Leveraging Passion to Boost Your Career and Personal Finance

Introduction

Passion can be a powerful motivator in any aspect of life, including your career and personal finance. It can drive you to excel in your current role, explore new opportunities, and even monetize your skills for secondary income. This post will delve into how honing your skills and leveraging your passion can have a positive impact on your career and personal finance, regardless of your profession.

Section 1: Finding Your Element

Sir Ken Robinson, a renowned educationalist, discusses the concept of "the element" in one of his lectures. He describes this state as one where individuals are engaged in something they are naturally good at and love doing. People who are in their element often describe it as a state where they feel most authentic and natural.

Robinson emphasizes that everyone has natural talents, but many people never discover them because these talents are often buried beneath the surface. They need to be brought out and refined, much like natural resources. He argues that being in your element is not just about finding your natural talents, but also about loving what you do.

For those trapped in the low-income zone, finding your element can seem like a daunting task. The pressures of daily life and the struggle to make ends meet can often overshadow the pursuit of personal fulfillment. However, it's important to remember that finding your element doesn't necessarily mean making drastic changes to your life or career.

Start by identifying something you love, something that brings you joy and satisfaction. It could be anything from painting, writing, gardening, to even learning a new language. Dedicate a few hours each week to this activity. This time spent is not just a break from your routine, but an investment in yourself.

Section 2: Honing Your Skills in Your Element and Finding Time for It

This passion can drive you to continuously improve and stay updated with the latest trends in your field. Use resources like online courses, webinars, and books for skill development. As you improve and gain mastery over time, there are opportunities to monetize these skills. This could mean selling your artwork, freelance writing, offering gardening services, or tutoring in a language you've learned.

However, finding time for these activities can be challenging. Here are some strategies to help you manage your time effectively:

• Self-Monitoring and Reflection: Track your daily activities to understand how you spend your time. Identify areas where you might be wasting time and carve out time for activities you enjoy.

• Role Salience and Satisfaction: Balance different roles in your life effectively. Prioritize and manage your roles to create time for leisure activities that bring you satisfaction.

• Digital and Social Innovation for Work-Life Balance: Use digital platforms to share tasks related to childcare, parenting, and household chores. By sharing these tasks, you can free up more time for activities you enjoy.

• Effective Time Management: Improve your time management skills to enhance job performance and create time for leisure activities.

By incorporating these strategies, you can find time to hone your skills in your element and potentially transform it into a source of income and joy.

Section 3: Expanding Career Opportunities and Cleaning Your CV

Honing your skills and finding your element can open up new career opportunities. A strong skill set can make you more attractive to potential employers and increase your chances of landing a better job. However, it's not just about having the skills; it's also about showcasing them effectively on your CV or resume.

Most jobs, especially those in the low-income zone, look for people who finish activities. This is why degrees or certificates are often valued by HR professionals - they serve as proof that you can commit to a task and see it through to completion. As Jordan Petersonexplains in his lecture on conscientiousness, being able to keep contracts with oneself and others is a highly valued trait. This ability to commit and execute is a defining characteristic of conscientious individuals and is especially crucial in managerial or administrative roles.

However, it's important to note that different roles require different skill sets. In the lower end of the company chart, creativity might not be as appreciated as it is in the higher end, where the capacity to think in a broader sense is much valued. Therefore, it's crucial to tailor your CV or resume to the specific role you're applying for, highlighting the skills and experiences that are most relevant.

Section 4: Strategizing Job Applications to Improve Negotiation Position

While honing your skills and finding your element can open up new career opportunities, another strategy to improve your negotiation position is to apply to multiple job offers. This approach can provide you with a better understanding of the job market, help you gauge your worth, and give you leverage when negotiating a salary raise.

When you have multiple job offers, it indicates that your skills and experiences are in demand. This can give you confidence when negotiating a salary raise with your current employer. You can use these job offers as evidence of your market value and make a case for why you deserve a higher salary.

However, it's important to approach this strategy with care. Applying for jobs can be a time-consuming process, and you should only apply for positions that you are genuinely interested in and qualified for. Additionally, when discussing other job offers with your current employer, it's crucial to do so in a respectful and professional manner. You don't want to give the impression that you're threatening to leave unless your demands are met, but rather that you're seeking fair compensation for your skills and contributions.

Section 5: The Impact on Personal Finance

Improving your skills and expanding your career opportunities can have a positive impact on your personal finance. It's important to remember that while lowering your expenses has a limit, increasing your income doesn't. This is why it's crucial to invest in improving your skills and finding ways to earn more.

A study titled "Personal income taxation in the human capital development incentive" emphasizes the importance of continuous investments in human capital for its quality improvement. This investment can be in the form of time and resources spent on honing your skills in your element, which can lead to increased income over time.

Moreover, a better job or secondary income can lead to increased financial stability and freedom. It can also touch on the idea that spending time on activities you enjoy can lead to better mental health, which can indirectly impact your financial decisions.

Conclusion

The post can conclude by reiterating the importance of passion and skill development in improving personal finance. It can encourage readers to start exploring their interests and honing their skills, with the promise of better career opportunities and improved personal finance. Remember, the journey to finding your element is a personal one and it's never too late to start. Even in the most challenging circumstances, there's potential for discovering what you love and transforming it into a source of income, fulfillment, and joy.

References

1. Robinson, K. (2009). The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything. Penguin Books.

2. Peterson, J. (2017). 2017 Personality 14: Conscientiousness: Industriousness and Orderliness. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/MBWyBdUYPgk

3. Peterson, J. (2017). 2017 Personality 15: Biology/Traits: Performance Prediction. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/EaKnhaT_Zls

4. Kuznetsova, I., & Kuznetsova, O. (2021). Personal income taxation in the human capital development incentive. Economy and Industry, 4(84), 56-71. https://dx.doi.org/10.15407/econindustry2021.04.056

5. Kuznetsova, I., & Kuznetsova, O. (2021). The COVID Retirement Boom and Personal Finance: How can we save and protect? The Social Sciences Journal, 42(1), 8729. https://dx.doi.org/10.47577/tssj.v42i1.8729