How to find your interests?
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Finding your interests can be an exploratory and evolving process. Here are some expert insights on how to go about it:
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Explore Different Domains: James Altucher suggests walking around a bookstore and noticing which sections captivate you. This could signal areas where you have a genuine interest, which might be monetizable or worth deeper exploration. He shares the example of Dan Carlin, who turned his lifelong interest in history into a successful podcast, Hardcore History 1.
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Reflect on Childhood Interests: Angela Duckworth advises looking back at your childhood to recall activities that naturally engaged you. These early interests can be the seeds of long-lasting passions. While interests evolve, reflections on high school years can often rekindle significant passions that save relevance in adulthood 2.
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Experiment and Engage: Gary Vaynerchuk highlights the importance of trying out different hobbies and interests without fear of judgment or failure. He compares this to dating, where you need to experience several relationships to find the right one. According to him, societal pressure often stems from people who have settled and feel envious of those still exploring their passions 3.
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Overcome Fear of Non-Monetization: Vaynerchuk also encourages pursuing hobbies or interests, even if they don't seem like traditional career paths. He suggests that interests like video games, cooking, or BMX biking can eventually be turned into viable businesses through various forms of content creation or engagement with communities 4.
In summary, discovering your interests involves reflection, exploration, experimentation, and disregarding societal pressures that inhibit your pursuit of passion. Start small and remain open to evolving your interests over time.
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