How would you feel if a long-harbored dream of yours got a platform? How would you feel when people start appreciating your work and look forward to working with you?
Terrific? Elated? Excited? Blessed? Humbled?
Well, I felt all of that when I approached SHEROES a few months back with an intent to write for them. Little did I know that I would be accepted with open arms and in no time would be working towards one of my passions in life – writing.
All of us go through a phase where we trying to identify our passion. As if that is not difficult enough, one also worries how to give shape to it. My story is no different. I, like most of us, had absolutely no clue as to how I could transform a personal interest into something meaningful – both for myself and for others.
I used to write intermittently. Started blogs, left them mid-way as I juggled through the various phases in life. The pressures of higher education, work and home always gave me an excuse to procrastinate working on my skill. Somewhere within me, I always knew I wanted to do this and that I was being laidback in not giving it time. However, brushing guilt under the carpet was easier. But it was harder to brush aside the interest. A direction to my interest was near was unknown though.
Last year onwards, as part of my professional requirements, I started building my social presence. Although I was apprehensive of what kind of network I could build right at the start of my career, I was overwhelmed by the sheer warmth with which the virtual world received me. Meeting interesting people from all walks of life – your field of work or interest was so easy. Connecting with them, learning from them was now possible at the touch of an app!
It was in this serendipitous journey, did I come across the wonderful work SHEROES was doing in the space of women at work. Needless to say, being a woman, this area is close to my heart by default. I was impressed by the team’s work and the encouragement they provided to women professionals. Discovering their blog was one of the ‘aha!’ moments of 2014 for me! Here was a space that married by love for writing on a topic that I could have endless conversations about. Besides, it was giving me ready access to a community of women professionals who were all achievers in their own rights and had stories that I could learn immensely from.
All then it took was a tweet to a SHEROES team member expressing my intent to write for them. They large-heartedly welcomed me to the SHEROES family and so started my journey towards my love for writing. I now contribute on a monthly basis to the SHEROES blog – a dream for me!
It is said personal experiences and stories resonate well with people and are most powerful in driving a message. So drawing from my personal experience, here are my humble two cents on how you can start to live your passions –
1) Be on the lookout for the slightest of opportunities – rely on your personal/professional networks and be glued into what they are doing! You never know when you find someone to work with. Of course, social media makes it easy to build connections. Invest in it
2) Take initiative – If you a spot an opportunity, take action. Don’t wait. Most often, the solutions rests a phone call/email away. The first step is not always hard!
3) Keep your commitments – Once you are able to realize an opportunity, stay committed to the partnership. Keeping your commitments is the easiest way to build trust. Earn credibility and open newer opportunities.
Thank you SHEROES for giving me a platform to not only work on my dream but also reach out to many with my personal stories. Needless to say, the ability to influence even some with my experiences, gives a sense of meaning to my existence J
To all my readers – please do share your stories on how you gave shape to your hobbies/passion? Would love to read all of them and learn from your experience.
Until next time!