Last Monday, I posted a list of ideas about How to Take Your Passion and Pay the Bills. I said I wasn’t quite sure what would happen with the list. In the past week, I’ve decided (*wink*) that most of the items could use some further explanation. So let’s start with number 1: Decide.

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Oprah Winfrey says “Nothing happens until we decide.” (I agree.)

We can spend a lot of time making decisions. We get stuck. We procrastinate. We spin round and round, looking for THE ONE PERFECT answer. (Well, I do, anyway.) We’re cautious (because we’re afraid). After all, we want to make sure we’re making the right decision.

We’re unable to separate deciding what to do from figuring out how to do it.

For example, when deciding to change my entire life by returning to school, it took me a long (long, long) time and a lot of steps to get there.

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Looking back, all the time and steps I took to make that decision were really about getting ready to make and keep a commitment.

(Plus, I believed I could find out EXACTLY what I was getting myself into without actually doing it. Oh, it’s a good thing, I started studying singing spontaneously! *wink*)

I’ve learned from improvising that the seed of an idea can be enough. That not every “i” can be dotted or “t” can (or should!) be crossed before you commit to trying something. That you can work things out as you go. That you can start and stop and start again.

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Once I decided I wanted to sing (and maybe even try to make a living doing it *smile*), I was able to focus on and put my energies toward that. I could ask questions and find answers and get support.

You may not have found your passion yet. That’s okay.

You can decide to look for it.

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Reminder: The next Songtaneous session is this Saturday, October 10.
Visit the Events page to see the entire Songtaneous schedule.

How to Take your Passion and Pay the Bills

1. Decide
2. Commit
3. Start talking
4. Start walking
5. Be flexible
6. Be patient
7. Get help
8. Act as if
9. Use what you know
10. Share what you know
11. Repeat

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Alright, I have to acknowledge that I’ve been procrastinating.

(Yes, again. Sheesh! *eye roll*)

Several weeks ago, I jotted down the list above about how to turn your heart thing into a smart thing. These are things I’ve found myself doing as I make way from publishing professional to musician.

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So Friday before last (in a nod to #3) I posed a question about taking your passion and using it pay the bills. But since then, I’ve been hemming and hawing. Should I write a series of blog posts? Should I write an ebook? Should I wait until I’m smarter? Richer?

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One of the things I practice over and over (and over and over and over) again in improv is trusting my instincts. When you sing spontaneously, you edit in the moment. You have to learn to rely on your instincts to show you what has potential and what’s just “shiny.”

I think this has potential. So here’s the list. It might become a blog series or an ebook.

(It might just be this list. *smile*)

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P.S. I’ve posted the 2009 Fall-Winter (shudder) Songtaneous schedule on the Events page. Hope to sing with you soon! ~sg

“Can you turn your heart thing into a smart thing?”
— me (*smile*)

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What I mean is can you take your passion and pay the bills?

I know there’s a blog series or product down this road of thought, but it hasn’t quite shown up yet. (So … um … er … stay tuned, I guess. *smile*)

In the meantime …

“What fascinates, engages, compels, excites, captivates, invigorates and CHALLENGES you?”

(Psst. That’s where you start. *wink*)

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Remember you can come be Songtaneous THIS Saturday, September 19 at the Wild Rice Festival in Roseville MN. Spontaneous singing AND a pancake breakfast — who could ask for more?