If you just work on stuff that you like and you’re passionate about, you don’t have to have a master plan with how things will play out.” – Mark Zuckerberg
Not all of us are born with exceptional talents, but we do possess or acquire some special skills that makes us stand out. As kids or teenagers, we had the fire and belief that something we are good at is exciting and easy to make a living. Somewhere up the curve, in the struggle for riches and competing with the world, we trade our dreams for a high paying job and a sophisticated life.
Is it too late to make a living out of your passion? Well, definitely no. Whether you are starting your career based on a hobby or adapting to it in mid stage, I believe it’s achievable coupled with fair amount of hard work. While it’s an added advantage to do something you like, it doesn’t mean it comes easy.
To be a natural at something is a blessing. If one can’t make a full-fledged career out of their passion, its best to incorporate that into the job you are doing. For e.g., I have a knack for writing. Throughout my professional tenure, I was on the lookout for writing opportunities, whether it was for authoring Internal Magazines or drafting communication mails. It’s not always about the money, but the immense satisfaction I derived in doing something I love.
To cherry pick my thoughts on the subject:
- It’s easy to start, but a bit challenging to keep going, especially to work in those late nights and early mornings.
- It’s fun since you enjoy what you’re doing. It liberates from the drudgery of boredom, routine and brings satisfaction in doing something different.
- Success is not guaranteed just because you are good at it. To turn your hobby into a career, it requires immense efforts, persistence and not be cowed by external factors or naysayers. There is no alternate for hard work.
One of the personalities I admire is the renowned chef Christy Tania, who, being a Project Manager at IBM, stepped out of her comfort zone, followed her passion and today is one of the most celebrated chefs across the world.
It’s just a lovely feeling to wake up and do something that excites you. While it’s a dream come true to follow our passion, I believe that it’s not always necessary to give up your profession; it can be also paralleled along with your line of work. Of course, it will take some of your nap or party time. In the end, it’s the hunger for success that distinguishes the determined from the rest of the herd.
You may also want to read other articles written by the author: ‘Stop limiting yourself‘, ‘Doing what you love – hobbies and passion to opportunity‘, ‘ Maximise your productivity to unleash your potential‘, ‘Be your own boss‘, ‘Broaden your intellectual horizon‘, ‘Career metamorphosis – Expert to beginner’, “Importance of networking for success in your career“, ‘Busy Day vs Productive Day‘, ‘Money matters for womens financial independence‘.
About the author:
Nithya Jagadish – A commerce graduate with an overall experience of 10 years in the Corporate Industry. Having handled diversified assignments at HSBC and Hewlett Packard, I decided to take a break for a while. Now, a doting mother of a one year old child, I spend my day reading, apprising on my topics of interest and baby-sitting. I strongly believe in living life to the fullest and making the most of each beautiful day.
(The author is a guest blogger at Her Second Innings. The opinions expressed are those of the author.)
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