In the current climate, many people turn away from the traditional job market towards working for themselves. The massive redundancies and job-insecurity has caused many people to radically rethink their career plans. With the ever increasing cost of living, many will be happy to just earn some extra money to support their families and to pay the bills.
In this article, you will find what you truly enjoy life and how to turn it into money making opportunities, and maybe even a full-time career. Your only limitations are those you impose on yourself! At least, what you learn will help you to be happier with your current job.
First of all, a little practice to get you started. Make a list of everything and anything you really enjoy and excited. This can be anything, from playing with Lego through projects in the planning or programming Cobol. Write down everything you’re thinking, no matter how silly or pointless you thought possible. They are all important and should be included on your list.
Go through the list and ask yourself whether you really excited about each one. Ask the question, “If someone offers to pay me to do this, will I be happy?” If you do not want to, then cross it off your list.
Look at each item on your list and ask yourself what you enjoy about it. You can enjoy the peace and tranquility of gardening, or fast-paced lifestyle of project management. Write this down too by each item.
Why do you enjoy it very important because it provides insight into the inner you. When you understand what you enjoy about something, you can see the quality that apply specifically to the life and your current job to increase your happiness. If you like peace and quiet, but the job you’re busy, you can take the time to take a walk in the park or to meditate to bring peace and tranquility to your work. You can be sure you take a lunch break and switch off your phone.
Once you have identified something you like, write next to each month how much time you currently spend doing it. You may love surfboarding but only manage to go once a month or you may be excited to cook does not have to live on fast food because of your lifestyle.
From now on, make a commitment to yourself to spend time doing things that you like each month. You will find that not only improved the level of happiness, but it increases your energy and life feels so much better because you do things you like.
Carry your list around with you for at least two weeks, adding to it every time you think of something you like. Then repeat the above process for each new item, analyze and understand what you like about it.
Do you have what it takes?
Whatever your current job situation, working for yourself can be a very attractive option. But the question is, ‘do you have what it takes to work for yourself? “Not everyone, but the good news is that the necessary skills can be learned by anyone.
To successfully work for yourself you need to have all of the following skills to some degree. The better you are at each skill, chance you have for your own success.
Motivation: You must be able to motivate yourself and not rely on others to push you along. When you work for yourself, no boss telling you what you need to do, when you need to do it, and give you support and guidance when you need it. You are the boss! Working for yourself, it’s all your responsibility. If you can not take responsibility, then you best from staying in work.
Belief: You must believe in yourself and in your business and / or products. It is very difficult to do well at something you do not fully believe in. Your belief and passion about what you do will cross over to your customers. This has a positive effect in building their confidence and in turn, your business. Before starting any business or selling any product ask yourself if you believe in the product and business.
Development time: It is important to spend time developing yourself and improving your skills. Many technical people forget to develop soft skills, and vice versa. Aiming to attend a course or workshop at least two years. Also regularly read books that are relevant to developing these skills. You have to stay one step ahead of the competition to become a phenomenal success.
Determination: You must be determined to succeed and not give up. There are times when it will be difficult, but you are the boss and in charge to make it good again. You may get knocked back on occasion, but true success only continued to occur in the face of set-backs.
Inter-personal skills: Working for yourself does not mean you will be locked in a room alone. You will often have to interact with other people, your customers. Good inter-personal skills will make this experience more rewarding and help you get the best from people. They will help ensure you have a successful business.
Communication skills: Both written and oral communication skills are essential. Often in today’s market place, the words are the key to the success of your business. Therefore, spend time developing your skills in this field – it will pay you back double to do so.
How much above the current skills you have? Do you feel weak in this area? If so, then reinforce them by attending courses or reading some relevant books. Be strong in all areas of the above is not needed for personal success, but it will help to make it easier.
Look at the list of things you love, and think about how the above skills can be applied for and praise.
Finding your ideal career
Now, back to the list of things that you like. Take a new sheet of paper and write the first item on your list at this new paper. Behind it, brainstorming all the work you can think of that involves your passion. Let your imagination run riot and creative as you can. Each item that you have written offers many possibilities. Also use your reason to enjoy the items to assist in this exercise.
Using gardening as an example, you could write: gardener, writer, teacher, TV presenter, landscape designers, tree doctors, and farmers, park ranger, and so forth, just to mention a few.
Still on the same item from your list, write down all the ways you can think of to make money from it.
With our gardening example this may be growing and selling crops or vegetables, or do the gardening for the people in your neighborhood. Of course there are other opportunities here. Be creative and imaginative and think outside your normal box.
Look at all the ways to make money and a note that you can start right now and the people that you really want to do. Maybe you could start at one or two from now, while still working at your current job.
Repeat the above exercise for each item on your list. Over the next few weeks keep adding to this list. This exercise stimulates your mind to be creative, which generate big ideas in creating more – often when you least expect it, so make sure you write down everything.
The results of this exercise will be a list of what you enjoy doing, why you enjoy doing and a list of possible career and money making opportunities that you will get pleasure from. You do not need to create a massive movement in and out of your current job. You can take your time, and slowly start building your own business, or just get a little extra money to help pay the bills while keeping your current job. You can also use this list to determine what career is best for you and start planning a move into this new career.
Ask yourself the question, “If I could do nothing, what is it?” The answer to this question will help you determine which of the items on your list to pursue first. It is important to not spread yourself too thin if not, you may find that there never will be. Once you have decided which way to go you have to do exercises for setting goals and working out your route to your target. Workbook for setting goals and articles can be found at http://www.stateofhypnosis.com.
Pursuing your passion means living life to the fullest. This means waking up every morning and look forward to work. This means more energy, more fun and feel more alive. Unfortunately today many of us work jobs we are not willing to do. Maybe it’s time you took advantage of the shift in economic and living your passion instead of dreaming it?
