How to Turn Your Passion Into a Career

If you don't love your work, you aren't alone. According to Forbes, more than half of Americans are unhappy in their jobs. You don't have to stay in this position for the rest of your life, however. If you have a hobby you are passionate about, why not transform it into a business or career path?

MJW Careers helps people find satisfaction in their professional lives, offering services like coaching and resume writing to help you find a path that doesn't just pay the bills but also makes you happy. Services like these can get you off on the right foot when transitioning to a new career.

This guide provides more tips and tools to help you make the move to a more fulfilling profession.

Prepare your mind to conquer career change.

A career change may be just as nerve-wracking as it is exciting. Prepare yourself mentally for the transition. Psychology Today recommends breaking down major life shifts into smaller pieces so that you don't become overwhelmed. Don't expect to complete your transition from employee to entrepreneur overnight. Write down a step-wise plan of what you need to do, from establishing a business entity to creating a website.

Get your surroundings ready for change.

The majority of entrepreneurs (69%) start by working from home. Set up a space where you can pursue your passion in peace with minimal distraction from kids, pets, and spouses. Stores like Best Buy have all the basic office equipment you need, like a laptop, printer, webcam, and smartphone. Save money by looking for a Best Buy coupon or two online. Hang on to your receipts for tax season. You may be able to write off such business expenses.

Define your passion.

Before you quit your day job, take the time to clearly define your passion, and consider how you can parlay it into a career or business. For example, say you love to bake. That's great! How do you want to make money out of it? Do you want to open up a bakery or establish an eCommerce platform specifically for baked goods? Consider your background to further consider what job title best aligns with your goals. For instance, if you currently work in online marketing, opening an eCommerce shop allows you to tap into the skills you already have.

Do your research.

To make your business or freelance endeavor a success, you need to identify an unmet need in the marketplace. Research what consumers want as well as what products and services similar to your concept are already out there. The entrepreneur has a guide to different types of market research you can conduct, such as primary interviews with your target consumer and data collection via the internet. Alternatively, if you are looking to remain employed but shift to a new field, figure out what skills and credentials you'll need.

Get the needed certifications.

Once you've defined the niche your product or service will address, ensure you have the qualifications and capacity to deliver on that need. Say you're passionate about cars and even build them as a hobby, for example. You've decided to open an auto body shop in your town. However, to work as a mechanic, you should get a certification. Check local community colleges for these kinds of professional and technical education programs.

Create a plan.

A business plan summarizes the financial and operational objectives of your business. It's basically the blueprint you will follow for success. Northeastern University offers an overview of factors to consider as you draft your plan, from finances to management. The U.S. Small Business Administration is another fantastic resource and provides handy business plan examples. If you aren't planning to start a business but want to transition to a new field, write down the steps to get there, such as starting with an internship.

Making a career transition is both exciting and intimidating. Follow the steps above to make the process easier. While it will be stressful at times, it will be worth it when you end up with a new job or business of your own that you are truly passionate about. And if you need more inspiration, download MJW Career’s A to Z Career Guide today!