4 Ways to Make Your Passion Pay

We all know that people enjoy doing what they are good at.

Similarly, if we focus our energies on pursuing our passion, we are pretty certain of become a huge success at doing what we love… Right???

Unfortunately being passionate about something does not guarantee success.

If it did:

• Writers, painters and poets would be less worried about finding a muse and more focused on finding the prefect million-dollar mansion…
• Waiters and waitresses in Hollywood would be about as plentiful as the dodo bird…
• Bloggers would have to pay for comments, because we would all be happily posting great articles instead of writing insightful and interesting things on the gurus’ sites…

Perhaps that was a bit too close to the bone…

but anyone who has tried to make their passion pay understands that the financial rewards do not accumulate in a manner directly proportionate to your blood, sweat and tears.

So does this mean we all need to surrender to the 9-5 noose and forever restrict our passion to Sunday afternoons?

Earning from Your Yearning

I believe that making your passion pay is the only option for people who really love what they do.

If you’re an artist or a writer, a cartoonist or a comedian, what is the alternative? To not try to make it your way of life?

For most people who are really passionate – and not the weekend warrior variety who are content to busk with a harmonica in train stations, express themselves artistically with a spray can or write advertising copy – there really is no other option than to try to make a living from what they love.

So here are my tips for filling your pockets with your passion:

1. Know the Road Ahead – The first thing you need to come to grips with is the difference between a hobby and a career. A hobby is messy and fun and limitless. If you want to you can be the first human being to knit a woolen tea cosy for your house. But a career is structured. It requires planning, organisation, cooperation and administration.

   It’s also important to recognise and understand the opportunity cost to pursuing your passion full-time. You know all those reasons you’ve been going in to the office for the last ten years – the regular pay cheque, the holidays, the staff functions? All of those benefits are the flip side to making a go of following your dream. Having said that, the perks of making your passion pay can also be messy, fun and limitless!

2. Find Your Yoda – This Jedi knight was old and gnarled because he had put in the hard yards all across the galaxy. If you want to make your passion pay, you need to move from apprentice to master and there is no better way to learn and grow than through imitating experience. A mentor can teach you both about the successes and pitfalls of your trade, until you are a “force” to be reckoned with!
3. Start Small – When your passionate about something you expect everyone else to feel the same way. You want respect and rewards equivalent to all of your hard work. But sometimes we need to put our ego on hold and start small. Maybe you’re destined to become an online mogul or the owner of a chain of franchises, but by selling on eBay or by peddling your product at the local market, you may not be making the big bucks but you are absorbing some very important knowledge and skills, while minimising your risk.
4. Be a Winner - It is not simply good enough to write a brilliant novel and leave it in your foot locker waiting for it to be discovered. You need to take your passion to the people. Get feedback, whether it be constructive or not. Enter competitions where you can learn from both the masters and your peers. If you have worked hard at your art, you might even make it to the top of the pile and the recognition could open important doors all the way to the bank vault.

While all of these tips can help you get your passion from the lounge room floor to the boardroom table, there is an important question you need to ask yourself before you bury your noose in the sock drawer. This is about knowing your heart.

Is it the vision of being skilled, respected, inspirational and active in your field of choice that you yearn for, or is it just a means to an end?

In other words, do you really want to be successful at what you love, or are you just in it for the big bucks?

If it is money that matters most, then your passion is probably not going to last the distance and I suggest you explore a money-focused endeavour!

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