In my previous article, Step 1, your challenge for the month was to research where your passion lies. Based on your research you might have discovered that self investigation can lead us to two places; either we find out our answer or we realize we need to ask more questions to get that answer.
Finding your purpose takes great effort, but can be effortless all at the same time. It seems that once we begin pursuing that in which we were intended, everything falls into place. But the matter we have to realize is that time plays a great role.
Sometimes people are over night successes and others have to nurture their purpose for years to come. Keep in mind though, as long as you enjoy what it is you are pursuing and the motivation you have is strong, than that alone will sustain your ambition and provide your passion longevity.
Remember you are making a commitment to yourself. You should treat that commitment the same way you would treat a marriage or devoted friendship. The key is to value yourself the way you value others. Having a good attitude from the very beginning can make the difference and not only affect your career, but the people around you. Self dedication does show and the commitment will be reflected in your professional life and relationships.
Assuming you now have a general idea of what you would like to do, now you need to visualize how to get from Point A, where you are now, to Point B, where you would like to be. Sometimes it is easier to set up a structure for your business if you look at the large picture of your purpose and where you intend to be in the future. Granted your ideas and goals change as you change, but your general purpose will usually remain the same, it just branches out.
Now that you have researched what you want to do, take the time to research what others in your area of interest have already done. Conducting market research will allow you to get a feel for the industry you are entering. It's important to see what is out there. Look up trade journals and magazines. Really put some effort into getting involved with your career and learning about it. Every career has an abundant amount of resources available and a lot of that information is free. If you see a trade journal or magazine that you like, sign up for their newsletter. This will help keep you updated on industry events and trends.
Reading and researching can be one sided tasks. Sometimes it is easier to learn about your career by actually interacting with others in the field. This can be done on your own time instead of regular business hours thanks to the internet. Now you can find chat groups, users groups, and forums and you are not limited by time zones or borders.
One of my favorite resources is Yahoo Groups at http://groups.yahoo.com/. You can look up any particular subject and find a group where you can discuss some of your career objections. This is an excellent way to network with your peers and experts in the field. It is not uncommon to find a lot of other "newbies" in these groups as well as professionals. The most important thing is to not be afraid to ask questions. If you don't know what questions to ask then reading over the archives of a group is a great place to start. Groups vary in size and subject so what I suggest is to join a couple to see which ones fit your personal needs.
Another resource you can use is ListServ lists http://www.lsoft.com/catalist.html. Typically you subscribe through your email client to a discussion group within your field of interest. You can also do a search for "listserves" or "user groups" on the internet to pull up a vast amount of sites that list an array of groups. Not all lists are treated equal so again use your own judgment when joining.
I also personally like forum communities. You can often search for "forums" online to find one in your career field. It's a great opportunity to share your discoveries as well as learn from others. Not to mention you can do several searches within a forum and read old posts. This is a great way to see other member profiles which often reference their personal or business websites. Some forums even have a 'members' section that lists all their members profiles. Any profile with a "www" by their name usually has a live link to their site. Be sure to take the time and visit these sites for reference.
When you are visiting other people's websites in your field, I advise you to check and see if they have a links page. I have found so many great resources through other people's links pages. Also it helps you get an idea of what sites you can possibly request link exchanges from in the future.
By networking with others and conducting your own market research, you will gain a better sense of direction and get an idea where it is you want to be in the future with your career. If you see a website that you like, bookmark it. Then once you have collected enough information, go back and review your favorites once more. Ask yourself what do you like about it? What information was useful to you? Was the site visually appealing? Was the site easy to navigate? If not, what would you change? What information would you add? Take notes, write your thoughts down and remember? patience plus perseverance, equals purpose.
Artist and Inspirational Author Heather J. Tait work and articles are displayed internationally. She is the founder of Silence Speaks International Artist Association and the Editor of Intrigue Magazine. Published books include, Making Your Purpose Your Business and Recognizing Unhealthy Relationships. Email: contact@silencespeaks.com Silence Speaks contact@silencespeaks.com
detailed home cleaning Lake Forest ..Your business account comes with an ATM, Debit card. Pick... Read More
When a person knows and knows not that he knows.... Read More
Most business owners do not think of selling their companies... Read More
Whether it has been thrust upon you by external market... Read More
You may be in Mail Order, Direct Mail, or you... Read More
Just when the entire state was kissing Wichita goodbye, economically... Read More
It is essential that you fully understand how the fuel... Read More
Many of us have noticed how some nearby communities seem... Read More
You know your prospects need what you sell. You know... Read More
Administrative and clerical tasks are the bane of every industry.... Read More
(Although this article is geared towards small business owners, the... Read More
Whether you operate a chain of restaurants, a mom-and-pop convenience... Read More
In many industries, image is one of the last things... Read More
Do you operate your business as a series of projects,... Read More
It has been said that the only constant is change.... Read More
Do You Really Need a Toll-Free Number for Your Business?... Read More
As small business managers, we juggle limited resources in a... Read More
Writing a business plan is a fundamental step to ensuring... Read More
How do you find the best business partners?Finding a good... Read More
If you ask most small business owners what priority CRM... Read More
TACTIC #1 -- Never simply slash your prices, unless you're... Read More
How far can you go based on your relationship with... Read More
Here are seven ways for owners of small businesses to... Read More
In franchising an individual desirous of their own business will... Read More
Anyone in business today realizes both the natural dependency on... Read More
trusted cleaning company Des Plaines ..I was floored! I couldn't believe what they were saying!... Read More
One of the best ways to make money in the... Read More
What are the 5 best ways to gain new contacts?There... Read More
You've probably heard the statistic that 95% of small businesses... Read More
Those who are in the pressure washer business should not... Read More
Database Problems in MarketingI have been working on a direct... Read More
For really tough boat hull cleaning you will need to... Read More
What is a Family Business? A family business is basically... Read More
What is the Big Race all about when it comes... Read More
You know what makes me really happy? Drinking a Starbucks... Read More
I ran a franchise company for many years, a car... Read More
The bad things starts with the letter 'O'?.like Obstacles, Obstruction,... Read More
Canon City, Colorado is known for it's 6 Prisons; State... Read More
Starting the blind cleaning business is one of the best... Read More
Franchising has made the world look really small. The well... Read More
Today required franchise disclosure documents are over 200 pages generally.... Read More
Here are some useful tips on what to consider before... Read More
One way to determine your companies mission statement is based... Read More
You have spent considerable time pulling your business plan together,... Read More
How many hours do you work a week? When was... Read More
Winning small and home based businesses today must continually shake... Read More
Does your small business have a banking and credit card... Read More
Fuel prices these days are quite high and they take... Read More
Deciding to start your own franchise is just one of... Read More
Thankfully, most of us will never find out. That is... Read More
Small Business |