I received this question via AskJoelComm.com
Joel, I can't find my passion. I have been a workaholic my whole life in areas that I do not enjoy. I don't even know what I enjoy doing. To make matters worse, my experience is not something that can become a product unless I compete with the top corporations. I have gathered and researched a lot of information on how to market, sales pages, setting up websites, etc. but still have not found that niche that meets my passion and others. Is there any insight you can provide to help someone find that niche and passion to get started with an online business?
Exploring your passion is one way to find a niche. But having a specific area of knowledge can also provide clues to what kind of product or site might be a good fit for you.
I recommend grabbing a pen and piece of paper, and writing down twenty things which you think you have some knowledge about. Feel free to write down the first thing that comes to your mind.
Then, go to three people who know you fairly well and ask them to allow you to be narcicistic for a few minutes. Family members, friends, associates... try to get with a variety of people you trust. Ask them to make a list of twenty areas of knowledge or passion that they have observed in you. Oftentimes, others who know us see things that we might not see.
Compare the lists and look for overlaps. Be open-minded. You might just find the niche that you can scratch. ;-)
I have the same problem, I have researched so much and learned allot about advertising, seo, web design, book writing, ebook creation etc. But I have no passion for anything specific, I have no niche, any niche I think of along the lines of computers or electronics are all saturated with competition already. You don't happen to plan on giving personal coaching/mentoring soon do you Joel? I don't have any friends who know would know what my niche is.
I would recommend going where the money is good :)
Joel,
I have a similar issue, it isn't so much that I don't have a passion, I have a few - I have 18 years as a corporate trainer, course developer, instructional designer, but no degree. I have a huge passion for Natural health, becoming a Natural Health Consultant 5 years ago, but again, no degree. When I ask my friends to comment on my passions and talents, they say that I am their role model as a parent, or that I always have bang on insights when asked for advice - again, no degree in that either. After training for so many years, I have found that I want to peruse Public speaking as a career path, but with out a degree in any of my passions, I have no credibility. Do I need to pick on and go get a degree at 46?
Thanks for any feedback you might have.
Vicki
@Vicki - Ben Franklin was largely self-taught. In the business world, you should know that actual experience, if sold right, it worth more than a degree. I'd suggest working on tone and confidence. You have "no credibility" because you don't present yourself as credible.
WHY DO YOU PUT NOTES AND INFO IN ORANGE,IS IT ON PURPOSE SO WE DEFINITELY CAN'T READ IT?YOUR GRAPHICS KNOWLEDGE AND COMPASSION FOR YOUR READERS LEAVES MUCH TO BE DESIRED.CHANGE YOUR COLOR SCHEME ESPECIALLY DARK BACKGROUND AND ORANGE LETTERING.ARE YOU TRYING TO BE COOL?LOL HA HA HA HA HA
I think it is a really good way to evaluate . It is somewhat like the Johari window. Thanks for the share
I the same problem I can speak Dutch German and of course English I picked up most of these off the street and I didn't get to study them as such.So like most others here I don't have a degree and it's Stopping me getting a job in translations or something like that.
Like Chris who commented ahead of me, I am fluent in English & German, but I am out of practice with my German, so it's more conversational that it has even been professional.
My parents both emigrated here in the 1960's. I was taught German as my first language. In fact, my mom was worried that I wouldn't know enough English for pre-K!
So, Chris if you would like to translate- check out tour guide companies. I'm sure they could use you.
As for my own passions...
I love to help others. That was instilled in me at an early age by my dad.
Too bad a lot of people don't always reciprocate.
Oh well, move on & try to make a difference in this world.
Best,
-K
http://www.twitter.com/kevinpuls
I am trying to find my niche in life too.... I have a passion for sports but never quite made it to pro soccer player. Am trying now to get into the Sports marekting industry but am finding it very hard to break through due mainly to the crisis in both Spain and the UK.
I also like to find my niche in life too. I am 47 and a mother of four. I have been in the insurance industry for more than 10 years and have never acheived anything in life not even high education. I have no idea what am I here for and often find myself aimlessly living. I do not like being in this situation but I really do not know what to do because I dont seem to be interested in anything. Please help.
I just wanted to comment on the people who are putting themselves down because they don't have a degree. A degree is a nice thing to have but it is not a guarantee of success. Does Bill Gates or Steve Jobs have a degree? I may be wrong but I don't think they do. The point is that people are more interested in your product or service than whether you have a degree. In fact you don't even need to have a product to start making money online. You can start out being an affiliate and sell other peoples products, courses, ebooks until you can find your niche. Don't put obstacles in your way. Work with what you have. You might not start making much money right away but you will be gaining experience which is more valuable than a fancy degree.
I think it not only depends on what niche you know better...there is people selling product they dont even know..but how they can sell?
The important thing, you must have passion to be succeed...passion to know how to make money selling other people's product.
I think being open minded is a key in finding a niche
passion follows
If you are doing website just for fun, so your niche would be what you like..if for business, don't care what niche as long as you can get money from it...you can hire someone to work on that niche for you.
Guys don't get so hung up on not having a degree. I was one physics-structural class short of an Architectural degree. I've held several pieces of real estate and two companies. I have gone from rags, to riches, then recently from riches back to rags, and I suspect I will again go back to riches and stay there this time. Recently , I just filed chapter 7 and liquidated close to 1/2 millions dollars. Yes, you heard it right. I would say that I have been more successful and rich for experiencing what I have by taking serious risk. I have been more successful and have had more money and and more fun than some people with masters. Of course I regret not getting my degree, but it has not stopped my entrepreneurial goals. The only thing I'm wondering right now is once I do find my nitche, how will I be able to start my merchant and shopping cart accounts since my credit went down the toilet for the time being. I use to have a merchant account long ago, so I know their requirements.
Does anyone have an answer for me? Thanks
Hi all, I have so many passions that I go from one the other without trying to profit from them. I have been in the music business, graphic design biz and now getting in the IT Business. I have been an inventor since a kid but never had the knowledge of how to sell anything. It would be nice to have someone tell me which one to pick. I would like to be successful at all of the talents God gave me. Help-Help!
For those looking for passion, I would ask you to remember what you enjoyed most as a kid. What were your most fulfilling hobbies? If you haven't got a hobby, find one you enjoy and can be excellent at. Try out new things, explore life, have fun! We only come around here once!
For Billy Sells, I would say invent and patent your ideas. Let someone market it for you. You just need to be able to show what need the invention is trying to meet, and that it meets it well.
i have never thought of asking people about things they think i know or have observed in me...i will try it out and see the results.
I absolutely agree that passion is important when looking for a niche, but you also need to look at your experience and skills.
Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help:
Passions:
• What do you love to do?
• What fits you perfectly?
• If you could do something all day, what would it be?
• When do you feel most fulfilled?
Skills
• What are you good at doing?
• What have you been good at since you were a child?
• What do people always compliment you on?
• What skills have you used most throughout your career?
• What skills have you used the most in your personal life?
Experiences
• What obstacles have you successfully overcome and how?
• Which of your life experiences could benefit others?
• What are three things about you that are memorable?
Expertise
• What is your education?
• What are your career highlights?
• If you could write a how-to book, what would it be about?
I wrote a 26-page report, "Ten Steps to Finding and Attracting Your Ideal Niche", which walks you through the process step by step.
Warm wishes,
Cindy
its easy... just analyse back in your daily behaviour...
when you turn on the TV or read the newspaper...what topic / show / article that attracts you the most?
and remember back ..what are the things you would be willing to do without being paid for.
that should give you at least 1 or 2 niche that you can focus on.
then use google keyword tool & google wonder wheel..and search for related sub-niches you can work on.
-newbieguideto-
Where should I start? What should I post first? Don’t know. There seems too many thoughts and ideas crossing around and around my head.
I surf a lot, and even had built couples of small-shopping-websites. I do know a few basics on how to build a website, making it pretty good looking and putting it into google search-results and so on.
But when I think of doing posting in a blog I become really-really stuck. Those ideas absorbed me and instead of giving me a push-on they push me off.
what type of job would you love to have if money wasnt a factor? What type of job or work would you do free??? That is your passion!
Doing something you enjoy without compensation. Once you know what you would do all day long for free then figure out a way to put it in a business plan and implement it - That's all!
I have found my people the Nicheless. I to have been struggling with this, but all I can say is do not give up. Start blogging about something and your niche will come. We all have something to give and share. This too shall pass(being nicheless). keep your head up and move forward.
this is a very cool way to find ones passion...never thought of it...we sometimes overlook or take for granted what we know...
Hi Joel, Good question, I just wrote on this very issue, I thought you might find it useful: "Finding Passion" http://www.aish.com/tp/b/bwb/87615947.html
If you can't become a rich with what you passion then enrich someone else with your passion. That is what life is all about. Tina
I find that I have lost passion in my life after 25 years in the medical field. I think that is why I am finding it so hard to crack the Internet Marketing Nut.
Never before have I had such trouble with any of my endeavors.
Rowena
Thank you for this post and opening my mind on how to find my nich or passion. This has made me put in paper what i really like to do and try to do it online
Thank you Thank you Thank you
Hi! This post is excellent! Thanks for sharing it. I have recently started my own blog with the intent of finding my niche over the next 12-months. I'm new to blogging, so if you get a chance, check it out. I'd love to hear any feedback, or input you may have!
Thanks again, and keep posting, I'll be back!
Lee-Ann ;)
www.lee-annsniche.blogspot.com
When you find your niech then what.
I am lost on what to do next. Would like to earn some money.
"niche", "passion"... I say, everything is nothing and nothing is everything! Just inhale World, exhale Peace... see where that takes you. BE a leader, take a risk, voice with respect for the basic dignity of others, rock the babies, make merry, make some money, buy some ice cream, take some pictures, forgive yourself, draft a plan, stick to it or break it, perfect it or fake it... just decide! Grab the reigns of your one lovely life and RIDE ;o)
If you are looking for a niche to target solely to make money online, then it is not too important to be so passionate about it. You do however need to understand enough to hold a conversation with others about the subject.
I recently started a blog and I am still trying to find a niche for it. I have a passion for teaching but I am not a certified teacher, so I don't believe I know enough to blog about it.
I now blog about general topics like personal developmet, but do I really need to find a specific niche?
I've been online for a little over a month now & my initial niche has been toward marketing products but i am becoming a little frustrated with that market & have since found myself getting more & more interested in the iphone app business to which i am now promoting with renewed vigour as this is a niche that i believe is still in it's early days & well worth getting into right now.
I too am seeking my passion. No luck as of yet. I've traveled down many different paths only to find disappointment or be left unfulfilled and wishing for something else. At the ripe old age of 49 (soon to be 50) I still do not know what I want to be when I grow up. Passions=none, although I do possess the ability to enter into a troubled business and find solutions to their problems (an yes, I too have no degree), although I do agree with selling your attributes and not your short comings, but alas, I'm here seeking advice and guidance, not to give (selfish I know). I have always entertained the wish of becoming a management consultant (but again, no credibility). I'm currently working with a major corporation and have offered my thoughts to my current supervisor which he gladly accepts, then takes credit for (oh well), I have gypsy blood and love the fact that I would not be in the same place for very long and every day would be a new day. But How? Will someone give me a chance? In this economy? I've heard the phrase "We would love to hire you, BUT, you're over qualified" (which means, we really don't want to pay you very much), I've always been told to find something I would do for free and then make a career out of it. Really? How? The world is full of advice givers who promote themselves as "experts", and here I am with different (notice I did not use the term better) ideas that would be much more cost effective. So, please help, advice, guidance, places to look, people to talk to, anything will help and also be greatly appreciated.
Hi "Cosmic1961"
I think you should take the advice given earlier and ask your most trusted friends what you are good at and for which people will respect your advice.
Richard
P.S. I was also born in 1961 and the scary 'big 5 0' is getting closer and closer!
I'm well aware of many of passions. My challenge: How do I make a living doing my niches and passions? Sigh.
Blimey, it seems everyone is as desperate as me to find their niche and passion. It's not only elusive to me but to many people.
Unfortunately, if you are anything like me I become immobilised by the stress and find it more difficult to relax or take the necessary action.
A friend said to me the other day do you ever ask for help before you go to bed at night? For some of us the answers miracously appear the following morning. I thought this was a daft question but I suppose it is no different from relaxing in the bath and having that Eureka moment.
However, I have discovered that being constantly uptight, serious and a whole bunch of other things hasn't moved me any closer to my niche.
I believe, certainly in my case, that the sense of fun and humour have evaporated to be replaced by the sense of desperation to achieve and be a success.
There are s many people out there trying to do the same thing. That in itself is immobilising.
Still we have to realise it is good to be alive and that we take it a step at a time. A step at a time with fun along the way will eventually get us to where we need to be.
To a certain extent, I have the same problem. This makes it diffcult to focus, but if we make the effort we can focus on the ins and outs of any project and maybe find our niche.
When I begin to get discouraged, I back off for a few hours or even a whole day and get away from what it is I am trying to acomplish and then start again.
I agree that backing off and clearing the air often helps. You can try too hard to find a niche - sometimes they just come to you when you're not even expecting them so just keep an open mind.
You can suffer from analysis paralysis too - spending all your time researching the perfect niche when you could have spent that time actually developing a business in a niche that wasn't perfect but was good enough.
What a cool thread this is I stumbled on! I'm selling one of my websites because after two years, I simply just have no passion for it anymore. And trying to find something else to do is becoming a real chore. I just feel like I have no passion for anything these days and it's really frustrating.
So in the meantime, I'm going to just keep doing what I've been doing for supplemental work, which is typing, and maybe expand my business website to help others get into the business and maybe that will be my next "passion." Who knows. LOL
I like what the late great David Viscott said about finding your passion. A simple method (shortened version):
1. Get: At least 500 3x5 cards. A medium or broad black felt tip pen. A straight-backed chair.
2. Turn off: Phones. Doorbell. Spouse. Kids.
3. Put chair in middle of room. Write on 1 card:
I love....
Post that card on wall in front of chair.
4. Sit in chair. On each card, finish that sentence. No censorship. No "shoulds". No thinking twice. If you think of it, put it down right away. Throw card on floor.
5. At first, cards will fly fast. Then more slowly, finally only one every 45 min or so.
6. Gather them up, put away for a few days.
7. Get them out, arrange them on a big wall or something where you can see them every day.
8. Only way to arrange: This card "goes with" that card. It's up to you alone. No spouse, no friends, just you. If you think those cards go together, they do.
9. Look at your arrangement every day. If a card needs to be moved, move it.
These are all the things that you love, and the way you put them together will allow you to see where your passions are.
And remember, do what you love, the money will follow.
Two words: Brian Tracy
Google him,read his bio;Yes,you can!
It can be hard to find your niche even when it is staring you right in the face. The bit I found hardest was asking other people what they thought I was good at, but I must admit I was surprised at the responses I got.
I find that I am a little bit interested in everything, which makes it difficult to translate to a passion. Does anyone care about a babyboomer's ideas on how to live a more fulfilling life full of learning and exploring?
Joel, I have an idea for a blog using your Socrates system. it may be a little off the standard clickbank and regular niche affiliate sites. I'm thinking of a blog with travel to the lower east side of NYC. organized tours, plane ticket bookings, etc. basically a travel site. I was raised there and now I'm living in so cal. I travel alot to the city and go to very interesting places and I never lose my passion for the city. your expertise would be very welcome at this point. thank you for your time and for an excellent blog that's both inspiring and very intelligently put together. Just like Judith's post above, starting is always the most difficult part.
I tried capitalizing on my passion. It made me feel like a prostitute. I no longer have that passion and feel even worse than before. The lesson I learned is not to sell what you truly love for you may lose it forever.
I am now 53 and perhaps have no skills that will help me find my niche. I grew up in a family that was in the restaurant business which I thought would be a fast road to success. However I was young and naive when I went to college and did not apply myself thinking I would just get into the family business. Those businesses failed and I worked for others in the same business and soon realized I hated it. I have a degree in Secondary Education in Social Studies from 30 years ago and it seems my grades were lousy when I graduated. Also the economy and my age is now a big factor and it seems no one w ill hire me as I never taught after graduation so to a school that is a red flag. Now I am totally burnt out with working in restaurants and it has caused me to lose jobs. I find myself in need of a huge change immediately but I have no idea how to achieve the one thing that has eluded me my entire life and that is a job/career that makes me feel good. Something tells me I may be too late. All I have done in my life is either bartend or wait tables with some short stints in restaurant management, retail and real estate sales. I have a degree that seems useless for me at this point. When I turned 40 I admitted to myself that my passion was acting in film but obviously that is not practical.I trained a bit and tried to become a professional actor but to no positive outcome. I feel at rock bottom and really don't know what to do. I absolutely hate going to work everyday and it causes me such anxiety that I feel sick. I know I am not stupid and can learn anything but I'm feeling that I have let life pass me by.
Dan Miller wrote a great book about this topic called No More Mondays. (It was later revised with the new title of 48 Days to the Work You Love --- I think that I prefer No More Mondays simply because it was the first one that I read.) Anyway.... Dan provides great insight regarding the way to discover your passion and ultimately, how to monetize it. There are a number of questions and exercises in the book that, if taken seriously and actually answered, will help readers along the path of discovering and creating the opportunities that will ultimately provide fulfillment for them.
Lisa
www.StartYourOwnSmallBiz.com
I am so glad I've stumbled upon this site! I too am a serial niche searcher and yet to find my passion. I am interested in a lot of things but find myself becoming overwhelmed with choice and then end up not trying anything. Or I have an idea but then change my mind or procrastinate. I also find that I put too much pressure on myself to enjoy life and do everything that if I am not enjoying myself or meeting people/going out/enjoying work I get angry with myself, which defeats the whole purpose, really. It's a vicious circle. I have started listening to Bill Harris' Holosync technology. This has helped me to become aware of these self-sabotaging behavioural patterns, which helps in recognising when I am actually in the "dark side" and knowing how to manage it. Often you don't know why it's there, and making yourself aware of it is the biggest hurdle. I highly recommend it. Good to read about other people's experiences and helpful knowing that there are others who face similar challenges. Often we are feel we're alone with our thoughts and that no-one else could possibly be feeling like this! Just keep trying new things and research as much as you can. The trick is to not get overwhelmed, and let everything be ok.
Personally I believe that just finding your passion or niche isn't enough. Call me cliche but I do believe what Napolean Hill said in "Think and Grow Rich", and that is you must have a burning desire your achieve whatever passion or niche you choose to pursue.
If you don't have a burning desire, that you are already setting yourself up for failure. I have a passion for basketball, but don't have a burning desire to pursue this niche business wise at all.
Cheers,
Eugene
I know what my passion is - that is not the problem. My problem is I don't know what to do with the passion I have. My passion is creating - whether it is with wood, metal or paint - I love to create. I live in a small town where the people buy their "art" from Walmart. I've tried Etsy, ebay and local stores. Nothing, nothing, nothing. I don't know what other avenue to take. I would love to own my own gallery/gift shop, displaying and selling my work as well as other artist's works.
That's not going to happen in this town. I can't afford to move anywhere. I'm not even sure that I will have a job next month.
What an interesting subject. I have several niches and I am pretty sure I cannot convert them into a way to earn my livelihood.
I enjoy my job in the office, although it restricts the time I would have to invest in my niche activities, it offers me the financial stability to pursue these activities for the fun of it rather than biting my nails at the end of every month, Lucky me!
i'm graduate in Arts stream subjects(history,pol.sci,english,hindi) now i want to do further study & am working in retail last 4years i enjoy my work i always eager to learn but till the time i dont know what is my passion and how do i convert my passion into my profession since from the childhood i play alot.. but in younger age i spoil my self due to bad habbits may be due to that my talent is gone but one talent which i can easily visible ability to speak rest nothing else i dont know anyting what do i do i have a dream to study india,s top most b-schools like iims or fashion wch i really enjoy do i need to take step forward in fashion world.
sir heartly waiting for an answer
What do your friends go to you for? What do you typically talk about? If you had to write a series of small articles on something what subject matter comes to mind? Thats your niche. You don't need to have a degree or even be an expert. You just need to know more than the next person and overtime your continued interest and learning and application in that subject will make you the expert. Start it. If you can keep it up and still enjoy it then that has to be better than wondering what your niche is while taking no action.
Well it is nice to know I am not alone. All my life I have done a lot of things but none I would call a passion as I always eventually lost interest. I have taken all the test and came out as a scanner, a person that has many interest. I have a gift of being able to fix anything using scrap materials but this is something that cannot be taught. The only thing I began to be passionate about was retiring early, I achieved that, created a web page about it, but after some research(after I built the site) not many people are interested in retiring early. Since then I have been trying to find a passion to be able to build another site that I can monetize and be fun to run. Everything I now know about building web sites has already been flogged to death.
Still looking Bob
I respect your effort,
Many people success,
Before they think they can do and from their hand, keep mind.
They work hard,
So if you ask yourself you need knowledge about something
you should keep your like then learn more on this,
get more knowledge about them.
Your process don't need school so maybe via book,
information from other people...
All things give you knowledge more.
With your passion,
Do you have think will take full time and your effort for them?
If you make sure yes.
I wait your success on day future soon.
Best wish for you.
Nam Chu
http://tofinancialsuccess.com
Great post Joel, as you mentioned it goes down to writting and putting on a paper, having open mind is realy helpful. Thank you
Thank you Joel, I like your ideas very much.
Today I posted 29 Thought Provoking Questions to Help You Find YOUR Passion.
One is…A state of FLOW is when you are doing something and you lose all sense of time because you are so engulfed and stimulated by your current activity. When was the last time you worked on something until the wee hours of night? Or missed an event because you could not break free of something you loved doing?
You can read the 28 others at http://wp.me/p1os3b-7L
Hope this is a helpful resource for your readers and community.
Good suggestion. By writing down where you best excelled, you will surely know where to start and what area you are most knowledgeable.
Joel, I thanks you for talking on the much searched topic and I agree with you that having passion towards a particular topic is must for making it your favorite niche.
Hi Kevin, I am really interested in "helping Others" as well and I have been doing it for years and love it... but as you, I found out that not everyone reciprocate... I usually say to bad for them.. but deep down I feel bad that they are so selfish... did you find any solution to just forget what others say or do AFTER helping them?
Please reply when possible..
thanks
I also don't know my niche, although i recently established my own blog. I even wrote about it. Please feel free to read it and tell me what you think.
http://www.alskafiblog.com/what-is-my-niche/
Thank you :)
Most of you have had some sort of deep long term experience or some degree, however for me I was not that fortunate. I am in my mid 40's,mother and wife and I manage a retail store and have no particular passion. I do like taking photo's at every occassion, and I am very organized and a timely person, but that's generally it. What direction would you suggest that I take?
same here. Im 42 a mother of 3 young children and owning n running a retail store. I started internet mting since march last year. No significant achievement worth mentioning here. Im beginning to lose interest in this and yes i believe that once you find your passion it wont feel like work. Sadly i havent found my passion yet...