Tips To Make Your Passion Your Paycheck

A lot of us employed in a big corporate world dream of having our own business someday where we can be the big boss, own and manage our precious time, and try to make our passion as our paycheck.

I have always wanted that for myself even before retirement sets in. I want my passion to work on my favour. And trust me, it is not easy. I have opened my Etsy shop and closed without earning back the capital. I tried running my small craft business but it only ate so much of my time and effort without really establishing much client base. I have so many failure and still, my heart yearns to do something that makes me happy. And here I am again, pursuing what I always love to do - arts and craft. I think, if it's already ingrained in your system, it's really hard to shake it off.

It is not a walk in the park. You need to consider a lot of factors to be able to reach that goal. I haven't reached mine yet but I am working towards attaining that goal. And here are the steps that is keeping me on my track and helps me get motivated and really focused. This may help you reach your dream too! Let us just assume that you are like me, struggling day in and out to complete a 42-hour work week in a big corporation. Maybe like me, you also want to do what makes you happy. Then these tips can be of help.

Ask yourself, what is it that you really love to do or is very skilled at

I have been deliberating on this thought for some time now. I keep asking myself what is it that I really like and want. And my answer is always inclined to unleashing my creative juices. I love arts. I like making things from scraps. I enjoy hand lettering. I want to pursue many things involving the arts and so, I zoned in on my passion - to have an e-commerce site involving selling of graphics and artsy stuff that I can create using my passion and skills.

So, dig into your psyche. Ask yourself a lot of questions about your passion. Why do you like to do it? Do you have the patience to commit to it? Is it going to be a potential source of income? If you answered yes in most of these questions, then make it as your goal.

Research on how you can convert your passion as a source of income

I researched a lot of cases on how to turn my passion into my source of income. I checked forums and even read plenty of business articles about how to start a business. Take note of success stories of people who have similar passion as yours. Pick up their tips and see what works well for you.

Also remember that following your passion may take a lot of your life's savings to be able to start up on your own. Take the money aspect into consideration when you plan on achieving your goal to convert your passion into your paycheck.

Truth be told, not every passion can be a potential money magnet. Some can be a good hobby to de-stress but not a good means to provide for your livelihood once you get out of the corporate world. Tap into your skill set that you are really good at and see its earning potential.  If you feel that your passion is something that can give you a better life even after your stint in the corporate rat race, then start making that dream happen.

Believe in yourself

I had moments of doubt on what and what I cannot do. Then I realised that by doubting myself, I am also impending my growth and blocking my way to achieving my passionate goal. It is not easy to believe in yourself but when you want to achieve your goal, you just have to.

Believe that your passion is worth the money and make sure that your passion is not just a second-best hobby or past time. Instead, it is a means to get you out of your present quagmire or a step to potentially becoming your own boss.

Learn a skill

If you want to shift to a different direction than your present career and perhaps, you enjoy speaking to a large crowd rather than sit behind a desk tinkering on the computer then maybe you can study on how to be a life coach or develop your public speaking skills. However, if your passion is already a developed skill that you have then make use of it, enhance it further by attending workshops during your off time or attend exhibits or watch tutorials.  And the next step is related to your skill...

Enhance that skill by practising

Practise! Practise! Practise! That is very important if you have a product to sell or a service to provide that will require giving your best.

I always allocate at least an hour of my time several days in a week to practise on my hand lettering, drawing, and learning some software to use for graphic design. Honestly, I am not near to reaching my goal but the mere fact that I have taken the step to be near that goal of finally being my own boss and following what I am passionate to do, I am deeply motivated to succeed!



So, while I am in the process of making my passion work in my favour, what are the steps you've taken to make yours?

Top Fun Ways To Keep Teens Entertained Over The Summer Holidays

Photo credit: irishexaminer.com

Many teenagers seem to spend most of their free time either playing video games or complaining about being bored, so how can you keep them occupied and engaged this summer?

E-readers
If you’re heading off on a long road trip this summer, then backseat boredom will hit your teens pretty fast. With an e-reader, they can take all of their favourite books with them without having to worry about heavy bags. Although it might look like yet another gadget, remember that they could just as easily be reading Shakespeare in preparation for their A-levels instead of Twilight again - in theory, at least!

Volunteering
If your child has a hobby or favourite sport they're losing interest in, try persuading them to help out as a teacher or coach for younger children. Not only is it valuable for university applications and future CVs, it's also a great way to re-engage with something they used to love. They could volunteer in a library, help out as a football coach or even work with animals. Most clubs will be more than happy to let them help out, just remember to invest in some new Kickers shoes and boots if they're going to be on their feet for a long time!

National Citizen Service
Organised by the government, this scheme lets teenagers take part in things like horse-riding and dry-slope skiing as well as learning the importance of teamwork. Programmes are usually 3 weeks long and are for 16 and 17 year olds only. They usually include some residential time away from home and around 30 hours of volunteering at community projects: perfect for building independence and confidence.

Let them plan a trip

Hand over some of the responsibility for your holiday to the children to give them a sense of ownership, as well as an idea of the organisation involved! Whether it's a day trip or your choice of hotel, chances are your teen will complain less if they've had an input into the decision making process. Let them help with everything from booking travel to stocking up on holiday essentials. Just keep an eye on the shopping cart to make sure they stick to the budget!

A Little Help

I am very thankful for having a daughter who shares the same passion as I have in arts and craft. I was commissioned to do my friend's baptismal invitation and party favors. I could use some help considering I don't have a die-cutting machine to aid me in my craft and will make cutting easier . However, my help comes in the form of the extra hands my daughter lends me to make things easier for me.

I have few weeks to go before the delivery date and I am glad I have my little help.

Girls Talk - Fave Pastime

I have to say, my favorite pastime is my arts and craft session. I am more geared to tinkering on polymer clay and making handmade cards.

Second favorite thing I do is blogging and I am glad I did this, otherwise, I wouldn't meet lovely people like the ones in my blogroll. You all know who you are :)

Apart from the above, I guess you can squeeze Facebooking (verb for using Facebook all the time...LOL). I am so addicted to it that I ask most of my friends and relatives to add me up. So pips, add me up!

Want to know more of other blogger's pastime activities? Check out Niko's blog.

My Photographer and Cameraman

My husband is very keen in photography and taking videos. He is always the photographer and cameraman during special occasions and holidays. So, in most of our videos and photos, 90% will be poses of myself and our daughter. I do not know why I never had the knack in photography and video-taking.

He has taken these artistic activities a great hobby to engage his time with. During his sister's recent wedding, he was gracious enough to pour his creative juice into action by making a personal video montage of the wedding ceremony. The video montage had the "silent movie" kind of theme taken in black and white. It was beautiful. He gave it to the bride and groom as a gift. His sister and brother-in-law loved his work that he is considering a corporate video production service on the side to augment our income. I think it is a great idea. He can put his passion to good use!

Digiscrappin'

I have yet to learn the rudiments of digital scrapping let alone learn how to use Adobe Photoshop CS intensively so I can start creating fabulous scrap pages for my photos.

I saw this site while dropping some e-loves a while ago and for all digital scrappers out there, you should check this out for your supplies or what-have-yous. Check out: Shabby Pickle Designs

Blog...Blog...Blog some more!

I never thought I'd be so hooked on this blogging thing. It's like a major hunger pang I have to satisfy. I have been blogging for more than 2 years but never really took it seriously until my 2 uncles (thanks Uncles Boy and Onting!) prodded me to join a blog service to meet new people, interact with them, get new ideas and simply put your passion to where it belong - the blog world.

I love to write. It has always been a penchant for me to jot down notes even when I am at work. I am known to be the "one" who will take down notes on everything. My friends often tease that I should be writing report for the police as I give everything in detail. I often volunteer doing research and collecting data for my report. This is what I want.

Writing has made a big mark in my life even when I was young. I jotted down my emotions of happiness and sadness. I wrote down unsaid feelings. I wrote down special occasions. I scribbled plate numbers of people who cut me on the road (hehehe...). I noted names of cab drivers when I take public transport. I regularly write to family and friends. I just write everything that is important in my life. I have notebooks here and there. My pen holders are bursting at the seams! I write anywhere I can write to, bubblegum wrappers, back of used papers, tissues, sides of newspapers and even the palm of my hand! These just show how writing has been a part of my colorful life from childhood to the present.

Since I started this blog site, all I did was to sit down and tinker on the laptop. I am practically glued on the chair from work to home! My family has to pry my behind just to get me to do other stuff. If I have a choice, I will not sleep and just write, write and write some more! I look forward to long weekends where I can ponder and blast away writing my blogs. This blogging activity has really taken so much of my time. I am very thankful to my husband and daughter who are very supportive of me because they know I enjoy doing this. Same goes to my family who encourages me to pursue my dream to write. I have a feeling that my hubby is more than happy to see me at home blogging than drive to the mall and engage in retail therapy. Everybody will agree to him on that one! Friends are asking what I get out of this blog thing. My reply - it feeds my soul.

I am blogging more often now than I was before but I still know what my duties are as a parent, wife, daughter, sister and a friend. I still allocate time to do the usual things that I do like hearing mass, shopping (once in a while), chatting and meeting friends over a cup of coffee. I guess I am still a regular Jane in that sense. However, blogging has now become one of my "natural" activity just like brushing teeth. =)

I will be in the blogging scene for as long as I can and while my brain juices rev up my thinking machine; I'll be blogging, blogging, and blogging some more!