Poised for Success: Believing in Yourself!

Technology Everyone assumes what you do in your academic career will turn into a passion, if it isn’t already. That’s so far from the truth. I played six different instruments in high school. I taught myself the instruments, and I eventually became the only female in an all-male jazz band. I turned a passion into an opportunity that allowed me to travel the world. However, I majored in chemistry in college, and the reason had nothing to do with personal passion. (It had more to do with a guy I liked, but that’s a different story.) Outside of the world of chemistry, I studied algorithms and graphic design, and I eventually began coding. Those were more of my passions. I used my academic experiences and training to shape one facet of my career, but they also fostered a connection to what would become another trajectory of my professional career, which is currently being the CEO of three IT startup companies.

will open up? Are you ready to take action right now on something? If not, here are the tips I recommend to prepare yourself for the moment, when it happens (and it WILL happen).

Define your passion. Do you know what your passion is?

It’s that one thing that, even if you were never paid to do it, you’d jump at the chance to do it every day. It makes you smile inside and out, and it’s something you have an emotional connection to. It may be decorating, teaching, hiking, ANYTHING. Take some time to discover what that driving desire is and think about why you love doing it. Breathe life into your idea. Once you have discovered your passion, consider how you can monetize it. Map out a business idea (not business plan) around your passion. Is it something you will do alone, or can you do it with a group of people? Will it impact your personal life? How much will you need to invest? Will it require a brickand-mortar distribution site, or can you do it online? Ask yourself a million questions, even the hard ones, regarding how to realistically make this a business. Think through your process because success will only come when you determine how to execute your idea precisely and specifically.

Christine Burkette CEO, Promising Integrations Consulting Firm, Inc.

What is my point? Yes, you may have a degree. And yes, you will always have your educational experiences. But you don’t necessarily have to be tied to that training or resulting job for the rest of your life. Why? Because every aspect of your life will involve some aspect of your true passion. The question is, are you poised right now to make the most of the opportunities your passion

Consider how your passion can impact others. What you decide to do will absolutely help to sustain you financially, but your success should inspire others to pursue other positive actions, either for themselves or others in the community. Passion is attached to your heart’s desires, and that drive will inevitably resonate with someone in an aspirational way.

Anything, and I mean ANYTHING, that you’re passionate about can become a successful enterprise. If you love decorating, offer to be the event planner for someone’s event. Then, knock it out the park! If you enjoy dining out, be a local food critic with blogs or review. The ideas and opportunities are limitless. It will take time, creativity, and planning, but let passion win out. Success and happiness are inevitable if you do. 