Q.
What are some good
first steps toward doing what you love (so that the money will
follow)? Are there some suggestions for homing in more specifically
on the area of the field you're interested in?
A. Your several questions beg a
formula response - impossible with the "do what you love..."
philosophy. A philosophy is an ideational overview, not a rule
book.
The 'do what
you love....' keynote is a principle (not a recipe), whose
application leads us each to our unique life lessons.
Our application of any principle is always individualized (as
the first part of Do
What You Love...
spells out ad infinitum).
So each individual's
application differs: good steps for you might be tedious or toxic
first steps for another. Some of us need ongoing therapy to address
all and more of the sorts of soft variables discussed in the
text: self-esteem, learned helplessness, the "shoulds"
and "musts" we've been programmed to obey. Often that
happens as we move forward, to support and inform our efforts
and growth.
Some need
just a few sessions of career counseling to identify a fulfilling
life's path, or prescriptively answer very basic questions such
as you raise, yet others may require lengthy self-study, all
by itself, or combined with intensive (or short-term) therapy.
In most cases therapy (not career counseling) strives to alter
or uncover unproductive belief systems. False beliefs may or
may not be brought to light through, say, adult education or
spiritual direction or infrequent counseling. But, as we've written
time and again, trusted dialogue with competent, empathic counselors
can help answer these foundational questions.
A few bright lights, as indicated in Build Life You
Want, Create the Work You Love seem to possess the entrepreneurial and life-skills
you appear to ask about . They just "know" or sense
intuitively how to be and do what they love (effectively) so
they just start -- they put one foot in front of the other (without
shooting-self-in-foot) and bit by bit they succeed. I call such
people spiritually intelligent and describe (in the book by the
same name) so much of our worldly success is an outgrowth of
spiritual maturing awareness.
"Lamps are many,
but light is One." ... Rumi
(E.G., Build
Life You Want, Create the Work You Love) relates to the entrepreneurial skills you seem
to be asking about. In your sphere of activity, observe the skills
and attributes of those who appear to intuitively sense or know,
what to do.... These sorts venture out without that shoot-self-in-foot
self-sabotage so common to others with immature, inappropriate
impulses.
Please augment
this answer by reviewing, studying, the variables spelled out
specifically in the books mentioned above and in the books listed
in each bibliography. There are no quick fixes with vocation
or right livelihood!
First, grasp
the philosophy, which means chew on and digest (assimilate, said
psychologist Frizt Perls) the principles involved. And then there
are specific workplace/marketplace/life-skills to be gained,
understood, applied in real life tests and trials (as the 2nd
title listed above details.) Review, study, discuss some of the
ideas in books listed in the bibliographies of books you've enjoyed.
Q.
But what if you're
unsure which of the countless things you love to do would be
the right one to pursue? How do you know which passion will pay
off?
A.
That's a wholly different
issue! "How to know" is vastly different than "What
to do?" and takes us in a new direction from your opening
question. Now you're asking about how to identify life goals.
That's neither
the topic nor the level of understanding to which our books and
essays are directed. Perhaps reading books like What Color
is Your Parachute? (Bolles) could prove helpful. Identifying
goals requires fresh discernment, and certainly before launching
out into unknowns. Without seasoned discernment and identification
of goals one heads out, as if going on a vacation, ever moving
about in circles because there's no destination.
If one needs
too much explicit direction at such an elementary stage, or if
one hasn't the business or workplace or practical life-experience
(or discernment) to figure out what might be an appropriate,
one is probably not ready to venture forth... Best to start small,
modestly, responsibly -- say, with the career counseling or guidance/therapy
step.
Here's where
Adult Education may prove a helpful, low-cost and effective first
step, provided we find the right course, facilitated by instructors
with breadth and depth of intellectual and real-world, hands-on
experience. Here, again, discernment is required. (When in life
is it not?) Adult education courses could be an ideal first step.
To repeat: Review, study, discuss of some of the variables spelled
out specifically in M.S. and other relevant business books: There's
a philosophy at play, and then there are specific workplace/marketplace
skills and attitudes (as 2nd, related title listed spells out.
) TV shows like The Apprentice or American Idol might be popular
because they reveal some of the attitudes we need, above talent.
Those tv contestants demonstrate tremendous skill, yet, even
so their application differs widely!
Never underestimate
the power of a lack of understanding to thwart the success of
something we'd love to do. Never underestimate the power of the
presence and power of pure insight, wisdom, intuitive grace --
spiritual intelligence-- to fuel, fire up and actualize our most
beneficent choices!
