are miserable. Maybe they don’t want you to be successful because misery loves company.
5. Don’t get stuck with a particular vision of how things should look. Choose a big, bold, and inspiring aspiration. Allow it to change over time. Sometimes on the way to your dream, you get lost and discover a better one.
I hope that 2008 has you discover and pursue your passions.