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
affordable house cleaning Wilmette ..A Small Business Opportunities Magazine is one of the new... Read More
The key to organizational focus and helping those who need... Read More
Franchisors of home based and mobile businesses need to carefully... Read More
While driving through Pennsylvania farmland, you have probably noticed an... Read More
One major issue not being addressed right now in the... Read More
We're birds of a feather, public relations and small business.... Read More
As a teenager I worked for my father's small business.... Read More
You have spent considerable time pulling your business plan together,... Read More
If a customer owes your local business money, it's hard... Read More
Writing a business plan for a mobile car wash is... Read More
My 16 year-old daughter said, "Gee Dad! You look just... Read More
"I don't know the key to success, but the key... Read More
The FTC, Federal Trade Commission, is considering modifying the franchise... Read More
If you own a mobile truck washing, pressure washing or... Read More
Last week's question from Anthony R. on how to choose... Read More
"Inch by inch, row by row...that's the way my garden... Read More
Should your business have a toll free number for customers... Read More
Business card size works well for invitations to special events.What... Read More
Business checks are available in many styles and varieties. They... Read More
What is in an information plan?Before you even meet with... Read More
Are the promoters and consultants destroying the market for Reverse... Read More
More sales and more profit. Isn't that what you want... Read More
What makes a business relationship?What really makes a business relationship?... Read More
Thankfully, most of us will never find out. That is... Read More
Many people ask how many graphs or charts they should... Read More
quick home cleaning Northbrook ..Starting a business? For many people, the bravery to venture... Read More
You've heard it before; we're living in an information age.... Read More
What is the satisfaction & expectation review of the business... Read More
"The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing... Read More
Costs of over regulation and over disclosure end up hurting... Read More
When a regulator finds a target to go after to... Read More
When is advice free and when should you charge for... Read More
Car wash businesses are unique to other businesses. In fact... Read More
There are no "rules of thumb" in the pursuit of... Read More
In today's economic climate, the first priority for the small... Read More
A career coach could be simply defined your job seeking... Read More
Company mottos can easily be printed on a business card.Sometimes... Read More
Running a small business requires many skills. However, to do... Read More
How do you sponsor an event and get personal introductions... Read More
CARD SHARK7 Card Tricks That Improve Your Personal Networking PowerThe... Read More
A corporate shell could be liken to a house that... Read More
Many self employed professionals find themselves overwhelmed, frustrated, and confused... Read More
When a person knows and knows not that he knows.... Read More
Are you a home or small business owner and you're... Read More
A cluttered world of marketing communications diminishes the ordinary. The... Read More
Most business owners do not think of selling their companies... Read More
Do you operate your business as a series of projects,... Read More
A few years ago, I visited Beijing for the first... Read More
Your product is dying. With the same inevitability that we... Read More
How many hours do you work a week? When was... Read More
Small Business |