FocusMinded.com

Q: What is something that no one can give you?

If you guessed passion then you are right. There are many things that mentors, guides, friends, and teachers can give you, but passion isn’t one of them. Those people can light the fire, stoke it, and even put it out, but they cannot manufacturer it. You can’t even manufacturer it, but you can nurture your passion. So here are 7 ways you can foster your passion.

1. Get started. Take that hobby and make it a side business. If you enjoy toying with your own website, why not get paid to toy with someone else’s? This is likely the easiest transition for anyone. It is a simple matter of acquiring a domain name, building your own website, hanging your ’shingle’ up, and then tell others that you’re a web designer.
2. Start learning. Start learning a new technology. If you are a designer, why not start learning a programming language? If you are a developer, why not start learning how to use a graphics program? Advance your knowledge of CSS, XHTML, Accessibility, or Web Standards. You’ll find that the more you know, the more passionate you’ll be.
3. Get involved. Find a web design forum or a standards movement or something to put your weight behind. You’ll be able to feed off the passion of others. It will only fuel your inner passion even more.
4. Create something new. Why not put your new skills to the test and build something new. Or improve on something that needs it. Not only will this be a great source of exposure, but it is also beneficial to the entire web development industry.
5. Donate your services. Not only will it make you feel all tingly inside, but it’ll benefit others too. Donate your services to a local charity or community project. Your passion will get a nice jolt and they’ll love you for it.
6. Teach others. Now that you’ve amassed this great knowledge, why not spread the wealth. Start teaching others what you’ve learned. Share your tips, tricks, or advice. Others can benefit and you’ll feel good at the same time.
7. Become a mentor. This is likely one of the best ways to develop a stronger passion. Not only do you get to work hands on with someone, but you get to help them grow. You’re excitement about what you do is what helps others grow their own business. There is just something fulfilling about helping others.

What do you do to fuel your own passion for website design?