Why people don’t make a living doing what they love

You've seen it before: people who make a hullabaloo about following their dreams and then end up broke, busted and disgusted. If this has made you put your own dreams on hold, here are 5 reasons why most people fail and how to avoid making those same mistakes as you strive to make a living doing what you love.

1.They don't carve out their own niche- Many aspiring singers fail for instance, because they're too busy trying to become the next Kelly Clarkson, James Brown or Michael Jackson. Same thing goes for wannabe models, writers and business people. Does the world really need what it already has? Stop trying to clone somebody else, learn from successful people by all means but project your uniqueness too. On a sheet of paper list your talents, hobbies, life experiences, educational background and practical skills. Can you infuse your culture into your work? For instance American author, Amy Tan, has made a fortune writing stories about the trials and triumphs of Chinese immigrants. If she'd tried to become the next Joan Collins she would have failed to convince her audience. Think, ‘how can my life experiences, education and practical skills contribute toward creating my desired lifestyle?' Thoughtfully write down the answers to these questions. If you require further insight, get some feedback from family and friends. Work with what you've got- it's more than enough.

2. They don't perfect their craft- You'd be surprised how many times an actor rehearses for a single movie scene or how many times a writer has to proofread a manuscript. Some dreamers think that raw talent will fetch them a fortune overnight. When crude oil is drilled out of the earth's crust is it supplied to gas stations right away? No one shells out their hard earned money to amateurs. Work on your skills so that you can compete with the best in the world. Get a guru to mentor you, enrol in a refresher course or practice devotedly. The more you work at your craft, the better it'll become and the more remuneration you can command for what you do. Strive for excellence if you want to make a living doing what you love.

3. They don't establish demand- Many dreamers assume that there is an instant market for the products and services they aim to provide. If you plan to make a living doing what you love, don't make assumptions- do some market research. Is there really a demand for your homemade scented candles? Will people outside of Hollywood queue up to buy your doggie haute couture? Test the waters thoroughly before stepping out of the boat. Hand out questionnaires to friends and neighbours, visit local shops and find out what sort of items sell best. Read newspapers and learn to spot and analyse emerging trends. Think big by all means but if you don't start small you may well be sorry.

4. They don't sell to persistent needs- You don't want to invest precious time and money crafting a product, only to find out that demand isn't steady. You want the need (for whatever you plan to sell) to be as regular as your utility bill. One can't go wrong in the food industry for instance because whatever happens people have to eat and in order to serve their customers, cooks have to buy crockery from the manufacturing industry. People who eat also have to defecate at some point and that's where toilet roll production comes in. Think strategically. Seek to meet a genuinely pressing need or at least have the ability to convince your target audience that they can't do without your offering. Again, determine persistent needs and sell accordingly.

5. They give up too soon- If it was that easy then everyone would make a living doing what they love. A lot of people have failed not because they weren't talented enough but because they gave up way too soon. Is your dream worth waiting for? Are you willing to leave (and stay outside) your comfort zone or endure rejection for the sake of what you want to accomplish? Can you really bear to live your life burdened with the pain of unfulfilled dreams? Sylvester Stallone endured poverty and abuse in his childhood. It is said that Sylvester was often beaten up by his father and advised to develop his body as he had no brains. Stallone struggled as an actor for many years but one day whilst watching a Mohammed Ali boxing match, he was inspired to write the script for the movie 'Rocky'. He finished the script in less than a week and peddled it to producers demanding that he be cast in the lead role. His persistence paid off and today 'Rocky' (asides earning Sly millions of dollars) has become one of the most loved American movies of all time.

You can take the word ‘starving' out of starving artist, you can turn any hobby, habit, skill or craft into a decent livelihood. Bored with your day job? You can change that. Perhaps you've got children and want flexible work that allows you to be the best parent you can be? Create it. Want some extra income on the side? Go for it. There's no better motivator than satisfying work. So long as you avoid common mistakes like these, you too can make a living doing what you love.

You’ve seen it before: people who make a hullabaloo about following their dreams and then end up broke, busted and disgusted. If this has made you put your own dreams on hold, here are 5 reasons why most people fail and how to avoid making those same mistakes as you strive to make a living doing what you love.

Ọgọ Ọgbata is a writer, speaker and founder of http://www.creativityandsense.com -the number one website for those who want to make a living doing what they love. A lifestyle expert, she empowers people to create more fulfilling lives by discovering, developing and harnessing their many talents. Visit her site right away for a variety of helpful articles, FREE resources and specialist business tools.

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