I think the number one suggestion I have heard when it comes to working from home or starting your own business, is to find your passion. For some,this seems to be easy and they know right away what they are passionate about. But what if you are more like me, and are not really sure what your passion is? I came across this list of suggestions at Lifehack.org on how you might find what you’re passionate about:
*If you find yourself with spare time, or could even imagine yourself with free time what would you do? Think about what you really love doing, or what you used to love doing back in the days when you were single and carefree.
* What do you spend hours reading about? What you like reading about could give you some insights into what you might be passionate about. Picture yourself alone on a quiet beach somewhere with no one else around to distract you. What book would you like to have in your hand?
* Brainstorm. Nothing comes to mind right away? Well, get out a sheet of paper, and start writing down ideas. Anything that comes to mind, write it down. Look around your house, on your computer, on your bookshelf, for inspirations, and just write them down. There are no bad ideas at this stage. Write everything down, and evaluate them later.
* Ask other people for ideas. See what others have discovered as their passions. Look all over the Internet for ideas. The more possibilities you find, the more likely your chances of finding your true passion.
* If you are working outside the house right now, you might want to stick with it while you’re researching new possibilities. If you can do your passion as a side job, and build up the income for a few months or a year, that’s even better. It gives you a chance to build up some savings, and if you’re going into business for yourself, you’ll need that cash reserve
* Give it a try first. It’s best to actually test your new idea before jumping into it as a career. Do it as a hobby or side job at first, so that you can see if it’s really your true calling. You may be passionate about it for a few days, but where the rubber meets the road is whether you’re passionate about it for at least a few months. If you pass this test, you have probably found it.
* Do as much research as possible. Know as much about your passion as possible. If this has been a passion for awhile, you may have already been doing this. At any rate, do even more research. Read every website possible on the topic, and buy the best books available. Find other people, either in your area or on the Internet, who do what you want to do for a living, and quiz them about the profession. How much do they make? What training and education did they need? What skills are necessary? How did they get their start? What recommendations do they have. Often you’ll find that people are more than willing to give advice.
* Never quit trying. Can’t find your passion at first? Give up after a few days and you’re sure to fail. Keep trying, for months on end if necessary, and you’ll find it eventually. Thought you found your passion but you got tired of it? No problem! Start over again and find a new passion. There may be more than one passion in your lifetime, so explore all the possibilities. Found your passion but haven’t been successful making a living at it? Don’t give up. Keep trying, and try again, until you succeed. Success doesn’t come easy, so giving up early is a sure way to fail. Keep trying, and you’ll get there.
