How to Find Your Calling By Asking Five Questions
If you've been wanting to start a business but don't know what, this is for you.
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Some people always knew precisely what they wanted to do with their life. They weren't plagued by doubt and indecision and never got overwhelmed with the possibilities.
That's not me. And if it's not you either, this article is for you.
If you're still trying to find your calling, this article is for you.
If you've been wanting to start a business but don’t know what to do, this article is for you.
If you thought you had everything figured out but still feel stuck, this article is for you.
Starting a business is a bold step towards a life where you're in control. A life where you have the flexibility to decide when, where, and how to work, and a life where you can find meaning in what you do.
But we all know that starting a business is challenging. It takes work, and success is not guaranteed. This is why it’s so important to be deliberate and choose the right idea so you can stick with it.
No matter how solid your business idea is, it’ll be hard to see it through if you don't love it. And if it’s not the right match for your skills and experience, it’ll be hard to succeed.
That’s why I’m sharing the five questions I use anytime I’m at a crossroads and trying to figure out what I want to do next.
Five Questions to Find Your Calling
These five questions will help you go from having no idea what kind of business to start to having a solid shortlist of ideas you would be perfect for.
The whole process only takes an hour or so, but you should spread that over a couple of days to get the most benefit.
Two Questions for Self-Reflection
Using a notebook or doc, use these two questions as a guide. Start with the first and brainstorm as many answers as possible before moving on to the second. The more ideas you develop, the more you’ll have to work with.
Question 1: What do you love? Write down your passions, hobbies, and interests.
Question 2: What are you good at? Write down your skills, talents, and experience.
As you go through this process, you can be as general or as specific as you like. Both paths can be fruitful.
For example, I could write down that I love cooking. But I could also write down that I love to cook for people with dietary restrictions because I have dietary restrictions myself, so I get it. Both levels of specificity can yield different insights.
Similarly, I could write down that I’m good at online marketing, but I could also write down that I’m good at making many different kinds of people feel comfortable in conversation.
One Question for Research
Next, make a list of people who know you well and ask them this question.
Question 3: What would you come to me for? Write down whatever they say.
These could be friends, family members, coworkers, or anyone who has spent a decent amount of time with you and is willing to answer the question.
I know this can be uncomfortable for many people, but I’ve done it myself, and the results are so worth it. Here’s a script of what I sent the people on my list.
Hey, I’m brainstorming, and part of the process involves asking people who know me for their input. Can you tell me what kinds of things you would come to me for?
I was pleasantly surprised to find that everyone I asked obliged and shared something helpful. Some answers were very esoteric, while others were highly practical, but all were insightful.
For example, one person explained that I’m great at empathy and providing perspective, while another said they would come to me for advice if they ever adopted a cat. However, a theme I saw across many of the answers I got was that people value my viewpoint.
Two Questions for Opportunity Exploration
Finally, with the answers to your first three questions in mind, brainstorm answers to the remaining two questions.
Question 4: What does the world need? Write down problems you can help solve and the contributions you can make.
Question 5: What can you be paid for? Write down ways you can monetize your skills and passions.
Remember, this is still a brainstorm. While the last two questions are about connecting your interests and abilities to practical applications, now is not the time to think about how realistic your answers are. Even if you think it’s silly or impossible, write it down. You never know where it could lead.
Once you’ve finished answering the five questions, take a day and let things percolate. When you’re ready, you can move on to the refining stage.
Turn Your Opportunities Into Practical Business Ideas
Now that you’ve let your answers percolate, you probably have more ideas, so add those to the list.
Next, it’s finally time to start thinking more practically. Go through your list and refine it to the ideas you are most excited about. As you review each one, ask yourself a few questions to help you cross things off or move things forward:
What would the day-to-day look like for this opportunity? Would I enjoy it?
Can I do a good job with this opportunity? How could I stand out against competitors?
Does this opportunity match my budget and time resources? Is there a clear path for how I could get started?
How can I improve this idea to make it more practical? Am I thinking too big or too small?
For example, based on the fact that I love cats, have a lot of experience socializing rescue cats, and people I know see me as a cat expert, I could write down that I could provide a service that helps other people socialize their shy cats.
But when I move that idea to the refinement stage, I remember that:
I prefer a flexible schedule and wouldn’t like to spend so much time commuting to other people’s houses.
I want a business I can run from anywhere without being tied to a specific location.
From there, I could potentially pivot this idea to a website offering advice on socializing cats. Still, I also realized that although my friends who don’t know anything about this topic see me as an expert, many more experienced people are out there creating much better content than I could. Plus, as much as I love hanging out with cats, I don’t want to write about cats. So, in the end, this would get crossed off my list.
Once you’ve finished refining your opportunities, you should have a solid list of potential business opportunities. Most likely, you’ve narrowed it down to one or a few that you’re most excited about.
These are the ideas you should research further to validate their viability. You want to understand the niche better and if people would pay for your offer. The article below will show you exactly how I do this. And you’ll be well on your way to your first (or next) business idea!
To endless possibilities,
Casandra
One idea I have is how to marry my version of Christianity and make into a business.
Love this post! It's easy to get stuck in constant reflection and never do, but it's equally easy to forget aligning your motivation with your goals on a regular basis.