Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Top 10 Reasons for NOT pursuing your passion...
The only way to take control of your life, raise your standard of living and move beyond merely surviving is to create your own unique product or service that you offer to increasing numbers of people in exchange for the things of value that you desire. This simple formula applies to countries as well as people. A self-sufficient economy has its own products or services of value to export to the world. Similarly, a self-sufficient individual has something of value to exchange in the global marketplace. That thing of value is based on your natural talent, skill, or interest-in other words, your passion!
As you proceed on your passion to profit journey, you may find yourself challenged by doubts and fears. It's only natural. While this is a natural part of being human, however, giving into those doubts and fears doesn't have to be. Here therefore, are my counterarguments for “The Top Ten Fear-Based Excuses People Give Themselves For Not Following Their Passion”
Reason #1: Will people really want to pay me for this?
If you believe that the only place your prosperity can come is from your employer, then that’s the reality that you will create. If you accept that your good and all the blessings of the universe come from other sources, and that you can create and receive wealth for yourself from any channel, then you’ll understand that you can make enough to thrive, not just survive! It's a law of the universe that people will pay for the things that have value to them.
Reason #2: I don't have the credentials.
Most successful entrepreneurs don't have a formal education or degree. If you are faced with a task you've never accomplished before, you don't need to be smart, you simply need to know what to do. Many successful passionpreneurs are simply people who knew the steps to take to go from where they were to were they wanted to be.
Reason #3: If it does sell, will my luck continue long enough for me to be successful?
The question is not whether IT will continue long enough for you to be successful, but will you? As long as you are providing value to the world, there will be people who will pay for it.
Reason #4: I don’t know where to begin.
That's a common fear. You feel this way because you feel overwhelmed by the task. The trick is to make your list of things to do and simply take one step at a time.
Reason #5: I have kids and a family to feed.
Yes, and soon the kids will have more expenses, like college tuition. It’s been at least 20 years since one or even two incomes has been enough to meet the average family’s rising cost of living. Rather than working more and more hours to make more money, wouldn’t it be easier to put something in place to decrease your dependence on a single stream of income? Your kids are the reason you want to make money. Don't let them be the excuse you use not to.
Reason #6: I’m not a good business person.
Again, that’s not a requirement. Many of the most successful entrepreneurs are "idea people" who were simply smart enough to find people who are good in the areas they aren't.
Reason #7: If I leave my job, I’ll lose my pension and benefits.
If it’s predicted that 97 percent of the population will retire dependent on family, friends and the federal government to survive, and they’re doing pretty much the same thing you are, what assurances do you have that your fate won’t be the same? Besides, no one’s saying you have to leave your job, but why not think about creating something that can create your own pension and benefits. It's my belief that no job can ever match the potential for prosperity of someone with the passion to succeed.
Reason #8: I’ll think about that when I’m older.
And in the meantime? There really is no such thing as the future. There is only now. Your future and the lifestyle you desire is created by the things you choose to do now.
Reason #9: It’ll take too long for me to be successful at it.
Ask yourself: "How old will I be in 10 years?" Then ask, "How old will I be in 10 years, if I don’t do this?" Then ask, "How old will I be in 10 years if I do this?" The fact is, the years will pass regardless of what you decide to do with your life. By not pursuing your passion, however, you’ve simply decided to pass the years unhappy and frustrated rather than in empowering pursuit of fulfillment.
Reason #10: I’ll start when I have the money to invest.
Many people assume that no actions can be taken unless and until they have a certain amount of money. In fact, just the opposite is true. Paperwork can be completed. Products can be designed. Calls can be made. Estimates can be acquired. Marketing strategies can be mapped out.
In addition, it’s been my experience that if you proceed AS IF you have the money, faith, and the divine order of the universe will bring you what you need. Remember, we live in a supportive and creative universe. And this creative power of the universe is brought to bear by commitment, is multiplied by faith, and serves men and women who go after their dreams!
And now, the big secret
I'm now going to share with you the REAL reason you're not pursuing your passion and turning it into profit. Are you ready? After years of coaching and consulting people, I've discovered that the single and only reason people aren't out there doing it is because you don't believe it is possible for you. Forget all the excuses above. It's simply a matter of your belief level. If you really believed it was possible; if you included "passionpreneur" in your self-concept, you would get the information required and embark on the journey. It's as simple as that. We do things that are consistent with our self-concept. The reason you don't smoke, the reason you do exercise, the reason you don't live in an apartment, the reason you work the job you do, the reason you do anything you do, or don't do anything you don't is simply because you think of yourself as the type of person who ________ (fill in the blank.)
Your mission. My mission. Our mission, therefore, is simply to raise your belief level and help you change your self concept so that you actually believe and think of yourself as the type of person who can make money in unique, untraditional ways. Some of the ways I do that in this book is by telling my own story so you can relate, telling others' stories, and by breaking down the entire process in ways that make sense and that resonate as doable.
That's why many people have benefited from reading and implementing the strategies in Turn Your Passion into Profit, and why you can too!
Note: For more tips on overcoming your fears, acting on your ideas, changing the game, and creating a passion-centered lifestyle, visit www.passionprofit.com!
Labels: Passion
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Why it's impossible to raise your standard of living working a job....
"Yes. It's impossible to raise your standard of living working a job."
My name is Walt Goodridge, business coach and author of Turn Your Passion Into Profit. I know that statement might be a little hard to swallow, given what we've all been led to believe about success in life, working hard and so on. So let me put it this way: It's impossible to make the sort of money you are ultimately capable of making at a job because, even if he or she wanted to, no employer can or will ever pay you what you're really worth.
Now don't get me wrong, it is possible to make MORE money at a job. You can beg for a raise every year, work more hours, or go on a constant quest for the next higher paying position in an effort to improve your life, but conditions will invariably only improve slightly. The only way to REALLY raise your standard of living is to leverage your talents, your gifts, your interests and your hobbies to create a product or service that you can sell to increasing numbers of people and free yourself from the cycle of trading time for money.
Frame it any way you like. You can start a sideline business and make extra money on the side. You can find a side hustle and increase your income during this recession. You can mine your talents and turn a hobby into a business. You can turn any of your many ideas into a home-based business that can help you survive and thrive despite any economic downturn. In other words (mine), you need to become a passionpreneur and turn your passion into profit!
"Passionpreneur" is a word I created to describe someone who has turned a passion--a hobby, a talent, an interest--into the basis of a business idea, product or service. It's something that just about anyone can do, and what my book, Turn Your Passion Into Profit was written to help you accomplish.
But I know what you're thinking: "I don't have anything unique about me that I can use to start a business."
The truth is you do. We all do. Think about this: Everything in nature has been endowed with what it needs to survive. There is no living thing that isn't inherently equipped with the skills and abilities it needs to secure its continued existence. Whether through instinct, size, camouflage or speed, no gazelle, lion or giraffe has to go to trade school to learn how to survive. That's the beauty of the divine plan. We, as humans, are part of this plan and therefore, each one of us is given something that sets us apart from everyone else; something that we can use to ensure our own survival. Before industrialization sent hoards of us to the cities to work on assembly lines in factories, we all used something we did or owned and exchanged it for the things we couldn't do or didn't own. Experts say that before the Industrial Revolution, 80% of us where entrepreneurs. The fact is, everyone has unique, extraordinary potential.
Unfortunately, because we now live in a capitalistic society, we rarely have a chance to be rewarded for the extraordinary potential we bring to the universe. Instead, as employees, we are rewarded for our lowest common denominator--something we share with just about everybody else: our time and our presence. Think about it. In your job, you're usually paid simply for showing up to a position for a certain number of hours to do a job which somebody else could just as easily do; It's this replaceability that ensures that big business--which competes on price--can stay in business. If people were compensated based on the real value of their skills and talents, big business couldn't survive.
So, given that a job has only so much potential to create financial freedom, how do you move beyond the limitations of a job? First, you need to understand something very basic and key to your success....
"Everyone has a passion"
That statement forms the basis of the Passion Profit Philosophy. It is at the core of my belief that there's more to life than working for someone else for 40 years and then retiring. Your life should be fun, meaningful, and satisfying while offering some benefit to the world.
The three types of people I meet most frequently in my Passion Profit workshops are individuals who don't know what their passion is, those who have too many, and those who have a passion and simply don't know what to do with it. Whichever category you fall into, I've provided information that can help you.
Don't know where to look to find your passion? Your passion may be hiding in your hobbies; it may be in your desire to make a difference; it may be a childhood wish. I've created exercises as well as a secret formula for discovering your passion. Wherever your passion is, the Discovery Exercises can help you find it.
Don't know how to choose your passion? Don't worry. The choice of which passion to pursue is LESS important than simply choosing. I find that the uncertainty of thinking that you have to choose often leads to inaction. The first thing to realize is that you're not making a FINAL choice, just the FIRST one. In other words, whichever passion you decide to pursue is just the first step in a journey that may lead through different expressions of your passion. Like me, you may choose to pursue say, a passion for music, which might then lead to you becoming a writer, which may lead to public speaking and eventually coaching. I couldn't have predicted where I would end up (I wasn't always called the "Passion Prophet"). But, I do know that I wouldn't have gotten here had I not taken that FIRST step.
The fact that everyone has a passion means that we all have something that we're good at; something that we're experts in; something that provides us an inner sense of freedom, happiness, fulfillment and personal expression. The chapters on "Finding Your Purpose" and "Discovering Your Passion" will help you do just that.
"Everyone passion has value"
This is the second statement in the Passion Profit Philosophy. The fact that every passion has value means that everyone can be rewarded for the pursuit of something that has special meaning in their lives.
Don't know if your passion has real value? Well, fear not. I have an entire chapter in Turn Your Passion Into Profitwith insights just for you.
According to the New York Times,
"80% of all working Americans are unhappy about their careers..."
I sincerely believe that you never fully ENJOY life to its fullest, nor REALLY have the sort of FUN life was meant to be unless you're actively pursuing your passion!!
Create a Product (or Service)
Based on research into the thought habits and creative processes of entrepreneurs and inventors, you can now follow my step-by-step guide with documented techniques for coming up with unique products as expressions of your passion. You'll get all the facts and information you need, as well as a path to follow in order to arrive at the best practical product with which to make money.
I prefer creating a product, because that way you have something that can sell even if you're not physically present. I'll show you how to create a tangible product that accomplishes that WHATEVER your passion is.
Here's part of the secret: In order to create a winning idea, you need to know what questions to ask in order to isolate the value of a passion. And you need to be able to determine what physical form or conceptual angle to attach to your passion in order to communicate that value to the world. (In other words, you need to know what people will pay for--those are the Magic Questions!) And you need access to the means to manufacture, print, create or assemble your product. All of that is provide in chapters 3 & 4.
On the other hand, there are some passions that are better expressed as services. So I've provided information on how to price your services so you can survive and thrive in business! The only thing you WON'T have, once you finish reading Turn Your Passion Into Profit is an EXCUSE!!!
"Make a Profit"
THE KEY: Once you have a business, there are only two ways to make money. Charge more, or spend less. I'll show you how to do both, in addition to creating streams of repeat-business income from your current customers!
From part-timers who make a few extra dollars, to MILLIONAIRE passion seekers who get nominated for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, the sky's the limit as to how much money you want to make from your passion! REALLY! It's all possible!
You NEED Money in life!!
Don't let anyone fool you. As long as you're living in a capitalistic society, most of the good that you'll do for others, the fun that you'll have, and the security you'll achieve will come from the money you earn.
But, I'm sure you've also heard, that it's not how much you make, but how much you keep. In order to keep more of what you make, you need to maximize your profit. In order to do that, you'll need to set up a legitimate business, launch it, and market it creatively and effectively.
That's exactly what chapters 5, 6 and 7 cover. It's all designed to help you make more, keep more and accomplish more with what you keep!
The Key to it all
The key to developing a product that sells hinges upon a profound commitment to the following belief:
"Value No One Can Match"
"If you create and market a product or service through a business that is in alignment with your personality, capitalizes on your history, incorporates your experiences, harnesses your talents, optimizes your strengths, complements your weaknesses, honors your life's purpose, and moves you towards the conquest of your own fears, there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY that anyone in this or any other universe can offer the same value that you do!"
- Walt Goodridge,
If you've visited my home page, you might already have seen these testimonials. I've provided them here for new readers, and also to remind you that these are real people who took a chance and ordered the book.
What people are saying about this book
"Thank you so much for writing Turn Your Passion into Profit. Like you said, you're never really happy until you're pursuing your passion. So I want you to know that I stepped out on faith, quit my job and wrote the novel I always wanted to write. Now I'm on tour all over the country and finally living my dream. I am very proud of me and you should be too!"--Hallema, author, Mass Deception
"I have read many "self-help" books but yours is actually instructional and answers questions. It addresses how I feel and what I am thinking...Like you said in your book, it is scary. However, I am doing what you said and am starting to feel so much better....I think just realizing that I don't have to stay in one of those 9-to-5 jobs working for someone else gives me so much courage to get out there and start doing what I want! Thank you so much for the book and the inspiration. I truly appreciate it."--Tammy van der Leest
"Walt, next to my Bible, your book, Turn Your Passion Into Profit is the book I reference the most in my house! It is the only other book that is constantly visible (it's on the dining room table right now!)..."-- Karon Mason Etienne, Maryland.
[From the Library Journal]...Libraries might find their readers better served by Walt Goodridge's Turn Your Passion into Profit , which is noteworthy for its more complete coverage and practical, down-to-earth tone and style.-
The Library Journal, Susan C. Awe, Univ. of New Mexico Lib., Albuquerque
Turn Your Passion Into Profit comes in paperback format, or ebook format, or as a 6-CD audio set. There's also a QuickStart Manual that can help you get any new business up and running quickly on the internet. You can purchase any one of these items individually, or you can order the combo package and save a few dollars.
Answer to A Frequently Asked Question:
"Does the audio cover what's in the book?"
"Yes, the 6-CD set covers the info the book and more, but as charts and personality tests, and tax forms can't be adequately transmitted in audio format, while the energy of live
events, the emotion of delivery and the thrill of hearing others talk about their passions at my workshops can't be adequately communicated in written format, I like to consider the CD a great supplement to the book, and vice versa. Get them both!"--Walt
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