We all have to pay the bills, support a family, save for retirement and we may want to go on a vacation some time. But, for many, as the children go off to college and the “busy-ness” of life seems to slow down, many are seeking work that’s meaningful, profitable and makes a difference. “Now what?” resonates deeply because the future is here. Billy is leaving for college in a month. And all the things you’ve put off are staring back at you and asking “if not now, when?” What better time to act on those unfulfilled dreams? Work is one of the most profound ways we live our true selves, and now is the time to start doing that. In fact, every person living out his or her dreams gives a gift to the world–a gift because it inspires others to do the same.

Craving FREEDOM?

Are you worried making a change to follow a dream would be selfish? It can seem as if there’s a chasm between the knowing and the doing. We know something’s not right with our career path, but we tell ourselves to live with it. In fact, for some even questioning the meaning of their work gives them feelings of guilt. In an economy where many are taking 6 to 9 months or even longer to find a new job, it may appear to be ungrateful to want more. But consider the cost of inaction? The lack of motivation, the added stress, missed opportunities and the knot in your stomach that’s getting tighter.

Are you feeling overwhelmed at the enormity of  changing careers after being 20 or 30 years in the same field? Even if we set goals, there may be feelings of overwhelm as you try to manage daily life with trying something new. “We often hesitate to follow our hearts, to grow, because of perceived barriers,” writes Carole Kanchier in Dare to Change Your Job–and Your Life.  Her book is one of many resources that help break down those barriers, the two biggest of which are fear and confusion.

Are you asking: “Why can’t I make the leap?”

Fear. Do you think: I’m too old to change? If I switch jobs now, I’ll have to start over at the bottom. What if I fail, then what? Fear is normal, and it’s important to acknowledge it. There are numerous tactics to help you through the fear. The most powerful may be looking to others who’ve gone through life/career changes. With targeted information comes clarity. With clarity comes confidence. With confidence comes action toward fulfilling your goals. In this economy, I’m often talking to folks who are starting over in their careers due to downsizing, restructuring, technology or belly-up businesses.

Confusion. Many of us are clearer about what we don’t want than what we actually do want. The key is to focus on what you do want. What you FOCUS on grows and becomes permanent in your life. If you have lived out others’ expectations of you for so long and you’re not sure what actually makes you happy then begin with discovering what your passionate about and then build your new life on your unique ability. Not sure what your unique ability is? Then be sure to contact me for my Profit, Passion and Purpose program designed to help you focus the vision of your ideal life based on your talents, gifts and abilities. Imagine in 6 weeks you’ll discover what makes you unique and what you can do to create the life you deserve. Maybe you’re not certain how to turn your many talents and skills into meaningful work? No problem, you don’t need to know the HOW, just focus on what you want and the resources, tools and strategies you need to accomplish the HOW will appear. Will you be ready to take the opportunity when it appears?

The sage advice of our age is always the same whether you are starting up or starting over:  Keep your options open.  Harvey Mackay provides this most important tip “Never be afraid to ask for help.  There are plenty of people who have created successful businesses, and even more who have built successful careers.  Learning from others is essential, no matter how much you have learned from your own experience.” Coaches are an excellent resource to help you ask the right questions to sharpen your focus and goals. They can guide you to imagine and create real work that isn’t just a job, but a whole new life.

Whether it’s a new career or small shifts in how you work, making a change in midlife can bring new energy and joy for life. Like being a teenager again–only better.

Would you like to create a life you love doing work you love? If you enjoyed this article and would like to claim your FREE e-book with 5 TIPS to help you find, create and profit from work you love, click on the link to gain access and you’ll also receive my newsletter, filled with helpful tips to help you master the career transition journey and first dibs on all classes and teleseminars.

This post was written by Charlene Nora, your Career Change Mentor and Profit From Your Passions Coach on 06/12/2011.

Is it important what other people think of you?

Do you struggle to recover from a mistake / failure?

Then you probably suffer from low-confidence and may have missed out on many career change opportunities life had to offer. Begin to follow the tips outlined in this article to grow your self-confidence and improve your chances of success.

Don’t think for a moment that your lack of motivation at work is enclosed in a vacuum. If you’re missing job satisfaction then you’re probably missing life satisfaction. When you fix your self confidence, your natural ability, talents, strengths, gifts and passions are able to shine. Not sure what your PASSION is? Then be sure to contact me today for a journey that takes you to YOUR PASSION and the life you deserve. It would be better, if you want to increase your chances of success, then confront the limits you’ve allowed to keep you boxed in, and search for ways to overcome them consistently, it is only then you give yourself a real chance of achieving success.  Ignoring your constraints or limitations is never a good idea because they only limit you and your life.  “Wherever you go, there you are”.

Maximize Your Potential

Assessments Don’t Help! They give you an “idea” of your potential

DISC, Myers Briggs and other personality based assessments provide useful information to describe the quality or state of your “being” as a person but it doesn’t really direct your personal growth. Marcus Buckingham and the highly popularized “Play to your Strengths” movement has given the Strengths theory a powerful tool for helping us to find our gifts, develop them and use them for the greater good.

But knowing “who” you are or staying within your “strengths zone” does not let you know which “behaviors” you need to change for you to live a life of passion, purpose and greater fulfillment. Because talent and skill could only take you so far: Practice does not make perfect, it only makes you BETTER.

What DO I DO?

Confidence is the Difference that makes THE DIFFERENCE in your life and the way it goes. It helps you take the action your heart is calling for and taking the career path based on your passions and interests. To improve your confidence here’s the simple key: Focus on the ONE thing that’s holding you back, which if you work on it, will give you the biggest pay off. Take time to discover where it came from? Find the root and pull it up. Now this is a process so don’t expect your confidence level to boost in 2 days. Why? Because you’ve probably spent a life time living with these limits, and they’re strongly attached to loads of emotional stories, so they’re not going to fall off immediately.

GROW Your Confidence in 5 Steps:

1.    Ask yourself “What BEHAVIOR do I need to change?”

2.    Then ask “How do I change them?” If you’re struggling with this question ask a friend, mentor or coach but whatever you do, answer the question.

3.    Make a list of your strengths and review daily.

4.    When something unforeseen or sad happens change your vocabulary to “There’s nothing I can do about it at this point, so I’m not going to lose sight of the meaning in a present XYZ event.”

5.    At the end of the day, write down the thoughts you’re having about your self and watch the progression over time. If you’re trending toward the negative, repeat steps #1, 2 and 3.

You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.  ~Michael Jordan

Would you like to create a life you love doing work you love? If you enjoyed this article and would like to claim your FREE e-book with 5 TIPS to help you find, create and profit from work you love, click on the link to gain access and you’ll also receive my newsletter, filled with helpful tips to help you master the career transition journey and first dibs on all classes and teleseminars.

This post was written by Charlene Nora, your Career Change Mentor and Profit From Your Passions Coach on 06/06/2011.

6. Fear of emotional pain. Rather than incapacitate us, painful feelings can sharpen our sense of joy and gratitude.

7. Fear of expressing feelings. An authentic life means being willing to express our true feelings to our loved ones, colleagues, and even ourselves. How is it helping you to be afraid of expressing yourself? Make the effort to deliberately reject the notion you need a majority or popular opinion to have a successful life.

Fear Has You Stuck?

8. Fear of intimacy. Emotional intimacy—really being seen by another—can be as scary as sexual intimacy.

9. Fear of the unknown. The unknown can be exciting and vast if we shift our fear to curiosity. Following your passions on your path to profit require you to awaken your creativity by being curious. Are you willing to become curious about your interests? Are you ready to discover what you don’t know about what you don’t know?

10. Fear of success. More responsibility, more attention, pressure to perform can be frightening when we don’t believe in ourselves. SO what’s the antidote for the fear of success? Boosting your self confidence and self-esteem.

But just what is fear anyway? Defined as a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. Concern, anxiety and anything that causes the feeling of being afraid. Notice here that the FEAR is real or imagined and causes you to experience the feeling of fear. Within the context of career transition, most of the times, the fear is imagined.
We interpret the change we’re facing as a risk, as a challenge to our current existence (although we harbor that feeling of dread when we go to a job where there is no passion and or motivation) and if the Fear wins, we stay where we are, frozen in time, wishing we could move on but never taking action to acquire the knowledge we need to get over the fear of rejection, failure, or even success.
How do you get over the FEAR?

• Get Clarity- what is the fear? What is painful, missing or unsatisfying? 
Choose to focus on the answer you need to get over the fear. For example, if you’re afraid of marketing your new venture, learn the essential pieces of a marketing campaign.
• Visualize where you would like to be! Valerie Young calls it the Life First Work Second Approach to Career change. If you were doing work that added value, meaning and significance to others while being handsomely rewarded, what would that look like?
• Make A Decision. Whether it’s to make peace with your situation OR to finally get the tools you need to change course. In the Secrets of Multimillionaire Entrepreneurs, David Neagle states ” …when you make your decision, say this, “I will follow my desire. I will step into this greatness, and I accept everything that comes along with it.”
• Let Go – Pressing toward a dream or goal you have will require you to let go of what has been holding you in place. If you think you may experience some temporary losses how will you minimize them?
• Take Action – What is the action you can take right now to get you closer to achieving your goal of working at what you love.
When are you going to take that action?

“Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.” ~ Unknown

Would you like to create a life you love doing work you love? If you enjoyed this article and would like to claim your FREE e-book with 5 TIPS to help you find, create and profit from work you love, click on the link to gain access and you’ll also receive my newsletter, filled with helpful tips to help you master the career transition journey and first dibs on all classes and teleseminars.

This post was written by Charlene Nora, your Career Change Mentor and Profit From Your Passions Coach on 5/31/2011.

The truth is you are only born with 2 fears: fear of falling and loud noises. Every other thing that you’re afraid of, is learned. And if they’re learned, then you can un-learn. The point: There’s nothing to fear when starting (or growing) a small business.

Below are the TOP 10 fears I’ve seen with clients who are seeking a career change and prevent them from taking action to doing work they love.

1. Fear of being judged. Needing approval from family, friends or peers can keep us from going after dreams and goals. But what if your family, friends and peers have never done anything that was “outside of the box”? Can their opinions really shape your future? Should it?

2. Fear of rejection. Rejection just means that someone else has a different opinion. I see this fear commonly with my clients who have a great business idea but fear asking the sales and marketing portions of growing a business. Taking rejection of your service (or product) personally keeps you from sharing your gifts with someone who would benefit from what you have to offer.  Often with information and applied knowledge the fear diminishes.

3. Fear of embarrassment. Making mistakes publicly is awful only when we let ourselves feel ashamed.

Fear Has You Stuck?

4. Fear of being alone/abandoned. A strong sense of self-worth and what we can offer the world reduces this fear. Have you tapped into what special gift you possess and how you can offer the world and still be financially rewarded? Have you found a group of like-minded individuals who can support and encourage your growth?

5. Fear of failure. A biggie for most of us and born of the notion that it’s not OK to fail. But the fact is: everyone who has ever enjoyed any measure of success has had a failure or two. But as Maya Angelou would say, when you know better you do better. Follow Henry Ford’s advice and begin more intelligently- again.

Do you recognize any of these fears in your life? What opportunities have you passed on for fear? If you would like to demolish the fear and capture the opportunities that are in front of you be sure to claim your FR’EE Idea to Income Strategy Session. At the end of this session you will:

• Create a crystal clear vision for the work you were born to do (hint:it won’t even feel like work)
• Uncover hidden challenges that may be sabotaging your success with transitioning out of your current job and into your dream career.
• Leave this session renewed, re-energized, and inspired to get hired now in the most rewarding and fulfilling career path you’ve ever had.

In an interview late in his life, the psychologist Sigmund Freud was asked to expound on what he felt were the most important constituents of life. His answer? “Liebe und Arbeit.” Love and work.

This is hardly a surprise: For most of human history, the meaning of work and the meaning of life intersected at survival. Work was life. When cheap energy and mechanization started us down the path of staggering increases in productivity, some philosophers and visionaries began speculating about how we would use the extra “leisure time” we would gain from all this productivity. The reality has proved much different than projected. How do we spend the “extra time?” We work. And the more advances in technology we see, the more we work. Emails, blackberries – smartphones it only means we work even when we are not at work. Could this be why most people are questioning the chosen career paths? But what else could you do?

Find Your Genius

Ultimately, the meaning in your work isn’t whether the enterprise you work for is local or global but how closely the work you perform is in alignment with what author Dick Richards labels “your genius“. In his book Is Your Genius at Work? Richards uses the term to mean that unique intersection between what you are good at (your gift) and what you love to do (your passion). As he explains it, you have just one genius, it is a positive talent, and it can be described in a two-word phrase such as “Engaging the Heart,” or “Optimizing Results.” While his rules may be a little rigid, the point is well-taken: Your genius is a transitive verb, not an adjective. It’s about doing something, not being something.

Your Career Change Path

While I think the thought of ONE genius is rigid, the generalization is true in that we all possess one, maybe two things we do better than others and it comes so naturally to us, we tend to overlook our genius. Dan Sullivan poses this interesting question to anyone contemplating a career change and wanting to create a successful life – “What would your life be like if you could get to the essence of who you are and what you’re about? What if you could focus on doing what you’re best at and love to do most? ” Can you imagine the value you could add to others? I see your increased energy, commitment and motivation to your work.  I see the impact you’ll make in the world!  Do you know what your unique ability is? Would you like to find out? It’s one of the things the people I work with discover and then choose to build their life on. It’s the key to a successful, ideal life.

Once you have identified your unique genius, your unique ability, the thing only you can do – the challenge becomes how to find that often-elusive intersection between your genius and that “unmet need” in the world, so that someone will pay you to work in a way that uses your genius. But by identifying and labeling your genius, Richards says, you gain in confidence and in the ability to articulate just how you can contribute in those situations. Your heart gets into alignment with your work, and suddenly work looks more like play.

What is the meaning of meaningful?

To answer questions like that, take the Alarm-Clock Test. If the alarm clock rings and you’re already out of bed getting ready for work because you are thrilled by what you’re doing and each new day on the job is certain to provide some worthy experience, then the chances are pretty good that you’re somewhere near that sweet spot—regardless of the size of the enterprise that employs you.

But if you’re failing the Alarm-Clock Test—not some of the time, but all the time—looking for a different kind of work makes sense. These days, more and more people in that situation are turning toward self-employment opportunities as the key to matching up purpose with genius. All the challenges of figuring out what to do and how best to do it come along with that change.  But that change should not be feared, rather it should be embraced because 10 years from now, when you’re looking back on this day as you sit at your desk feeling hopeless and trapped you know the action you need to take TODAY.

Wanna create a life you love doing work you love? If you enjoyed this article and would like to claim your FREE e-book with 5 TIPS to help you find, create and profit from work you love, click on the link to gain access and you’ll also receive as my bi-weekly newsletter, filled with helpful tips to help you master the career transition journey and first dibs on all classes and teleseminars.

Are you an ACTION TAKER? Then feel free to schedule your FR*EE Strategy Session with me by scheduling a time for us to Get Acquainted by Clicking on this link. In this session you’ll:

• Create a crystal clear vision for the work you were born to do (hint:it won’t even feel like work)
• Create a sense of clarity about which path you really want that supports the life you’re craving.
• Uncover hidden challenges that may be sabotaging your success with transitioning out of your current job and into your dream career
• Leave this session renewed, re-energized, and inspired to get started finding and creating work you love.

This post was written by Charlene Nora, your Profit From Your Passions Coach and Career Transition Mentor, on 05/16/2011.

If so, you may be wondering if you can make a fresh start without having to start over.

The good news is, YOU CAN! and here’s how:

Feel Your Feelings…
Get angry or frustrated or confused or scared or excited…. It’s natural. It’s even healthy and most of all it’s okay to be scared, nervous and even frustrated. Also no need to deny any enthusiasm. Respect your feelings, but don’t allow your feelings to dictate what you want in life. Move forward. The truth: what you’re feeling is FEAR. It’s the worries about the bills and the

Want to stop feeling burned out?

un-certainty of that pay check. “If you feel major resistance, it’s a sign to stop and dig deeper,”  says Joy Tanksley. Pushing through the resistance can lead to losing “contact with our authentic selves, which means we lose contact with our purpose.”

What Do You Have?
Ask yourself (or someone you trust):What do I do better than anyone else? What do people most compliment me on? What do I own or use that makes me unique? Did you know Steve Jobs only successfully completed one class in college? Calligraphy. Today his company, Apple, is built on strong, user friendly graphics. I think he took his passion for calligraphy and turned it into a company worth 25 billion dollars. What are you passionate about? Make the time for yourself to perform an inventory and think beyond your work experience and the skills you’ve acquired but make an exhaustive list of every gift, talent, ability, aptitude or expertise you possess. Find your unique ability and use it!

The Value of Values
Discovering what we value can be elusive especially under the influences of the “shoulds” from society and loved ones. Ask yourself, what is most important to me? Security? Freedom? Independence? Money? One of the most common misconceptions about being successful is having money be the only measure of success. Create your own definition of success based on your values. Create your own image of what you want your life to look like. Living a life of integrity and value is the only way to truly feel good about yourself. Transitioning to your career path based on your values will keep you in alignment with your true purpose in life and will, ultimately, bring you greater happiness and greater reward($).

Transfer-able Skills
Instead of starting something entirely new, you can start by building on what you already know/ have done. Of course to avoid being in the position you are in now, focus on those skills you enjoy using. If you’re an accountant try a transition into independent financial planning; from real estate agent to tour guide, etc. If it worked for you in the past, it could serve you well now. If you crave more control over your time, your schedule and would like to be your own boss, then consider a Profit From Your Passions Consult, by booking your FR’EE Idea to Income Strategy Session here.

What’s the Real “Secret” to Reinvention?
The real secret is focused ACTION on the opportunity that’s right in front of you. It’s  the only way to find out if your reinvention is possible and “profitable”. Volunteer, job shadow, temp or take part-time work in a field / business you’ve always been curious about as a career path. The best place to start is to follow whatever you’re drawn to—trust your instincts. Saying “yes” to all opportunities is a powerful expression of self-confidence. It attracts more (and better) opportunities and choices (—you can always change your mind.) What can you say “YES” to today?

Find Support
You’re not alone. There are others just like you and going through the same feelings you’re going through. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, rather asking for help is the fastest path to getting ahead. There are always others in a similar position as you. This is no time to be isolated. Barabara Sher once said that “Isolation is the dream killer!” Networking with others via job-hunting groups or small-business groups leads to new opportunities. No person you currently admire or respect has ever achieved their success without the help of mentors, friends and trusted allies.

Turn Lemons into Lemon Meringue Pie
Fill in the blanks: “If I had no possibility of failing and were thus guaranteed of success I would be / do ……..…” Is the answer what you are doing now? If not, could this transition be the time to make a significant change?

Wanna create a life you love doing work you love? If you enjoyed this article and would like to claim your FREE e-book with 5 TIPS to help you find, create and profit from work you love, click on the link to gain access and you’ll also receive my newsletter, filled with helpful tips to help you master the career transition journey and first dibs on all classes and teleseminars.

This post was written by Charlene Nora, your Profit From Your Passions Coach and Career Transition Mentor, on 04/25/2011.

Meet Jane. Jane is nearing 50 and has followed one career path her entire life. Although she hated it 5 years into it, it’s what she knows, it’s what she’s comfortable with but now the children have grown, the industry doesn’t look the same and she has so many passions, she’s overwhelmed by the various ideas. Although each choice makes perfect sense to her, her family, friends and even co-workers keep asking when she’s going to get serious and stop day-dreaming.

Is Jane the old woman in a shoe, who had so many ideas, she didn’t know what to do? Do you sometimes feel like Jane?

Which way do I go?

How do you know if you have too many passions?

• Do you become excited by many things at once? Often accompanied by difficulty choosing?

• Do you relish a new challenge? But once challenges are mastered, you are easily bored?

• Do you fear becoming trapped in the same career or activity for life?

• Do you have a pattern of quick, sometimes unsatisfying flings with many hobbies?

If you answered YES to any or all of those questions, you are described as a Renaissance Soul as named by Margaret Lobenstine, author of The Renaissance Soul–Life Design for People with Too Many Passions to Pick Just One. Quite simply, if you keep changing your mind about what you want to do and don’t do anything at all, then it’s ok – you have a lot of interests. That’s all. There’s nothing wrong with you and who says you have to choose one?

The old saying: Jack-of-all-trades, master of none! reveals the bias against those who choose a varied work life rather than committing to a unidirectional path. There was a time, however, when society admired such a person. In fact, some of our greatest contributors have been talented in a variety of areas.

Leonardo da Vinci, painter of masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa, also designed and built bicycles, canals, musical instruments and flying machines. More recently, Maya Angelou, best known as an author and poet, is also a successful songwriter, journalist, actress, singer, dancer, civil rights worker and professor. And she speaks eight languages!

There is Nothing Wrong with You

People who recognize themselves in that description often feel that something is wrong with them, that they’re not normal. They may be accused of an unwillingness to be grounded.

If you fit the above criteria, take heart. Support is available to help you embrace your strengths and stop trying to fit into the mold of someone you are not. In fact, your traits make you an ideal candidate for work that requires flexibility, adaptability to change, and a broad skill base.  If this article resonates with you, then now may be the time for you to get the support you need to stop trying to be a square peg in a round hole.

Renaissance Souls are often ideal entrepreneurs since they typically wear many hats in their own business. Because of their multifaceted abilities, they may also adapt better in today’s shifting financial climate and global economy. What’s more, their passionate nature and curiosity are truly an asset in any arena! If you would like to become your own boss, based on your varied interests, consider taking action by first booking your FREE Profit From Your Passions Consult.

How to Handle Your Passions

Begin with performing what I like to call a brain dump. List any and all of the things you like to do or are interested in doing. Surround yourself with a positive support team comprised of mentors, coaches, friends and family who are supportive and at least have some idea of what you’re trying to achieve and will celebrate you for who you are and not what you should be. Remember the old saying, “…don’t ask for directions from someone who have never left home … ” Discover and investigate the various ways you can choose to combine your interests into a possible income stream. For example if you love animals, love to be outdoors and enjoy working with older people, ask yourself how can I make money working outdoors with animals and seniors. Don’t ask Can I make money – the first question is always HOW.

Often all it takes is a shift of attitude to embrace your renaissance nature. Learn to honor its ways and you may find that your many talents lead you to a fulfilling, profitable passion-filled life. Often all it takes is getting your hands on the HOW to lead you in the right direction.  

Wanna create a life you love? Then claim your FREE guide to weekly tips by clicking on the link to gain access and as a gift you’ll receive my FR’EE e-book to help you turn your career from dull to exciting.

This post was written by Charlene Nora, your Personal Development Coach and Career Transition Mentor, on 04/11/2011.

• If you aren’t clear where you are going, it’s extremely hard to arrive at your destination.

She made this career change because she had realized after many years, the career path she chose in college just wasn’t turning her on anymore. In fact when she chose that career path, she knew deep inside this is not what she wanted but she was “sensible”  and “normal”. Does this remind you of anyone you know? Roz is getting ready to tackle the Indian Ocean and along the way has discovered:

• Living life according to your values makes you happier than a big income and lots of things.
• Caring more about what she thought of herself more than other people’s opinions is the key to success.
• Intellectually,  emotionally and intuitively,  we have to look after our planet if we want it to look after us.

But what if you love your husband, your home and even your little red sports car? What if the only thing that saddens you and leaves you empty is your job? Can you possibly look after the planet and make money doing what you love? Absolutely!

In fact in my Earn Green Go Green Telesummit, (happening the week of Earth Day -April 22nd)  I’m bringing together leading experts in various aspects of the Green Economy to help you focus on your commitment to look after the planet while allowing you to earn green.

Various reports ranging from the local media to Business Week suggest the jobs of the green economy have the power to redirect our current path of environmental decay and create economic opportunity. It’s believed the emerging green economy is capable of producing more than a million jobs, and it’s not only with industries but also creative entrepreneurial pathways as well . It seems the movers and shakers of our day are committed to mining the opportunities that are available, even Richard Branson is going to be participating in the second Creating Climate Wealth Summit, co-sponsored by the Earth Day network.

If millionaires like Richard Branson, Strive Masiyiwa and Michael Haas are engaged in these discussions, shouldn’t you consider exploring the various options available to you? Whether you’re looking to just start a business on the side with little to no start up costs or you want to share your message with the world, I’ll be hosting this line-up so you can see and hear for yourself just what the green economy has in store for you.

Be sure to claim your seat on this informative, high-content teleseries by clicking on this link and claiming your FR’EE spot today!

If you would like to gain the tools necessary to grow your business, to guarantee you can work where you want, doing what you love,  be sure to sign up for the Great Job Escape Plan and get access to Finding Your True Calling e-book. A 100 page workbook full of inspiration and exercises to get you to where you know you belong.

This post was written by Charlene Nora, your Personal Development Coach and Career Transition Mentor, on 04/03/2011. To claim your FREE guide to weekly leaps of faith tips click on the link to gain access and claim my FR’EE guide to turn your career from dull to exciting.

1. John Maxwell said it best earlier this year when he said, “If you want to make 2011 your best year ever, create value by adding value to yourself and others.” If your interests, your gifts, your talents are not being used to add value to others, that payday will not come any sooner. Your passion has to make a difference (or solve a problem) if you’re going to get a paycheck doing what you love. So if you are thinking about starting a business and making the leap to becoming self-employed what is your answer to the question: What Difference are You Passionate About Making in Others’ Lives? Valorie Burton believes purpose for your passion, “…attracts opportunities that often lead to… new business. To turn your passion into profit, you must fulfill a purpose that others need or want.”
2. Embrace what you don’t know. Because what you don’t know you can learn or better yet, get someone else to do it for you. As an entrepreneur you will be wearing many hats, you’ll be the Marketing, Accounting, Sales and Customer service department. Yet for many, they stay in jobs they hate, dreading the alarm clock, cringing at the thought of their boss demanding another request – which you see no value in – because they lack marketing knowledge, or are uncomfortable with the sales process. Recognizing what you don’t know is the first step. The next step is to learn because it isn’t enough to have talent. In the early stages of your business, improve your skills and knowledge. Those who do will go above and beyond others in their field. Those who do will live the future they were dreaming about because they created it.
3. Know How to Make Money. If your initial goal is to replace the income from the job you hate, then don’t be afraid to ask for help or seek out the knowledge about how best to do that. While having passion and purpose is a key to attracting money, making more money also means not being afraid to ask for what you are worth, investing in yourself and spending wisely. Take classes, read books on the subjects you’re hazy on, and learn lessons from those who are where you want to be.
4. Be Profit-Driven. I know money isn’t everything but when you are in business, the pillar of success is your ability to make a profit. In the beginning, you may struggle to choose or find a profitable niche (target market) but it becomes easier when you can answer these 3 questions:

• Is my market accessible? meaning, can you find your clients in large numbers and inexpensively?
  

  Get clear on Your Market

• Is my market viable? meaning is the market you’ve chosen large, projected to grow.
  
• Is my market willing to invest in my business? if you are going to move your hobby to a business, are your potential clients willing to spend money on what you’re offering.

5. Take a Leap of Faith. Fear is the biggest obstacle to pursuing your dreams. The majority of my clients initially insist it is a lack of money, or time, or marketing know-how, or not being comfortable closing the sale but I’ve found the root is fear. It will hold a person in a situation they’re not not happy about and rob them of the future they crave.

What is it that you’ve been wanting to pursue that you’ve been hesitating about? Take baby steps if you have to, but be willing to step out on faith. If you do what you love the money WILL come. Do what you love and create a profitable, passionate business you’ll leap out of bed to do every single day.

If you would like to gain the tools necessary to grow your business, to guarantee you can work where you want, doing what you love,  be sure to sign up for the Great Job Escape Plan and get access to Finding Your True Calling e-book. A 100 page workbook full of inspiration and exercises to get you to where you know you belong.

This post was written by Charlene Nora, your Personal Development Coach and Career Transition Mentor, on 03/28/2011. To claim your FREE guide to weekly leaps of faith tips click on the link to gain access and claim my FR’EE guide to turn your career from dull to exciting.