To do work we enjoy there must be three components in place.
401(K) 2012 via Compfight
Your work needs to be in alignment with:
1. Your personality
2. Your best skills and abilities
3. Your passions and dreams
We must have all thee components to fully enjoy our work but we must also have a fourth component – a paying market.
An employer, a customer base, someone willing to part with their money in order to get a greater perceived return.
You may have a passion for collecting chewing gum wrappers but there may not be a paying market for your passion.
Often this element is one that discourage us from pursuing work we might enjoy. We think our mad skills in identifying a 1963 Wrigley’s spearmint gum wrapper just isn’t going to pay the bills.
So here’s how to know if you have a paying market.
Begin to think like your potential customer.
If you want a traditional employee job then think like an employer.
How will your skills and abilities assist them in reaching their goals? How will what you offer fill a need or close a gap for them?
The same holds true if you want to be self-employed. How does your product or service solve a problem, fill a need, or provide enjoyment for your customers?
Then test your market.
Call some employers and make your sales pitch.
Even if there isn’t a job posting. It might actually be better if there’s not a job posting – less competition.
If you want to be self-employed set up a booth at a trade show to see if anyone bites.
If your passion is collecting chewing gum wrappers maybe set up a booth at Comic-Con to see if anyone is interested.
Those are just a few examples but hopefully you get what I’m saying here.
Find a way to determine if someone will pay you to do what you want to do.
Then when you have that fourth piece in place you are ready to begin doing work you enjoy.
Question: Have you ever tested your market? Have you tried something you thought you might like? How’d it turn out?
6 Responses to “Are You Missing This Essential Ingredient To Enjoying Your Work?”
For me it’s taking tat initial step in pursuing the work I enjoy. I did a dreams and passions list, but figuring how that becomes full income is my next challenge.
“Begin to think like your potential customer.” That’s a great idea. It seems like a simple concept, but it has huge implications for a business. Thanks for the post!
It’s great Daniel that you are putting action behind your desire. You’re right it is a simple concept but it can be hard to do. Fortunately there are ways to experiment before fully committing. Thanks for your comment.
It’s great Daniel that you are putting action behind your desire. You’re right it is a simple concept but it can be hard to do. Fortunately there are ways to experiment before fully committing. Thanks for your comment.
I’m doing exactly that now. I’ve been testing the market by offering services I’m passionate about on my blog. I won’t be quitting my day job anytime soon – but it is exciting to see what possibilities are out there.
That’s great Tom. Yes, having a blog to experiment with your services is a great way to test your market. We live in an amazing time and I’m excited to hear you’re looking at all the possibilities available to you. Thanks for your comment.
That’s great Tom. Yes, having a blog to experiment with your services is a great way to test your market. We live in an amazing time and I’m excited to hear you’re looking at all the possibilities available to you. Thanks for your comment.