5 Simple Steps To Turn Your Passion Into Your Paycheck

Have you heard the phrase “choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life”? This statement is often attributed to Confucius and I find it quite confusing [ as in misleading ].

When you are raised in poverty, especially in a slum area, you start working at a very young age and you see people work til the very last day they live. There is no minimum working age and there is no retirement. The beauty of this dynamic is that everyone works together and everyone sees their work as helpful, useful, and purposeful.

I felt so much culture shock when I moved to the USA. I had never heard of anyone feeling like their job as a burden or heard anyone complaining about work before. I was raised in an environment where work was not only a blessing, but a miracle, something to rejoice about and to be grateful for.

Work was divinely established to give us purpose, so my goal is actually to work every day of my life. I resonate with Steve Jobs’ immortal words about doing “great 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. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle…Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

I believe the key to this statement is that we can only find fulfillment through doing work we are passionate about, something that brings us joy. That’s why I believe you must turn your passion into your paycheck, to put your passion to work for you, so that you can create true value for others, while fulfilling your God-given purpose.

When I became a single mom and didn’t have a penny to my name, I needed to provide for my toddlers and I had no support, so I got a job.

Les Brown, one of my mentors, defines a JOB as Just Over Broke. That was a perfect description for the paycheck I received, but my desire to find different work wasn’t about the money. It was about the FREEDOM. 

I know that motherhood is one of the main passions that is tied to my purpose and so I deeply craved the freedom to spend as much time as I wanted with my little girls. In order to really align with this desire, I needed to see an increase in the flow of my finances.

I don’t think entrepreneurship is for everyone, but God showed me that path really early on in my life and, so one fine day, I finally decided to take the leap and start profit from my passions. 

5 Simple Steps To Turn Your Passion Into Your Paycheck

I don’t mean to mislead you with here; simple is not a synonym of easy. Figuring out exactly what you can monetize and turn into a profitable business for you is intense work.

Turning your passion into profit takes a lot of inner work and a constant journey of upgrading of your mindset to match the BOLD goals you set for yourself. Write this down: You cannot outperform your self-image.

As you go through these steps, write down at least one limiting belief you know now you must shift and one action you know now you must take to make it happen.

Find out exactly what your passions are and get clear on which activities you love, and which are the most meaningful. I take my coaching clients and students through a process to discover what is unmistakably accurate in determining their top passions, in order of priority. You must create your business from a place of love, rather than from your current circumstances.

Outline your skills (learned abilities) and talents (innate God-given gifts that come natural to you), as well as your most significant life experiences, especially those that have been pivotal and painful. It is necessary to align passion, trial and skill to create a profitable business.

Decide who it is you want to serve. This is a critical step because you could be doing what you love and have the skill-set, talent, and tools required, but if you are not focused or are serving people who are not ready for your message, it will defeat the purpose.

I can speak from experience by saying when you work with the people you are meant to serve, work is easier, and more exciting because they allow you to see the results of your efforts and you will be energized by making a difference.

Design valuable products and services that solve their problems (pain), help them achieve their goals (pleasure), that they are willing to pay for.

If you don’t create your tailored offering, you are doing a disservice to the people who need you, so make sure you are focused on the difference you’re going to make when you share what you know with others. Without a transaction, there is no transformation.

Take consistent action, every day. One of the biggest pitfalls in being an entrepreneur is to forget that your business is your job. If you work random hours, do random work, and execute random ideas, you will get random results. I love the quote “don’t be upset with the results you didn’t get from the work you didn’t do.”

I admit I was terrified when I quit my JOB. I always call myself an entrePRAYneur or momPRAYneur because it took a great deal of faith to give up a stable salary and a sense of security in exchange for what seemed to be mere satisfaction. That is why it is important to follow these five steps and make sure you are building a marketable, profitable, and sustainable business model.

I am very passionate about connecting with people, helping others succeed, and teaching others how to create systems that Save You Sanity Time Energy and Money. I started monetizing these passions when I created my web design company, utilizing my marketing skills to provide helpful solutions, guidance, and support to my clients.

My business has evolved with the years, but my passion remains the same. I am clearer on my passions, I am honing my skills, I am making a difference in the lives of the people I want to serve, and my business model supports the lifestyle I desire: staying at home, homeschooling my daughters, and having the freedom to live life on my own terms.

You can use the steps outlined above until you find something that feels right. Like Steve Jobs declared: you will absolutely know it when you stumble upon it. It will take work, prayer, and focus… and I know you can do it.

And to end on a less confusing statement, I will say:

Choose a Job You Love, and You Will Love Working Every Day of Your Life.

Whether you work a 9-5 job or an entrepreneurial job, to create a life you love, you need to do work you love. What will it be for YOU? 

What’s your passion and have you turned it into your paycheck? I look forward to hear about it. Remember, that I am here if you need support in taking your passions and using them as a vehicle to fill your life with the prosperity God intends for you. Let’s connect! 

[ela]