There’s nothing worse than sitting at a dead-end job, or worse, a job that you hate. But the fact is, at some point or another in your life, it’s likely you will find yourself in exactly that spot.  Finding work you are passionate about is one of the large keys to life success.  Here is how to find your passion for a more fulfilling career (and a more fulfilling life!)

There are times when all of us when we simply need to work for a paycheck.  There are times the job you wanted was not available or your qualifications were not sufficient to be hired. 

Worse, for a great many of us, simply because of gained experience and maybe even promotions, we end up YEARS later in passionless jobs unsure even how to get out of despite our lack of passion.

You are not alone.  In fact, a recent study discovered 88% of people are unhappy in their job, with only 12% experiencing joy and passion for what they do.

Sadly, a lack of passion does more than make the day drag. It holds you back from being the person you could.  I often depresses your earning power.  And it always holds you back from your greatest success.

When you’re not enthusiastic about what you do, you’re simply not going to be as productive or successful as individual whose heart are in it and who get excited about their job.

While some suggest simply following whatever profession pays the best, having passion in what you do will light up your life with joy.  “Choose a job you love,” the saying goes, “and you will never works a day in your life.”

Being passionate about your work will help you get ahead.

Passionate People Focus

When your work involves your passion, you cannot wait to dive in to it. Your passion provides a focus and the inspiration to learn, to excel and to advance.  This kind of focus makes learning the work a joy. It also keeps you more on task, and less likely to allow interruption as you hate to be pulled away from what you love.

Passionate People Experience Less Stress

When you’re passionate about what you are doing, you are just more relaxed overall. Why would you be stressing about doing something you love? Instead, even problems become adventures and you are far more likely to feel the satisfaction of doing what you love as you get work done.

Passionate People are Creative

When you love what you do, that passion expresses itself in developing deep skills, in learning and In experimenting. This interest in your work makes you more knowledgeable and more likely to notice things. The more you know, the more you see, the more creative your work becomes.

Passionate People Get More Done

Passion is what wakes up a goal-setting spirit. You can’t wait to get things done just to see what comes next. Passion means you often put out more work, and are much more likely to finish tasks over others who are not passionate.

Passionate People Do Better

When you are passionate, you are going to be more interested in the details and will push more to “get it right” just because it matters to you. Being passionate means you’re doing a better quality of work, which is, in turn, noticed by those around you. Think about it: when a client needs work done or promotion time comes around, who would you rather look to, someone who hates their job and drags through the day or someone enthusiastic, quick to action, and gets the work done!?

Passionate People Have Fun

Work doesn’t have to be drudgery. When you’re passionate, you’re interested in what you do. This interest makes the day just go faster.

Passionate People Find Joy IN the Work

Rather than have a job you need a weekend from, find or develop a job that feels like a vacation.  Finding and living your passion can do that for you.  This one speaks for itself: when you find yourself wanting  to stay and keep going with what you’re doing, you’re definitely in the right place and doing the right thing for yourself.  That type of spirit goes lightyears towards a more fulfilling career and a far more fulfilling life.  

So how to you step out of a soul-killing job and find your passion for a more fulfilling career?

No matter how long you have been in your job or profession it is possible to change.  It is possible to both discover what you are passionate about and begin developing your passion both a lucrative and soul-fulfilling career. 

Here are seven tips to discover and ignite your spark and find your passion for a more fulfilling career (and more fulfilling life!)

1. Overcome the Fear of Change

Doing something different than what you are used to can be a scary proposition. People are hesitant to change. Being willing to face or simply step into the fear of change – feel the feer and do it anyways – could be exactly doing this that can help you find what your passions are.  No matter how long you have been doing what you were; even no matter how unsure you are, being willing to begin looking can be your first step to finding work you are passionate about.

2. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

This phrase has gotten a bit overused but is hugely relevant when trying to find your passion. It is human nature to become “comfortable” with what we have… even if we are not particularly happy with it.  When you get too comfortable with your situation, a willingness to become uncomfortable – whether that is doing work you are less familiar with (or may need completely new training to do), going back to being a student (even when you taught others in your last profession) or taking on work that none of your friends or family would have every known you liked, could be the very factor that helps you hone in on your passions. Become willing to take the necessary chances that can help you grow, even if it is uncomfortable.

3. Be Constantly Learning

Learn new skills all the time. Try to learn skills that you would not normally shoot for. At your workplace, you can reach out to other departments and ask if someone would be willing to show you how they do their job. At a community event, take on leadership roles on committees, etc. Read about new skills on your commute to work or your lunch hour.  These are very low-risk ways to experiment with new skills, jobs and careers that allows you to “taste test” new experiences.

4. Ask Friends What You’re Good At

You may be thinking that you would know best what you are good at. To some degree this is true. However, your friends often see things about you that you have not seen in yourself. Go to your most blunt friends – the very friends who DO NOT need to just stroke your ego or “puff up” your ego and bluntly ask them what they think you are good at, even if you had never thought of it before.  Do not necessarily take every suggestion.  Do dig a little why they say what they say.  And DO go to more than one friend to ask this of, being prepared for some interesting suggestions.  If you hear a couple or several of your friends suggest the same or similar career… they might just be on to something.  Again, you do not have to do exactly what they suggest, but it may be the career they suggest has aspects to it that does inspire your to find your passion.

5. Consider Your Dreams

Everyone has a dream. In many cases, we were even clearer about our dreams when we were children.  Then parents and responsibility and other’s ideas got in the way and people began telling us to “be realistic,” and “stop dreaming.”  Life happens – maybe the need for money, or a relationship, marriage or kids.  Because of this many people put their dreams on hold, sometimes for years… sometimes, seemingly, for a lifetime. Revisit your dreams that you put on the backburner. Explore what it would take to make those dreams a reality.

6. Work for a Non-Profit Organization

If there are opportunities to work with a non-profit organization that feels inspiring it can be another low-risk way to experiment with new skills, new roles and new learning.  As well, the fact that you are doing it for no money allows you to be far more selfish, ensuring that what you choose to do fits deeply within what you are passionate about. It’s usually easier to get your foot in the door for learning new skills and meeting both mentors and change-makers when you offer your services for free. And nearly always, if you do find clues to your passion, there will always opportunities to start out free and then work towards getting paid after a certain time. Begin with a concentration for simply learning, experimenting and trying out new jobs to discover your passion.  Allow the pay to be secondary while you experiment and learn.

7. Don’t Discard Hobbies

Before the Internet, it was much harder to make money from your hobbies. That is not the case today. It is much easier to profit from your hobbies. Therefore, if you are looking for a career change, you can consider your hobbies if that’s where your passions lie. It can be something as simple as setting up a blog and selling products that are related somehow to your hobby. When you do this, it gives you the ability to “have your cake and eat it too!”

The fact is, no matter how long you have been in your job or profession it is possible to change.  It is possible to both discover what you are passionate about and begin developing your passion as both a lucrative AND soul-fulfilling career. 

Do not let a dead-end or disheartening job be the end of your story.  Set out today to find your passion.  I absolutely believe in you and know you can find your passion for a more fulfilling career (and more fulfilling life!)

BONUS WORKSHEET: Download your FREE Worksheet “How To Find Your Passion for a More Fulfilling Career (and More Fulfilling Life!) ACTIONABLE STEPS” directly to your Email in-box!

If you are ready to discover your life’s passion and develop it into the career you have always wanted, reach out now! I have led thousands of people in reaching dreams just like yours. I KNOW you’re capable of reaching any success you dream of with the help of my coaching. Reach out now and I’ll even offer you the first session for free!

Start here, start now!

“Mark’s deep coaching skills are profoundly insightful. As a coach who shows up fully and authentically, there is no stone he leaves unturned to help his clients see for themselves the highest future vision of themselves and then… he goes that extra mile to ensure that they have all the support that they need to actualize that vision. I am very grateful to Mark’s challenging yet nurturing coaching approach which is a perfect balance to have on the journey to true transformation.“