OK – now that we have the whole “breaking all the rules” thing out of the way,

Image by alancleaver_2000 via Flickr

the question becomes: “What is the next step after breaking all the rules?”

Well, to be honest with you, this is where it gets a little tricky. To begin with, what one person might think is a crazy idea, another would think to be perfectly reasonable, tame, and just the right thing to do. One person might move to Central America and enjoy his new life as a photographic artist working to relieve suffering in the third world, while someone else might create a “safe” accounting practice in their basement while helping young people set up and run their own businesses right here at home.

The path is not important. The passion is! Let me challenge you with three thoughts that will help answer the question:

1. Who are you really and what do you want to do with your life? After a life-time of work to make things happen at home and at the office/job, you just might have a more difficult time answering this question than you think. Take the time, find yourself (your core, your essence, or whatever you would like to call it) and in finding you, find your passion. This is the real starting point for the next step!

2. How can you live your passion? Some can develop a business that directly compensates them in their passion, while others have to find a business model that allows for an income that can be created around their passion. Consider carefully which way will work for you. Then do your due diligence. There is nothing worse that starting and then stopping to drain one’s passion!

3. Put the blinders on and get at it, now, even before you “retire.” Too many people wait till they are in a situation that if income can’t be produced immediately, they have to fold up shop and go back to work. This happens most often because you didn’t start while you still had work income. I would plan for 1 to 3 years before your income will carry you. So, don’t quit the job too soon and do plan to do some double duty before you retire!

Deciding to break the rules is simple, but learning the next step is where the victory is won! Don’t forget to follow through with the next step.