Alaa Hassan

The Most Passionate eCommerce Coach & Advisor

Passion

How Do I Find My Passion? 5 Tips To Get You Started

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How to find your passion

Are you passionate about life or do you feel burned out, bored and trapped?

Maybe you’re afraid to change career tracks, travel overseas or try to sell your artwork because you might fail. Perhaps you’re in a dead end job and feel weighed down by responsibilities that squash your passions and dreams.

That scenario described me until I woke up one day and realized I wanted to enjoy my professional and personal life. I couldn’t fill in the blank when I thought, “I wonder what my passion is.”

It was time for a change, and the tips I used might help you find the passion that makes you feel alive.  It took a while and required me to execute on things and not just sit there and wait for something to happen.  A lot of people complain about their life but not many do take actions to change the situation.

Over the past 4 years, I’ve been through a lot.  Divorce, business loss, health issues, got married, bought a house…..but something was missing.  Having passion increases your happiness.

5 tips to help you find your passion

1. Brainstorm Ideas

Ask yourself:

  • If I could do any job, what would I do?
  • If I could live anywhere, where would I live?
  • If I had all the money in the world, what would I buy?

While answering these three questions, I remembered that my passion is online business (eCommerce) and inspiring people through speaking/blogging/advising. I decided to launch my own agency on the side while working full-time.  I also focused on improving my personal brand by speaking at events and getting my name out there.  Blogging truly improved my credibility as well.

2. Evaluate hobbies

One of my employees enjoys making small boats while the other enjoys playing tennis. I started hiking as my new hobby. 

Let’s assume someone you know likes baking.  She could build a bakery in her home and create delectable desserts every day.  She can truly say that… “My passion for baking is a hobby that now supports my family.”

What do you enjoy in your free time? Your hobbies and interests offer insight into what makes you tick, and they reveal your true passions.

3. Remember childhood daydreams

The cousin of my friend dreamt of playing baseball and even slept with his glove under his pillow. Over the years, cars, girls and eventually his career replaced baseball. This year, he returned to his passion as a Little League coach, and he’s never been happier. Your childhood dreams could finish the sentence, “My passion is….”

4. Ask for help.

If you’re searching for passion, ask your friends and family members for advice. They may have the exact insight you need as you search for your passion.  Sometimes even reaching out to your network on Linkedin can help.  Don’t be shy.  Lots of people aren’t happy doing what they do.  You never know but you might connect with someone who will open some new doors for you.

5. Volunteer.

By serving others, you may find activities you enjoy. Whether you volunteer in a pet shelter, community center, medical clinic or international orphanage, serving others might help you find yourself.

People who volunteer for causes usually say…. “I found my passion for promoting goodwill after I decided to volunteer.” 

Final Thoughts

Are you ready to find your passion? As you brainstorm, pursue hobbies, daydream, ask for insight and volunteer, you’re sure to find the path to professional and personal fulfillment.

What are you struggling with currently?

Got A Passion? You Should Start Blogging About It

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Blog About Your Passion

Let me set the record straight: I dislike writing!

It’s hard to believe but I really do.  I honestly have a hard time writing content but nonetheless, I still try.

I’ve been blogging on and off for many years.  I started a simple Tumblr blog, moved to WordPress, tried blogger, tested out Medium and now back to WordPress.  I’ve launched many blogs in the past 2 years. Most of them simply failed.

Mistakes I’ve Done While Blogging

  1. I wasn’t serious about it
  2. I wasn’t consistent
  3. I wasn’t motivated
  4. I was too worried about how many people visited the blog
  5. I wasn’t writing valuable content
  6. I wasn’t focused
  7. I DID NOT HAVE A PLAN
  8. I DID NOT HAVE A STRATEGY

I’m sure I can think of many other mistakes but for now, those are the most important ones I can remember having contributed to my blogging failures.

I did learn a lot though. I’ve tested a lot of tools and technologies.  I’ve spent a lot of time and money as well. Nothing is gone to waste.

It was a great learning experience.

How I Started Blogging About My Passion

At first, I blogged about my life, business stuff & eCommerce.  I posted articles all over the place (Tumblr, WordPress, Medium).  But for some reason, I felt lost.  There was a need for me to create a central hub for all my posts.

But here’s the problem: if I was going to do that, it meant that I should stick to one topic since that’s what everyone recommends within the blogging industry.  Position yourself and blog about that topic so that you become relevant and focused. I felt I couldn’t do that since I loved blogging about everything.  It was sort of my own digital journal.

A couple of months ago, that’s when I decided to use my old domain name passionTribe.com for my new blog.  I didn’t know exactly what the blog is going to be about other than me writing about everything that comes to my mind.

I have many passions but one thing I’ve noticed is that I love to inspire people to do things.  Those are things I enjoy doing myself such as learning, trying new activities, working on projects, launching a new idea, entrepreneurship & having an online business.  I simply started writing about those topics.  I didn’t really care much if Google would rank my posts or not.  I was more focused on sharing my story and inspiring others.

What Else Can You Blog About?

So far, blogging on passionTribe has allowed me to train myself in becoming a better blogger.  I have to learn from my mistakes and so far, it’s working really well.  I’m actually starting to enjoy this 🙂

As always, I can’t sit still.  I decided to launch a new blog specifically for the eCommerce industry.  One way to drive new clients to your business is to create valuable content that will help your target customers solve their problems.

I have my own conversion rate optimization agency for eCommerce.  I need to launch a blog for it and I decided to blog about my whole experience here on passsionTribe.  It will benefit my current readers since it will inspire them to get started in blogging.

If you’re not sure what to write about, just start writing about anything just like I’ve done.  You will find something later on that will excite you to write about even more and specialize in it.

Just Start Blogging!

You Gotta Read The Book “Crush It” by Gary Vaynerchuk

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Crush it by Gary Vaynerchuk

Everyone has something that they’re passionate about. They wish they could do all day and night without having to worry about money. And, while those people are wishing, other people are doing. Gary Vaynerchuk is one of those people. In his book, “CRUSH IT! Why NOW is The Time to Cash in on Your Passion,” Gary talks about how he turned his own passion for wine into a lucrative career and illustrates how you can harness the power of the Internet to turn your own interests into a career. Or at least, that’s what the dust cover says. And that all sounds dandy, but does the book deliver on its promise? Find out in this “Cash in on Your Passion Book Review.

If you’ve ever watched any of Gary’s videos or heard him speak live, you know that he’s a passionate person. His energy and intensity is glaringly obvious within the first few moments that he has your attention. That’s probably why he’s so popular. You want to keep listening. Well, I’m happy to say that the same level of intensity applies to his written words. Translation: the book is a real page-turner. Honestly, I’m glad I had the opportunity to review the book.

It’s no secret that there are some books about success that were written by some questionable people. Either they haven’t truly achieved success themselves or they seem to stumble upon it accidentally. Gary’s rise to fame in the blogosphere and business world is evidence that he is not one of those authors. He truly has what it takes to be successful and inspire others to do the same. 

This book will inspire you to do great things in your life, but you have to be strong-willed enough to follow through on the steps Gary outlines for you. Actually, those steps are one thing that help this book stand apart from others in the same category. Many self-help books provide great information but fall short when it’s time to present actionable items.  

In another “Cash in on Your Passion” book review, the reviewer is a little harsh about Vanyerchuck’s topic selection. He felt that the actionable items were obvious to most people. I definitely do not agree. Sure, I was familiar with most of the topics presented, but I found the fresh perspective that Gary provides refreshing. After each chapter, I had to stop and take notes because my mind was racing with new and inspired ideas. 

The only drawback is that the book is a little shorter than I expected. Don’t get me wrong; I do appreciate that I didn’t have to read through a bunch of filler to get to each point, but I think there were some things that could have been explained in further detail. Overall, I would say that this book is definitely worth a read. And after you’re done, you can review the book to let us all know what you thought. Was it a life-changing experience? 

5 Simple Ways to be Happy at Work

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How to be happy at work?

Many people truly believe that the phrase “happy at work” is an oxymoron. But there’s one thing those people are missing. There’s one person pulling the strings here. One person who can either make you happy or so miserable that you can’t stand waking up every morning. Are you thinking of your boss right now? It’s not your boss. Actually, that person is you. Regardless of your current situation, you can be happy at work with a little effort on your part. After some time, it’ll feel less like effort and more like habit.

Make a friend

If you want to be happy at work, find a friend to make the experience more personal. You spend so much of your time here; it would be a shame to go it alone. Just be sure to find someone positive. You’re not looking someone to commiserate with. You need someone who will lift your spirits and make you feel better about your job.

Use breaks to recharge 

These days, so many people work through their breaks without taking a moment to themselves. It’s no wonder so many people hate their jobs. Instead of “powering through” lunch, take some time to relax and recharge. Don’t think about work, deadlines or your boss. Consider yourself off the clock until your break is over.

Stop competing 

We seem to be conditioned to compete against one another. But with this outlook, we’re always measuring our own success against other people’s progress. Imagine a friend at work gets a really big promotion. Before the event, you were happy. Now, you feel inferior. You feel like his success somehow detracted from your own. That’s no way to live. Instead, set goals for yourself and strive to achieve your own personal success. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing.

Be grateful 

Sometimes, being happy at work is as easy as deciding to be happy. Instead of feeling overwhelmed with problems, look on the bright side. Tons of people are out of work right now, but you have a secure job. You get along with most people in the office. You’re good at what you do. You see, your life isn’t so bad after all. 

Smile more often 

When all else fails, trick yourself into being happy at work. Go ahead and fake a smile every now and again. It really will make you feel better. Your body produces serotonin (a feel-good chemical) every time you grin and show those pearly whites. 

There’s a difference between understanding your job isn’t the right fit for you and hating work. If it’s not the right fit, search for one that is better suited for you. And in the meantime, use these tips for being happy at work while you’re still there. You’re the only one who can change your attitude, and you’re also the one who stands to benefit most from your efforts. 

Help, I Can’t Find My Passion!

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How to Find my Passion

Some people seem to come out of the womb with an obvious passion for one thing or another. Maybe they pick up the guitar at an early age or can’t be pried from their easy-bake ovens as children. These people go on to become famous musicians and world-renowned chefs. But what about you? Where is your passion? We get so many emails on this topic, and that’s why we’ll cover all the bases in today’s article, “Help, I Can’t Find My Passion!”

Truthfully, I was once like you. I couldn’t find my passion with a flashlight in a paper bag. Seriously. When people asked me what I would do if I won the lottery, do you know what my response was? Nothing. Isn’t that terrible? It was pretty depressing because I knew it meant I was living a life without purpose. Fortunately, I learned a few easy, and a few not –so-easy ways to truly find my passion, and that’s when my life really began. It all started with a few questions. 

What makes you truly happy? 

I’m not talking about on-the-surface kind of happy. I’m talking about the times when time flies by and you don’t even notice; you simply don’t care. For me, there were a few things. That’s when I started to realize I wasn’t a lost cause after all. Things were starting to come together. I was on the right path to find my passion.

What do other people recognize?

Don’t think about what other people want you to do for a living or what would impress them. Think about what you’re doing or what you’ve done when you get the most compliments. Do people consistently “ooh” and “ahh” over your sketches? Or maybe everyone in your company comes to you when they need help writing a particularly compelling email. Whether you’re drawing, writing, selling or doing something else, if people always seem to recognize that you have talent in one area, it may be something worth pursuing. For me, what made me happy and what other people recognized as talent were exactly the same, and I realized that I would find my passion at this exact intersection.

What would you be willing to do for free?

Although I learned how to find my passion before getting to this last question, it’s not as easy for everyone. Sometimes people get past the first two questions with a list of two or three things. If you need to narrow things down further, ask yourself which you would do for free. Keep in mind, of course, that you aren’t going pro bono. This is just an exercise to help you find your true passion. 

By now, you should be well on your way to finding a rewarding and fulfilling career. And you’ve probably realized that the answer to the question, “How can I find my passion” was inside you all along. There are many reasons why we struggle with this, but it’s usually

6 Most Popular Passions I've Noticed People Have

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Find Your Passion

Whether you know it or not, you’re a passionate person. There’s one thing that you love above all others. But for some people, it takes a little soul searching to find out what you really love.

While you’re mulling that one over, let’s take a look at some of the most popular passions. Maybe you’ll see something that strikes a chord.

Music

With all the singing and talent competitions around these days, it’s easy to see that we’re a nation obsessed with music. And why not? Music can be inspiring. A simple melody can put a smile on your face and change your entire mood. But while we all enjoy music, some people enjoy it a little more. These people play instruments, sing or dance. Maybe they even do all of the above. 

Food

Again, our nation is obsessed with this passion. Maybe a little too obsessed. But it’s important to note that a passion for food doesn’t mean overeating. It means that you truly enjoy cooking or tasting new things.  You enjoy talking and/or writing about your meals almost as much as you enjoy eating them. 

Exercise

Staying fit and healthy is definitely a passion for many people. It’s probably one of the most productive of the popular passions because it will keep you (and maybe others too) in great shape and feeling amazing. If you’re passionate about exercise, you probably don’t skip more than one day per week. You enjoy all kinds of workouts, sports and you enjoy helping others make fitness a priority in their lives. 

Gardening

This is probably the most peaceful of the popular passions. If you’re a gardening enthusiast, you really enjoy the quiet, serene nature of this hobby. You love the fact that you can cultivate something beautiful from a simple seed. When you’re not in the garden, you’re thinking about what you’re going to plant next. 

Animals

Most animals cannot defend themselves from humans, and many can’t survive without our help. That’s why animal care and welfare is a passion for many people. These people spend time volunteering at shelters and adopt animals who desperately need placement. 

Travel 

Some people don’t like to travel. They’re happy spending their entire life in one area without feeling the need to explore. But those people are few and far between. Travel is among the most popular passions because most of us have the urge to visit faraway lands and experience different cultures. It’s truly a life-altering experience to submerge yourself in the culture of another nation. I’m not talking about going from Montreal to New York (although, there are definite cultural differences there). Montreal to Beijing would be a better example of the experience that passionate travelers seek. 

Now that you’ve seen the most popular passions, do you have a better idea of your own? Remember, it’s not enough to “kind of like” these things. You have to want to eat, sleep and breathe these things. When you find something like that, you’ve found your true passion.