How the hell do you find that thing that sets your life on fire?

There is so much talk about the ever-elusive “side hustle” these days. What does it really mean to spark a personal passion, find your purpose, start a side hustle, and potentially grow a business from it… and how the hell do you find that thing that sets your life on fire?

It takes guts to look deep inside of yourself and feel empowered to chase after what you love.

There is no better time than NOW to step back, take a few deep breaths, and focus on YOU. #YOLO 😉

Keep an open mind while exploring your passions, let go of ridiculous expectations, give back to your community, and take one action every day to spark your fire and discover your side hustle.

1. START RIGHT NOW

Like, today. Because life is never going to stop moving. (Trust me, I’m 31, I can say this now. #oldmillennial.) Whether you’re going a mile a minute or barely treading water, now is the time to take charge of your life.

Start that Facebook page, create that first Instagram post, write that first Medium article. My favorite quote of all time that always motivates me to get shit done is:

“Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” — Earl Nightingale

Even if it will take you seven years to accomplish your goal — the time will pass anyway, so just start doing something moving towards it today!

2. RELEASE PERFECTION

Let go of the perfect end goal and start sorting through things as they are right now.

This can be difficult to process — I know you just want to solidify your passions, have a concrete game plan, and go full blast towards ultimate side hustle success.

However, life doesn’t work that way; there are obstacles and delays around every corner, and if we expect immediate perfection and success right away, we’ll never get anywhere.

3. BRAINSTORM FREELY

Keep an open mind as you explore what makes you tick. Set aside one hour to brainstorm ― take the first 15 minutes to just breathe and let go of any fears or stresses. It’s simple, but it will catapult you in the right direction. Draft a business plan; think about your SWOT ― Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.

See where your visions take you, let it ALL out ― draw whatever comes to mind, write every thought, love, passion, and crazy idea that pops into your brain, doodle all over your notes… no rules.

When you’re done, soak it all in and see what sticks out to you and what makes your heart race ― you are unique and your vision will be unique as well!

4. GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Try out your passions and business skill set through offering your services to help others; it’s a great way to put yourself out there, give back, and quickly test your ideas within your community.

If you love graphic design, offer to help an nonprofit with marketing materials; if you are great at event planning, volunteer to help an industry group at their next event; if you are an outstanding baker, donate treats to small businesses in your area for community events.

By putting yourself out into the world you will not only gain personal momentum, but by helping others along the way, grow a strong community of supporters as you grow your side hustle.

5. TAKE ONE ACTION STEP EVERY DAY

Once you have your vision and know what you are working towards, break down your goals into small action sized bites. Accept what extra time you have to put towards your goal ― even if it’s 20 minutes each day ― and work with what you have!

Determine what you want to accomplish in the next year, then break each monthly goal into smaller weekly / daily steps that you will actually be able to do. Biting off more than you can chew will only hold you back; it’s better to do one small thing than nothing at all.

If you’re ready to launch your side hustle business, finalize a launch date and work backwards from there on the steps you need to go live.

Our lives are a journey, one that will have many ups and downs, challenges and triumphs ― but know that you are here for a unique purpose.

Don’t aim to win the side hustle game short term. Yes, be antsy and eager, but don’t expect it all right away (unless you’re Kylie).

Figuring out “what you want” and what your passions are will take a lifetime and will constantly evolve — so just follow what makes you happy these days.

If you have a smart phone, then you can legitimately create a side hustle out of anything if you love it enough and are willing to work your ass off for it.