Figure out what you’re an expert in and leverage this to build your business.

Admit it. You’re obsessed!

When you’re not spending every spare minute of your time working on your passion project, you’re thinking about it. 

Maybe you’re all about:

• Upcycling furniture you found on the side of the road, waiting for hard-rubbish day;
• Recreating your favourite childhood recipes with a modern twist;
• Practising mindfulness through yoga, pilates, breathwork or an exercise plan you’ve crafted, refined and honed over time;
• Propagating your immaculate roses to gift them to the humans you love most;
• Knitting epic sweaters to declutter your mind (I’m looking at you, Tom Daley!);
• Creating gorgeous, indescribable art – because the creative process brings you calm;
• Collecting beautiful fabrics and textured upholstery to attach to your uber-stylish interior design vision board; or 
• Helping your friends and family to plot their next moves, so they don’t have to do life “normal” and 9-5 until they retire.

The difficulty for so many people is that they know what they’re passionate about, but they don’t know how to turn this into a profitable business.

The thing is, there IS something that lights your soul on fire. 

There is something that you can do, and that you LOVE that somehow makes you forget time and tension and chaos and DRA-ma (darlingk!).

There is a skill that you have, or an identity that makes you, YOU! And that makes others seek you out – to pick your brain, or ask a bajillion questions, or to request help. 

But how do you leverage this passion project into a small business that enables you to make an income? How can you use your blessed skillset to pay the bills and live yo’ best life?

You figure out what you’re an expert in and leverage this to build your business.

But..how, you ask?

There’s no one right way to do this, but it all starts with your WHY.

Simon Sinek writes:

“There are only two ways to influence human behaviour: you can manipulate it or you can inspire it.  Very few people or companies can clearly articulate WHY they do WHAT they do. By WHY I mean your purpose, cause or belief  – WHY does your company exist? WHY do you get out of bed every morning? And WHY should anyone care?”

Understanding the why of anything (and everything) comes back to your story:

• What’s the story you are telling yourself?  
  • What’s the story you are selling to others?  

• Who’s the hero in your story?  (HINT: If it ain’t you, HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM! ?‍?)
  • Where are you actually going and WTF are you planning on doing when they get there?

• Why did you set out to begin with?
  • Can you adapt to unforeseen circumstances, or do you fall prey to the first bogeyman that jumps out from behind the dumpster?

Figure out what you’re an expert in and leverage this to build your business.

If you’re lucky enough to have found something you’re deeply passionate about, there’s literally no reason you can’t leverage your skills to make a living.

Use the thought-provoking story questions ☝️☝️☝️ as a guide to get started on building your empire. In addition, roll these prompters (or kick in the pants) about, to get out of the mulling about phase and into taking meaningful action. ???

Tap into your niche market:

Instead of trying to cater to every woman, man and neighbourhood dog, clarify what skill, knowledge or experience you have that makes you an authority. Take up space in this space. Produce targeted, memorable and practical content, products & services specific to your niche and become THE GO-TO guide for your ideal customers.

Create and provide value:

What do you bring to the table that is unique? How can you offer value in a way that not only makes people want more – but they tell all their buddies about your awesomeness too? Figure out what it is that your people want and need, and then find a way to provide it in a highly personalised way.

Build your brand:

The fact is, people are more likely to pay for something they perceive as being of high quality and value.

How can you build a brand that becomes synonymous with customer feedback like ‘brilliant’, ‘incredible’, or ‘the best by far’?

If you can figure this out, you are able to cultivate a strong brand presence and you’ll be able to charge premium prices that allow you to make a living doing exactly what you love.

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Like this? I’m Kate and I write about what lights me up:

?  Communication at work & home

? Creative, courageous & unconventional pursuits

? Storytelling secrets & recipes for success

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