Change The Course Of Your Life By Starting A New Career

Thanks to guest contributor, Kent Elliot, for another excellent article:

Research shows that 85% of people globally are unhappy at work for one reason or another. While factors that lead to individuals hating their jobs include disagreeable coworkers, bad managers, toxic work cultures, excessive commutes, and lack of growth, a 2017 study showed that in the U.S.A. alone, only 13% of workers are passionate about what they do for a living.

Spending week after week performing tasks that don’t excite you in an unfulfilling position can be difficult and even soul-sucking if you begin to develop hatred for it.

On the other hand, pursuing your dream can help reduce stress, improve your mental and physical health, and offer numerous other benefits, such as enjoyment and deep personal fulfillment.

If you are toying with the idea of changing your path and pursuing your passion, keep reading.

Education And Certification Requirements

One of the main concerns with switching careers is ensuring you have the necessary qualifications.

Certain jobs, such as freelance writing, do not have set educational requirements, though additional education or certifications may help with advancement and may be necessary to work for some companies.

Others have more stringent specifications, such as a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, undergoing specific training, or obtaining certain certifications.

Business Requirements

Maybe you don’t want to just change your job description and industry. Maybe you would rather be your own boss and bring your ideas to life by starting a business.

One of the first steps you should take is writing out a business plan summarizing your vision: write out what services or goods you will offer, how you will achieve your goals, and where you see your company being in the next few years.

Next, perform a market analysis to test the viability of your idea first to ensure that there is a market for what you want to provide.

Once you’ve determined what products or services you’ll offer your customers, it’s time to put a marketing plan together. This should include how you’ll use your website, social media, and SEO (that’s Search Engine Optimization, or how to ensure your website appears on the first page of search results) to draw customers to your business.

This is also a great time to design a unique and memorable logo. Instead of hiring a logo designer, you can save by using an online business logo design tool. Choose from a collection of templates and then add your own design elements, color scheme, and text.

Financial Requirements

No enterprise can function without capital. Statistics show that 82% of small businesses flop due to cash flow-related issues.

Funding options include loans from family members or friends, federal loans, bank loans, grants, and private investors.

You also need to take care of the legal side — picking a business structure, registering your business, and acquiring federal and state tax IDs.

There are more steps, but these are the basic ones you should start with.

Before you jump into a new endeavor, ensure you have the economic ability to survive. Consider keeping your current job until you gain any needed education or start making profits.

Doing what you love for a living can ultimately improve your quality of life. However, it is important to know the steps you need to take in order to reach your goals.

You might also find this article, Blueprint For Turning A Passion Into A Profit, helpful.

Kent Elliot is a retired architect with a passion for dogs, DIY, and universal design. After a stroke left him with mobility issues, he thought he would need to move out of his home and into an assisted living community. But, using his experience as an architect and with a little creativity, he was able to successfully remodel his family home instead. The relief he felt has inspired him to help others do the same. He created At Home Aging to share what he’s learned.