Make Passion Your Work

 

4 Ruth Zukerman was 48 when she and three partners launched fitness company SoulCycle in New York City in 2006. That’s further proof that finding your passion and creating a successful career with it can take some time.

When Zukerman’s dream of becoming a professional dancer didn’t pan out, she turned to teaching fitness classes part-time. She married, had twin daughters and spent most of her time raising her children. But then a contentious divorce in 1996 forced her to find more remunerative work.

“When I had to give up dancing, I said to myself, ‘I have no other interest,’ ” said Zukerman, who wrote “Riding High: How I Kissed SoulCycle Goodbye, Co-Founded Flywheel, And Built The Life I Always Wanted.” “I didn’t find another passion until 20 years later. Finding your passion involves patience, hope and belief.”

But her divorce meant she needed to make more money, quickly. So her part-time gigs became more frequent. Around this time, she took a few spinning classes. They were all the rage. The intense workout involves choreographed movements on a stationary bicycle while listening to music. Soon Zukerman began teaching spinning classes. She was hooked on the physical and mental benefits of spinning. She had found a way to channel her love for dance and music into work she could be passionate about.

SoulCycle was wildly successful. Unfortunately, a few years later the partnership dissolved. But Zukerman learned some valuable lessons. Among them: finding, developing and managing talent. In fact, she came back with another venture at age 52. She and a partner opened Flywheel in 2010. Flywheel adds metrics to the workout so riders can keep track of progress.

Learn As You Go

Following your passion doesn’t mean you have to be an expert at it. You can learn the skills to be successful while you pursue your dream job. Zukerman admits she had very little business acumen when she started SoulCycle. But as the business grew, she became more involved in hiring and training instructors. She honed her skills in managing employees.

Mike Steib, author or “The Career Manifesto: Discover Your Calling and Create an Extraordinary Life,” says gaining new skills takes lots of planning and effort. Early on, he took the time to map out the career he wanted.

“I wanted to be a CEO of a good size company that served small business and consumers through technology,” Steib told. He says he analyzed leaders who were already successful. He looked at what made them qualified. They had three things in common: They managed lots of people, grasped the financials of their businesses really well, and had top-notch publicspeaking skills. “I was not good at these things,” Steib said.

So he read numerous leadership books. He also volunteered at nonprofits where he could develop some of the skills he lacked. And he created a summer intern-recruiting program at his workplace so he could manage employees. He did all this while still managing his day job.

One of his secrets to success: “You work way more than anyone else.”

Do What Matters Most

Steib’s book evolved out of career advice he shared with employees. Steib was CEO of XO GroupXOXO , a media and technology event-planning company with apps like The Knot. XO Group was acquired by WeddingWire in 2019, and renamed The Knot Worldwide. The crux of the book shows you how to find what makes you happy and craft a career of it. The Key: Do what’s important to you.

“We get fixated on money and the prestige of a title instead of doing something we really want to do,” Steib said. “Have an honest conversation with yourself about what you want to do with your life.”

Crisis should not dictate career choices either.

At their divorce hearing, Zukerman’s ex-husband suggested she sell real estate to earn more money. Bad idea, she thought.

“I could not fathom doing something I had absolutely no passion for,” she said.

How much money is enough? Detail your financial responsibilities and goals.

“If you don’t do the math, you’re left with this uncertainty that creates anxiety,” said John Christianson, author of “The Wealth Creator’s Playbook.” “Quantify the life you want to lead. When you do that, it creates a spectrum of what’s possible.”

And don’t keep moving the goal posts. A lucrative promotion just as you decide to quit and follow your dreams might be tempting. But remember that you have enough to take calculated risks.

Too much focus on money comes at the expense of other goals that can be equally important if not more so, Christianson says.

Dig Deep

Once you know what’s important to you, map out a strategy, Steib says. Which industry could offer the work you seek? Do you want to work for a large or small company? Is lots of travel appealing? Do I want to live in a particular city? The answers will point you to the right options.