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Originally Posted On: https://www.pmtoday.co.uk/how-to-turn-your-passion-into-a-career/

Everyone has to work to pay their bills, afford to do the things they love and participate in society. You will likely spend a lot of time working, so it is important to find something that you enjoy.

If you are stuck in a career that you don’t love, it might be a good idea to see how you can turn one of your hobbies, or passion projects into a new career. What’s better than spending your time doing something that you love, and getting paid while doing it?

Making the change isn’t going to be easy. Instead, it is going to be a journey of challenges and valuable lessons. If you are thinking of turning your passion into a career, here are some top tips to help you get started.

#1 Gain valuable experience

When you practice activity as a hobby, it is going to be very different when you have to run it as a business. This is because as a hobby, you get to show up on your own terms, enjoy it and then get on with your life. When it becomes a business, there are going to be a variety of different activities that you have to undertake, and people that you are responsible for.

For example, if you want to become a personal trainer, you will go from being responsible for your own workouts to being responsible for helping a range of clients meet their fitness goals. Alongside this, you will have to market your business to help you obtain clients, complete administrative tasks and keep on with your finances.

It is therefore important that you find a way to gain valuable experience. This will provide you with insights into what running your own business is like, and make sure it is the right choice before you jump into your new career. See if you can find professionals in your local area and volunteer and gain hands-on experience. You will also be able to see for yourself what it takes to run the business and ask them questions.

#2 Make a plan

Once you have gained experience and are certain that it is more than just a hobby for you, you should make yourself a plan.

This should include what your business is going to entail, its mission and values, what services and/or products you are going to supply your customers with, your business model, your short-term goals and your long-term goals. From this information, you can create milestones that will serve as a guide. This will help you to understand what steps you need to take, to get to where you want to be.

There are going to be a variety of different tasks that you need to do before your business can get up and running, for example, you may need to gain the relevant qualifications, obtain insurance policies, register your business, and much more. A plan will keep you motivated and ensure you can stay on track to building your new, successful business.

#3 Obtain the necessary qualifications

In some careers, qualifications are necessary to be able to provide a service or a product. Therefore, you must obtain this before you set up your business and carry out any services or make any sales. This is vital to ensure your business is legitimate, to ensure that you remain compliant and to keep the safety of your customers at the top of your priority list.

For example, if you want to become a personal trainer, you will need to find level 3 personal training courses to ensure that you are handling clients with care, as you will be responsible for their health and wellbeing.

Qualifications aren’t always necessary in every profession, but they can come in handy to show your customers that you have a proficient level of skills and knowledge. This can help you build a credible and trustworthy brand. It can also help you develop the necessary skills to grow your business quickly, and compete with others in the market.

You may also need to obtain qualifications that will help you run your business, for example, take a short course in accounting and marketing. This can be helpful if you will be doing everything yourself at first, and don’t have the budget to outsource.

#4 Build your brand

If you want to turn your passion into a career, it means you are going to be starting from the bottom. One of the most important components of building success is growing a brand. Your brand will carry your purpose and vision, and provide the blueprint for how you will communicate your business to the world. With a strong brand, you can attract clients who resonate with your services or products, and therefore, futureproof your business.

#5 Register your business

When you are ready to go, it is important to register your business. This will ensure you remain compliant and minimise any issues or the risk of any penalties. A registered business will also help you build a loyal brand, as it shows you are credible and trustworthy, and customers will respect you. There are different ways you can register your business, including as a sole trader, corporation or limited liability company. It is important to choose the registration that suits your business needs and future goals.

#6 Obtain the relevant insurance

Business is vital if you want to protect yourself and your assets. If you decide to turn your passion for fitness into a personal trainer, it is likely that you are dealing with other individuals’ well-being, and have invested in a variety of equipment. Insurance will make sure that you are covered in the unfortunate event your client gets injured, or your equipment gets lost, damaged or broken.

#7 Market yourself

Marketing yourself will give your brand a voice and help you bring customers to your business. Find out where your customers spend most of their time and utilise different methods that will put your brand in front of their eyes. Some of the most popular marketing methods are search engine optimisation (SEO) and social media.

Turning your passion into your career is an exciting new journey to embark on. Follow these top tips to make sure you get off to a successful start.