Hopefully, by now you have an idea of what your thing is and you’re figuring out how to make it grow and share it with the world.

As you work to make a go of your passion, you need to keep funds coming in while your thing matures. If your passion is already making you millions, Congratulations! *smile*

But maybe your thing is just an infant or a toddler, or an unruly adolescent (who’s always asking for twenty bucks and to borrow the car).

When it comes to making a living, use what you know. I mean everything you know.

…

I read this book once that had pages and pages of skills checklists. Everything from dog-walking to making macaroni-covered picture frames was on these lists.

Sure, some of the items seemed silly but these checklists alluded to an important point; make sure when you’re taking inventory of which skills will help you pay the bills while pursing your passion that you include ALL of your skills — even skills that may not have much to do with your passion.

It might be a day job, a temp job, or, as in my case, supplemental projects that help you pay the bills.

For example, in addition to my musical work I’ve gotten paid to:

• design brochures
• write and proofread copy
• read
• bake cookies
• facilitate diversity trainings
• house and pet sit

…

While I’ve been known to hum a tune while baking, not much on the list above is about spontaneous singing.

While you’re working to bring your passion into the world, it may be practical to do other work to get by.

BUT …

Do work that leaves you time and energy to continue building your passion.

If you’re working full- or part-time, schedule time to work your passion in your off hours. Even if it’s only an hour or two a week, it’ll add up. Sit down and map out a plan (schedule, checklist) that keeps you on track.

If you’re taking on projects, make sure you reserve time to keep up with your passion. I set aside time each week to write this blog, practice and direct my a cappella ensemble.

…

Oh, and don’t keep anything you hate or consider soul-sucking on the list. (You shouldn’t include those things on your resume either.)

After all, being practical is all well and fine, but this is about passion.

More on acting:

“It’s not who you are that holds you back, it’s who you think you’re not.”
— unknown

“Aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn’t know that so it goes on flying anyway.”
— Mary Kay Ash (Yup, that Mary Kay.)

“Nothing reduces the odds against you like ignoring them.”
— Robert Brault

“We are all pretending: The important thing is to maintain a straight face.”
— Maurice Valency

This next step might be the most challenging part of the whole Passion Pays the Bills series. This is the step where you take yourself and your passion seriously. Where you envision your future success and embrace your expert status.

I can hear you thinking, “but I’m not an expert.” (Believe me, I’ve been there. I still visit there from time to time. *wink*)

Maybe only your pet or your diary knows about your thing. Maybe you wake up in the middle of the night with your heart pounding when you think about taking the next step on the path to your passion. Maybe you don’t have your degree or your diploma yet. Maybe you still need to read that book, take that class or complete that certification.

Never mind if you’re not a success yet.

You’re going to act as if you are.

…

Internet lore has it that Irving Berlin declared after writing White Christmas, “I just wrote the best song I’ve ever written — hell, I’ve just written the best song anyone has ever written.”

Now that statement might seem arrogant (and is probably untrue), but it’s useful for demonstrating a rock-solid belief in one’s own talent.

To succeed, you really have to believe  — or act as if you believe  — that you and your thing are the best things since sliced bread, the post-it or the song White Christmas.

…

Now when I tell you to act as if you’re an expert, I am not suggesting that you adopt some obnoxious, phony-baloney, know-it-all persona. You still need to be you. In fact, it’s crucial to be yourself. (After all, this is about you, you and your thing.)

But be the Technicolor you. Be you with the volume turned up.

…

When you’re talking to people about your passion, you need to act as like the Internet Irving Berlin.

(Please) not conceited or pompous. Don’t invent accomplishments or pad your resume. This is not about arrogance.

It’s about confidence.

Confidence in your skills and your knowledge and your talent. Confidence in your ideas and your plans for the future. Confidence in what you — and only you — have to offer. And what you, and only you, can create.

…

It doesn’t pay to be apologetic or tentative when you’re pitching your passion or yourself. The people out there waiting for you and your thing need you to tell them it’s here. They need you to explain why you do your thing and why you’re good at it. And what they’ll get out of it.

They need you to tell them why you and your thing are great.

So …  if talking about yourself or promoting your thing makes you uncomfortable, you need to act like it doesn’t.