Top 7 Tips to Turn Your Talent into a Career
Have you wanted to turn your creative talents into a career… but didn’t know where to start?
Here are some good tips to get you going in the right direction.
Top 7 Tips for Turning Your Talents Into a Career
1. Believe and promise: believe in yourself, in your talent and in your ability to succeed. “Always keep in mind your own resolve to succeed.
Promise yourself that you will do whatever it takes to get the career of your dreams. Whether you’re cultivating your talent or learning business skills, commit to doing whatever it takes to succeed with your talents. You may find it helpful (if you are a visual person) to write your pledge to yourself and frame it where you will see it daily. Be sure to date it so you can see it once you’ve “done” it.
2. Identify: Identify your truest desires in what would be your dream job. Do you want to make six figures? Do you want to work alone or with others? Hours? Trip? paid time off? Make a list of what you really want in your ‘dream career’. If you’re stumped, make a list of everything you don’t want in your dream career, and then use that list to make another list of everything you do want. Another trick is to imagine that your life was perfect, just the way you wanted it, and now five years later. Start at the beginning of the day when you wake up and write down every detail of a ‘normal day’ in your ‘dream life’. The last detail is when you go to bed that night. Then look at what you’ve written and transfer the job-related details to your dream job. That exercise is also insightful in showing you what you really want in other areas of your life.
3. Research and Brainstorm: Spend some time researching and brainstorming what you want to do, based on the list you have. Do you want to start your own business using your talents? Do you want to work for a particular company? Find out and be clear about the path you want to take with your career.
4. Goals: Using the list you’ve created of what’s most important to your happiness in a career, and the research and brainstorming you’ve done, write goals. Write down your ultimate goal for your career. You may have a couple other goals to add. Use a realistic deadline for when you want to achieve your goals. Post written goals where you will see them daily. Read them at least once a day.
5. Affirmations: Write your goals in the present tense as if they are happening now, and attach emotionally charged words like, “I give thanks that I am now making $10,000 a month doing what I love to do.” Say them out loud at least every morning when you wake up and every night when you go to bed. The more you say them, the faster you will get the results. A couple of other tips for affirmations include looking in the mirror and saying them while looking into your eyes and reciting them while alone. If you can repeat an affirmation for 15 minutes a day, you will see results quite quickly. Make sure your affirmation is what you really want.
6. Cultivate: Spend time cultivating your talent every chance you get. 15 minutes here and there go a long way. Everyone is busy these days, but if it’s something you really love and it’s really important to you, you’ll have time for it.
7. Support – Get a support system for you. You will need some encouragement and motivation from time to time. Joining a group or class of other talented people can help you win friends in your new field. Find a mentor you can turn to for encouragement, even if you don’t know the person… maybe it’s a celebrity. Avoid spending time with people who criticize or put you down. You become like those you spend the most time with. Do yourself a favor and make friends with some successful people.
BONUS TIP: Action – Ultimately, you are 100% responsible for your own life and choices. Ultimately it’s up to you whether you “make it” or not. You are not a victim. No apologies. You can do it.