5 Steps to Make Money Pursuing Your Passion

What do you want out of life? I bet I can guess…

“I just want to be happy.” That’s what everyone says. That’s an honest goal and a worthy goal. As long as you feel good, that must mean you are succeeding, right?

Actually, there is a key component missing from that. Happiness will not fill the void. There is another half.

You want to be happy AND you want to be satisfied.

Satisfaction does not sway up and down like happiness. You are going to have good days and you are going to have bad days. Even on your bad days, do you feel as though you are content? Do you feel satisfied?

Most people do not and the reason is because most people do not get satisfaction from their work.

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. – Steve Jobs

Everyone has to make a living, so the question becomes how do you make a living by doing what you love to do? How do you make money while pursuing your passion?

There are 5 important steps. Let’s get started.

1 – Find Your Passion

Most people don’t know what they are passionate about.

Most people work their 9-5, come home and walk the dog then sit on the couch with a microwavable dinner and watch “The Voice.”

Most people have not embarked upon the journey of self-discovery. Knowing your passion is the first and most important step to cashing in on it. If you don’t know what you want then how could you get it? If you don’t know where you’re going then you are just walking in circles.

Look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself what it is that you could do every day for the rest of your life and not get sick of. You should do that.

2 – Build an Audience

The internet gives everyone a fair chance.

It is not to say that all businesses have to be internet based. There are lots of people with lucrative businesses that do not tap into the internet. My experience is with online marketing, so that is what I rely on. If you chose to go a different route, you still need to build an audience.

Personal trainers need an audience. Actors need an audience. Landscapers need an audience. In order to make money, you must make an exchange with people. In order to do that, there must be people paying attention to what you are doing.

Email lists, social media, a phone list, a weekly meetup group or even a book club… these are all examples of building an audience.

Start building one now. Right now!

3 – Create Value

It is easy for me to type these words and simply tell you to “build an audience.” You are probably saying “that’s great Tim, but HOW exactly do you do that?”

You build an audience by creating value.

You must build something that brings value to the lives of other people. No one is going to pay attention to you unless you bring value into their lives. My suggestion is to do this for free.

Here are a few examples…

If your passion is fitness, create a short book of workouts for beginners. Maybe include pictures.

If your passion is baking, create a free recipe book.

If your passion is creating bonsai trees, write a step by step manual to help someone care for their own.

Get it? You can exchange this value for attention.

Let’s assume that you want to be a fitness trainer. You could start by giving away the workout book you created in exchange for someone’s email address. You could use that contact list to tell everyone about your FREE workouts in the park every Saturday. After you have demonstrated value by bringing your AUDIENCE through a great workout, you make sure they don’t leave without getting your business card and without knowing that you offer one on one personal training.

This is how you create an audience. You create content or services or helpful experiences that enrich other people’s lives. Now it’s time to sell.

4 – Sell Your Passion

This is not easy for most people. A lot of people are uncomfortable with sales, and for good reason. Sales are hard.

None the less, it is a crucial step. You will find that after some practice and a few awkward moments, you will fear it less and less.

The best way to start selling is by simply telling everyone what you want to do. I will give you an example.

If you are reading this, I would like you to call me. I want you to give me money, and in exchange for that money I will build you a website and build you an online marketing plan that will help you start your own online business. I will teach you what to do so that you can cash in on YOUR passion. I have a great product and a great service. I love online marketing and I know what I’m doing.

I have lots of experience and I am good for my word. Send me a contact form or call me on the phone number below.

See what I did there?

To sell something you don’t need to be a smooth talker or be manipulative, you just need to be honest. Make your intentions clear. If you are passionate about your work, if you have created an audience and if you have provided value to your audience, the selling won’t be difficult.

5 – Repeat and Repeat and Repeat

I know what you’re thinking. There is no way it can be that simple.

It is that simple, but it isn’t always that easy. This is why you need to be passionate about what you are doing. If you are not passionate about it then you won’t be willing to do it for free.

However, if you have stamina this is a foolproof method that has existed before the internet and will exist in the virtual reality world we are creating for ourselves.

Just keep at it. Keep helping people. Keep creating value. Keep building your audience and keep selling. The past part is that it won’t even feel like work because YOU LOVE DOING IT!!! How awesome is that?

One Last Thing!

Let me make something clear. Your passion does not have to be a full-time job. Maybe you want to keep your day job. Maybe you want to quit your job and pursue your passion full time. Maybe you want to sit on a street corner and play music for money. No matter what you do, I support you. I support anyone who is willing to try!

No matter what your course and your desired lifestyle, this method will work for you.

It takes patience, and commitment and desire and courage. But it will bring you satisfaction.

Isn’t that what you want?