I’ve got a new video coming out about turning your passion into a paying gig. To promote it, I visited Sirius radio station offices (just minutes after Jessica Simpson left the building, ho hum), and spent time with career coach and Martha Stewart radio show host Maggie Mistal.
Maggie was there with another career coach, Nancy Anderson, who penned the book Work with Passion: How to Do What You Love for a Living.
Here are a few tips she broke down for me (and all of you!):
- Finding your passion is like marriage—not a hot date. It takes time to find and grow. (Ain’t that the truth!)
- To figure out your passion, ask yourself: What would you sit around and do for free? (G-rated answers only, please!)
- Pay attention to the activities you enjoy but others might think is hard work. Are you an organizer? Can you whip up a matzah ball soup like nobody’s mother?
Your passion comes from your feelings. We’re all so in our heads, we don’t usually know how we feel. Well, except for that time each month when we women need you to step away from the premises so no one will get hurt.
Nancy also pointed out that our fear of money stops us from pursuing our passions. We have old, extreme beliefs handed down from our grandparents (who lived in the depression years, remember?) that we will be destitute if we do what we love. But come on, people! That can’t really happen. That’s what living in Queens is for! The right niche and path for us is profitable.
“From Passion to Paycheck” comes out April 2. Until then, start feeling and give your brain a Sunday break.
6 Comments for Passion to Paycheck
Julie Thoms | March 14, 2010 at 8:48 am
Maggie Mistal | March 14, 2010 at 9:43 am
Great post Ilana! I look forward to the video airing on Fri, Apr 2nd. Also airing that day will be YOUR interview on my radio show, Making a Living with Maggie on Martha Stewart Living Radio SIRIUS 112/XM 157 at 4pm EST/1pm PST.
For those who want to listen in for free, they can visit: http://www.maggiemistal.com/radio.htm
Here’s to doing work we love and making more $ than we ever imagined!
-Maggie
Hortense... | March 14, 2010 at 6:33 pm
GREAT..LOVE THIS,,VERY INSPIRING…
izzy leizerowitz | March 15, 2010 at 12:20 pm
Ilana, I have been following your work for almost a year now and although always entertaining, I think you are really coming into your own as a creative writer and blogger. Keep them coming!
Nancy Anderson | March 25, 2010 at 9:00 am
Ilana,
It was a case of serendipity for you to be in the studio that day. I very much appreciate your summary of the interview I had with Maggie, and will post it on my Facebook page and website. I think the reason feelings are not as valued as thinking in our oh so busy culture is that the mind is afraid we will miss out on something if we quiet down and focus. But if we trust the feelings they guide us to what is best for us, and those we love.
Your fans are right about you – your breezy posts are fun to read.
Warmest regards,
Nancy Anderson
Passion to Paycheck - Downtown Dharma | April 1, 2010 at 7:40 pm
[...] for Brad Pitt and former corporate guy will explain his path to become a sketch comedy trouper. And Maggie Mistal, a career coach with her own satellite radio show on the Martha Stewart Channel, weighs in on how [...]
I just love your blog. I would say a definite passion for you is writing and sharing your thoughts, your joys, hopes, concerns and worries. You inspire me!