This post is how a side project turned passion project launched my career change and led to some surprising opportunities.
In early 2020, I was laid off and was completely surprised by it. I thought my job as a merchandise buyer was safe and secure. But I was wrong and had to look for a job during a pandemic.
That's when I decided to launch a blog, a side project, to show my future employer that I could learn new skills and gain knowledge while on my job search.
This side project turned into a passion project that sparked my career pivot from a retail buyer to a writer in less than a year.
The passion project also created opportunities to speak at events, be a guest on podcasts, and be featured in news segments like NPR.
How can a passion project be the catalyst for so much professional gain? I share the benefits of having a passion project and the impact it has had on my career.
What is a Passion Project?
It's such a heavy word- passion. I would describe passion as a feeling that grows over time. It can start small but turns into something bigger that requires more care, energy, and attention.
So how does this translate into a project?
A passion project sets out to solve a problem and to find solutions to help remedy it, even if there isn't a clear end goal date.
But a passion project never starts with passion...
Start with a Side Project
My intention for the blog was to be a side project to showcase my ability to learn something new in the digital space. Simple enough, a side project in addition to my resume.
But once I started to spend time researching topics on how to search for a job during the pandemic or how to start a side hustle from home. My simple act of writing articles turned into excitement for helping other mid-career professionals who were going through the same experience as me.
The more articles I published, the bigger my passion grew for the blog.
A passion project will always start as a side project and grow into something more significant than expected.
Actionable Steps:
- Research different side projects ideas.
- Try out ideas to find out which ones you are OK with not seeing it to the end.
- After a few weeks of starting a project, if there is a lack of energy and motivation, this isn't the right one for you.
A Passion Project Pushes You Out of Your Comfort Zone
One of the ways to bring traffic to the site was to share it on LinkedIn. But I was afraid to post on the platform, fearing being judged by others or not sounding perfect.
However, I knew it was more important to share information that could help others during a time of uncertainty. My passion for assisting others superseded my fears of posting online. And over time, the fears began to melt away, and I started to post consistently.
Interestingly a passion project gives you permission to go online and share it with others. Marketing yourself can be very uncomfortable, but a passion project can be like putting on your superhero suit, giving you the courage to try new things in the name of the project. If you have difficulty talking about yourself, let the project be your way of putting your voice out there.
Actionable Steps:
- Maintain a growth mindset.
- Stay open to new experiences like posting online.
- Create a list of platforms on where your message would resonate about your project.
- Research how to optimize your time and content on the platform that would be best to amplify the message of your project.
Adds Layers to Your Personal Brand
A passion project is like building blocks for your personal brand. It can add layers and dimensions to your professional reputation online.
Posting and publishing videos on LinkedIn added a layer to my personal brand story. I showed more dimension than just a job seeker. It showed what I cared about.
This show of passion caught the attention of podcasters, news reporters, and recruiters. It created opportunities for phone calls, virtual meetings, and direct messages that would not have happened if I hadn't shared my passion project details online.
Actionable Steps:
- Share your passion with others on and offline.
- Try sharing your work on audio, social apps like Clubhouse.
- Search for other people who are also interested in your passion.
Sparked My Career Change
Once I recognized the blog's attention and interest, it sparked me to question if I should change my career from a retail buyer to an SEO writer and blogger.
The decision to make a career change didn't happen overnight. It took months for me to see the possibility of becoming a full-time writer, but it was undeniable based on all of the traction I was experiencing from the passion project.
For the first time in my career, I aligned my strengths and talent to a passionate cause. I give a lot of credit to my passion project for my personal and professional growth.
Actionable Steps:
- An article on how to get over your fears of a career change.
- Find out your professional strengths through personality tests.
Can a Passion Project Turn Into a Side Business?
Passion projects exists based on two notions.
- Solving an issue
- Fulfilling a void
Sharing your passion project online will give you information and data to learn if people are experiencing the same pain points, validating if the problem is at scale.
If you have the solution to the problem, people might be willing to pay for it. You can start it out as a side hustle and see where it grows.
Conclusion
Here are some of the benefits of having a passion project.
- Can help build a personal brand.
- Fulfill a purpose that aligns with your strengths and talents.
- It pushes you out of your comfort zone to try new experiences.
- Open your eyes to a possible career change
- Be the start of a side hustle.
- Create opportunities for you.
This is one of many articles of the Create Your Opportunities series. Make sure to subscribe to the email list so you won’t miss out on the next article for the series.
