2 questions to uncover your passion -- and turn it into a career | Noeline Kirabo

Summary

The speaker shares their journey of leaving a comfortable job to pursue passion, challenging the notion that passion is a luxury for the rich or retired. They founded Kyusa, an organization empowering youth to turn their passions into profitable businesses. The talk emphasizes the importance of introspection to identify one's passion and the combination of skills, market trends, and positioning to transform passion into a successful career, illustrated with inspiring examples of individuals who thrived by doing so.

Takeaways

• 💼 The societal assumption is that a well-paying job equates to happiness and fulfillment, but this isn't always the case for everyone.
• 🚀 The speaker chose to leave a comfortable job to pursue a passion, despite the risk and societal expectations, highlighting the courage to follow one's own path.
• 🔍 Finding one's passion is a complex process, even for those with financial security and education, and it's not a straightforward journey.
• 💭 The speaker questions the notion that only the rich or retired can afford to pursue passion, challenging the status quo of life as a race of survival.
• 🌍 In many parts of the world, the education system is rigid, offering preselected paths that can leave individuals feeling like misfits if they don't fit in.
• 🎓 The speaker, as a dropout, found that opportunities were privileges and leveraged free online courses to build a career, showing the power of self-education.
• 🌟 Kyusa, the organization founded by the speaker, aims to empower out-of-school youth to turn their passions into profitable and sustainable businesses.
• 🤔 Identifying one's passion involves introspection and answering reflective questions about what one would do if time and money were not constraints.
• 🛠 For passion to become a career, it must be supported by the right skills, market demand, and strategic positioning.
• 💡 The script shares inspiring stories of individuals like Esther and Musa, who turned their passions into impactful social enterprises and businesses.
• 🔑 Looking inward to find what brings deep fulfillment and joy is a key step in unlocking one's potential and living a life that goes beyond just surviving to truly thriving.

Q & A

What was the speaker's dilemma six years ago?

The speaker had a comfortable job and life, but they were not fulfilled because there was a misalignment between their daily activities and what they deeply cared about.

Why did the speaker decide to quit their job?

The speaker wanted to explore the possibility of bringing their passion into their daily routine, as they felt there was something more they desired beyond their comfortable job.

What is the common assumption about finding one's passion according to the speaker?

The common assumption is that finding one's passion is a luxury only the rich can enjoy or a pleasure only the retired can indulge in.

What societal expectations did the speaker face as an African?

The societal expectations were to get a job after school, stick with it regardless of dissatisfaction, and only consider changing jobs or retiring when a better offer comes or retirement is due.

What were the two alternatives given to the speaker as a dropout?

The two alternatives were to sign up for any course at a vocational institution or to settle for any job offer regardless of working conditions.

What did the speaker discover after dropping out of the traditional education system?

The speaker discovered a world of possibilities and realized they could study anything and be anything, leading them to leverage free online courses to build their CV and find employment.

What is the organization Kyusa, and what does it aim to do?

Kyusa is an organization the speaker started in 2014 that works with out-of-school youth, empowering them to turn their passions into profitable, scalable, and sustainable businesses.

What are the two reflective questions used by Kyusa to help identify one's passion?

The first question is 'If you had all the time and money in the world, what would you spend your time doing?' The second question is 'What makes you happy or gives you the deepest sense of fulfillment?'

What are the three key elements needed for passion to become a career according to the speaker?

The three key elements are having the right set of skills, understanding market trends, and knowing how to position oneself in the market.

Can you provide an example of someone who turned their passion into a successful business as mentioned in the script?

Esther, who was deeply affected by dropping out of school and experiencing depression, turned her passion for helping young people into a social enterprise that raises awareness about various issues and helps dropouts acquire vocational skills.

What is the message the speaker wants to convey about looking inward and living from the inside out?

The speaker encourages looking inward to identify what gives us a deep sense of fulfillment and joy, and weaving these into our daily routines. This approach transforms work into living and makes us unstoppable in our pursuits.