If you’ve worked out what your passion in life is, pat yourself on the back, you’re way ahead of the rest.
To realise your passion is exceptional. And when you do, do you know how to turn it into a reality? Can you manifest your passion into action and maybe even turn it into your career?
Whether following your passion means making a major career change, starting your own business, brand or blog, writing a book or climbing a mountain, the steps to achieving your goals are a work in themselves and a certain amount of detailed planning and discipline is needed. And of course it’s easier to action if it’s fuelled by passion and you are on a mission.
“You have to be burning with an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right. If you’re not passionate enough from the start, you’ll never stick it out.” – Steve Jobs
The important thing when starting to follow your dream is to make sure it is your dream. Make sure it’s not a milestone created by your peers and influencers or a dream that is simply a path to your next logical career step. For example, is it a pay rise or is it a million dollars you want? Be specific, be honest with yourself and dare to dream alone.
If you’re still debating which direction to go in it’s perfectly fine. This part requires thought and imagination. Talk to friends, take their advice and then ignore them if you have to. It’s good to get other’s opinions but not rely only on them. Read books, get curious, listen to your nagging voice inside that wants you to do that thing.
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein.
Make sure though your dream is not a pipe dream. The term pipe dream actually comes from the dreams experienced by users of opium in the 18th Century. In other words, don’t drink the Kool-aid. Be real. Pipe dreams are all talk – no action, lofty dreams without basis, structure and plan and essentially, they are pure folly.
“If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.” – Benjamin Franklin
Dare to Dream
It’s crunch time. Now’s the time to adopt tactics to introduce your mission into an everyday schedule. Here are some tactics you can employ to work things out:
Mind Mapping
Some people swear by Mind mapping as a means to unravel their real thoughts and ideas and keep a record of them. If you’ve not done it before there are a wealth of tools online to help you get started. Don’t limit yourself to just one. The more detailed the maps are the better equipped you will be to create realistic milestones to start plotting your path to living your passion.
Set a Plan and Be Real
One of the most efficient ways to live your passion is to create a detailed plan with realistic milestones and schedules. The key here is to be realistic and detailed.
Many of you will be aware of the tried and tested S.M.A.R.T Rule:
- Specific
Be specific with your goals. Instead of “I want one million dollars,” be precise about what you want it for, why you want it and list the areas to cover to actually get it. - Measurable
Make sure you can check on your progress. Remember dreams are a series of short-term goals joining up. - Achievable
Set objectives that are attainable. Enjoy plotting series of small goals and milestones to check off along the way. Weekly objectives work best for a lot of people and the serotonin hit of achieving regular goals can become habit forming (in a good way). - Realistic
This relates particularly to resources and timings. Make sure you can visualise success through this plan otherwise dreams remain just that. - Timely
Specify when you expect to achieve a certain milestone. Don’t forget “overnight success” usually takes seven years.
“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” – Oprah Winfrey
Do The Grunt Work
This is the conversion section. Time to get off the sofa, put down that remote control and live. Follow your own rules. These are your ideals and goals, not your bosses or anyone else’s, just yours. You are the boss and the worker. Get stuck in and do it.
Practise some discipline by scheduling in times to work on your goals whether it be two hours in the morning before work or time on the weekend.
Proclaim it. Tell people what you are doing. They can help you by getting on your side. They can offer advice or contacts and will respect the time you spend on your passion or project.
“The best thing one can do when it is raining is let it rain” – Henry Long fellow
Use life
Enjoy the journey. Everything good in life has to come from some struggle.
It’s never going to be easy, whether you achieve your dream in a year or five. Obstacles will arise. Expect them and plan your reaction. Use change to adapt, learn and keep moving closer to your destination. The road to your dreams is twisted and long.
In the words of Muhammad Ali, “It isn’t the mountains ahead that wear you down. It’s the pebble in your shoe.“
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