Following your passion and doing what you love as a career forces many professionals to take risks and encounter failures along the way. For many, this risk includes leaving your traditional 9-to-5 and stepping out on your own as you focus on creating and building your brand. While the idea of making your dreams a reality is scary to some, below are four professionals who dish personal advice on why they followed their passion and the career lessons they learned along the way.
Whitney Stringer
Director, Whitney Stringer PR & Events
On diversifying options: While I was looking to transition from one public relations firm to another, I was also being approached
for freelance projects that matched my interest. I soon decided to forgo the safe route of working with an agency to pursue starting my own company. As a publicist, I recognized the importance of being able to think like an editor or reporter so I took on a side gig as a digital blogger. Now I understand both sides.On expanding your network: I’ve found it important to have a network that includes professionals not only in my field but all fields. You never know who can be a resource. The wider your circle the better when it comes to a career!
Julian Starks
Owner, Pill Collection
Creative Director, Demeanor Clothing
Turning boredom into bossmove: Chasing our dreams and following our passion really takes a lot of faith and is actually a really scary thing to do.For me, I had a good job, making good money as a budget analyst but I was unfulfilled. I was bored at work and really dreaded going in. I reached a point where I simply decided that I had to ‘go for it’ which meant I needed to share my artwork, so I built a website and began to share my art on various social media sites.
On turning passion into profit: Do your research. It’s important to know if you can actually make money off your passion. Search on Google, so you’ll have an answer. I knew that I could make money off of art one way or another. I could sell paintings/prints, apparel and accessories, or I could freelance. I do all three.
Deanna Jefferson
Celebrity Personal Trainer
Owner, Fab Body Factory:
Channeling childhood pastimes: I was always enrolled in something to keep me active. Sports and physical activities were a part of my lifestyle. In college, as a competitive cheerleader, I started to take fitness more seriously. I turned it into my major and have been on a mission to get people fit ever since.
Boss-moves branding: Figure out your target market’s needs and wants, determine your selling point, and brand it to the masses accordingly!
Yodit Gebreyes
Event Planner
Owner, Favored by Yodit
Money and market motivations: I’ve been planning special events and nightclub parties for over seven years and I love the rush of managing the multiple aspects of any event.
When the down turn in the economy hit and the entry to the nightlife market was easy it almost felt as if everyone wanted to become a “promoter†thanks to social media, so I figured I would take a risk and try something new. The first thing I did was research on possible business ideas I would want to venture out in. For months I looked at trends, the market and literally wrote multiple business plans to see what idea would make the most sense financially and independently. One point that stuck with me while doing research was the idea of “growing with your target market.”
It spoke to me; the same clientele that contacted me for VIP table service and getting on the guest lists for events were asking me for advice on wedding venues and planning ideas for their corporate/private events. So it just clicked! And the idea of Favored by Yodit Event Planning was born.
Test of wills: I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and see if I could really do it. I always had a passion for event planning, but I never thought of actually making a full-time career into designing weddings and special events. When I realized there was a huge demand for the services … I had the tools, the knowledge, and the connections so all there was left to do was evaluate my situation, plan next steps and just do it