Have you ever had a great idea?
Maybe you’ve:
+ thought about starting a business.
+ dreamed of freelancing so that you can decide how often you work and who you work with.
+ taking a sabbatical.
But then something’s stopped you….
If you’re like most of the women I’ve spoken to…
You’ll be held back by money.
Money is the single biggest challenge women face when it comes to their careers and pursuing something more meaningful.
I mean who wants to lose the stability of a steady job? You’ve got responsibilities and you’re used to a certain lifestyle…
And having to mess with that stability can be super daunting and petrifying.
Whilst I’m a big believer in listening to your heart and intuition, I’m also a big believer in being grounded in the realities of life (aka rent, bills, being a responsible parent etc.)
So how do you balance pursuing a career calling whilst still being able to make money?
Should you focus on passion vs. money?
My core philosophy is that there are many different ways to pursue the work that you’re here to do…
…I believe that the vehicle i.e. the “how” (whether you’re a business owner, employer, freelancer etc) is less important than the vision, cause and deeper “why” behind what you want to do.
To make a choice around whether to pursue your passion vs. money you’ve got to explore two things.
Thing #1: The Internal Piece of the Puzzle (your passion)
This is about honouring what you love to do and what you’re good at.
When you get clear on the vision that’s coming forward from your callings, desires and passions then you’ve got your north star for where to focus your efforts.
For example, your heart may be calling you to:
+ Help others
+ Start a project
+ Move countries
More often than not, your heart callings are vague and can be pursued in many different ways…which bring us onto the thing #2
Thing #2: The External Piece of the Puzzle (getting paid)
Once your clear on your vision, then you can land it in the practical by exploring how to move forward towards that vision without losing site of the money.
Going back to those examples above.
If your heart is calling you to:
+ Help others: Can you volunteer your time on the weekends and keep your day job? Or can you find spearhead a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or philanthropic project/initiative at your organisation utilising the resources available there?
+ Start a project: Can you figure out a way to get paid for this project?
+ Move countries: Where makes the most sense? Can you start saving now and plan to move in 3, 6, 12 months time?
Just want to cut the chase and decide the passion vs. money debate, once and for all? Here are 3 potent questions to get you there.
Question #1: How can I make money doing what I love?
This is an important question to ask.
Switching careers? Figure out what’s the new salary likely to be…
Starting a business? Explore your business model and what your revenue stream is going to be.
Want to take a sabbatical? Go deep and ask yourself do you have the funds to take it? Do you need to earn an income? If so, how can you make money whilst you’re away on sabbatical? If not, enjoy that sabbatical, baby!
Question #2: Is there a market for what it is that you offer?
This applies to whether you want to change it go client side, go agency side, work for a competitor, switch industries or start a business.
Someone is in the market for your unique skill set and talent. Take the time to figure out if and where the market is for that.
There is always someone or something that you are providing value to in exchange for money.
I want you to think about how you’re adding value to the other person. Whether that be a company, client or a customer.
Because when you can add value to other people THAT is when the money follows.
A lot of people will say “follow your passion and that’s when the money will come.”
Whilst that works to a certain extent, you’ve also got to think about the other person in terms of how you’re adding value and who you’re serving.
It takes time to build up the skills, confidence and mastery to be able to deliver great value.
Think about this in your organisation.
My guess is that it’s taken you some time to get to where you’re at today.
You’ve probably studied, worked with mentors and coaches, attended courses, put in a lot of late nights, put your hand up for projects (for which you haven’t been rewarded). All of that has got you to where you’re at today.
All of this work to date allows you to earn your current salary. This is based on the value you’re adding to that organisation.
If you’re looking to make a career change and pursue something that you love it’s most likely going to take a bit of an adjustment.. You may not be able to replace your corporate salary overnight. You might have to build your career calling on the side, build your experience, retrain, relearn…
My point is that rather than putting pressure on yourself to have to replace your corporate salary right away which stops you from exploring your options, I encourage you to be patient with yourself….
Question #3: Can you afford to do what it is that you want to do? If not, what do you need to do to make it happen?
We all want to create a beautiful life. Sometimes we have the means from the get-go, other times we don’t. Getting into reality with where we are allows us to assess:
What needs to change to make this goal happen?
+ Is it to come up with a plan to save or grow your money and change how you’re spending?
+ Is it to take personal responsibility for the situation you’re in?
+ Is it to work on some tangible skills needed for your new direction?
Once you identify what’s needed to get you to your goals, you have a tangible action plan to get you there!
Following on from question #2, don’t put pressure on yourself to make a change right now…give yourself the time and space to explore that calling of yours. The work that you’re meant to do. Just take small little actions to test it out and how you can really add value.
And that is when the money will come.
Now I’d love to hear from you…
+ What are your biggest challenges when it comes to money and making a career change?
+ What do you think about honouring your passion vs. money?
Leave a comment for me below.
With love,
Like!! Great article post.Really thank you! Really Cool.
Thank you for tuning in!