I love it when I hear of another reader success story, especially if it’s a sequel.

Today’s sequel success story comes from the original entitled:

He Too, Found What He Loves to Do.

I recommend you read that to get acquainted with the previous story and go on to read this one to see how it has turned out.

This story is especially nice, considering the economic hard times going on right now and I think it’s one that will give great encouragement and motivation to those who go on the journey to successfully find and successfully pursue what they love to do like Soyica has.

So without further ado, I present the sequel to his success story:

It Was One of the Hardest Challenges That He Faced

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1. Last time we saw you Soyica, you were on your way to becoming a recreational therapist but it looks like you’ve shifted gears and went to barber school instead (which you mentioned in your previous interview was another passion of yours). What triggered the change and what were your thoughts in that decision making process?

The pursuit to become a Recreational Therapist was fun and I really enjoyed doing it. I came in contact with really good people and the work was very rewarding. However, after a short while, I realized that it wasn't going to be a good fit for the long haul. I had a strong desire to fulfill my passion through Barbering & Cosmetology.

I was already a trained Barber which I started at the age of 13, and I wanted to expand my skills and knowledge. So, in 2007, with the support of my wife, family and friends, I enrolled in Cosmetology school. I had the energy and passion to excel in the program which would take me 1.5 years to complete. I wrote down on a piece of paper, that I'd finish the program and be licensed by 2009. I received my license on January 2, 2009.

IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST CHALLENGES THAT I'VE HAD.

I was already working 40 hours per week. My days started at 6am and ended at 11pm. I attended class Monday through Friday, for 5 hours in the evenings after work, and I stayed on my feet all night. And Saturday's for 7 hours. I can't even describe how I felt at that time. I was exhausted beyond belief. I also was lacking focus at work. I had a few visits to my physician just to make sure I wasn't doing any harm to myself. But it was all worth it because I knew my Passion and my Dreams. I held myself accountable to bring them into reality.

2. How has that decision turned out for you?

Working with the Recreational Therapists, I learned quite a bit, especially on a personal level. Working with, and helping other's can teach you a lot about yourself, and the experience of working with some of the therapist's was a priceless eye opener for me. I could see the commitment, dedication and heart that they put into their work which was the same feeling I have when I'm practicing barbering and cosmetology. When I observed the therapist's at work, it personally felt like someone nudging at my shoulder while stating, "You already know what you Love to do. Just do it!" As I was going through school, my decision was confirmed day after day, and I knew that I had made the right move.

3. Can you describe the feeling you had when you got your license in the mail?

The whole test taking experience was a little nerve jumpy, but I knew I was going to ACE both written and practical portions of the national exam. I knew it. And I did just that.

When my license came in the mail, I just stared at it; it felt like I had just climbed one of the highest mountains in the world. I thanked God for the level of Faith that I had despite the challenges and struggles to get through school.

It was very important to me because this is a new chapter in my life.

4. You mentioned that the “opportunities are rolling in”. Can you tell us about those opportunities please?

The first real opportunity is this: I get to do something that I Love, where I can add value to people and myself. Everything else follows off of that opportunity.

While in school, I developed a network of professionals that have been working in the industry for some time so, once I graduated, and was licensed, I had choices of where I could practice, and that was a great feeling. In addition, I also had an offer to work at the school which I attended, to instruct students.

And it all happened at the right time. Due to recent economic factors, my full-time job is in jeopardy. And I'm not even worried about it because I have a plan B which may soon become plan A!

5. It looks like you’re in the “flow”, where everything is lining up perfectly for you. You’re on that momentum train and it’s so great to see everything falling into place! In your opinion, what do you attribute that momentum to? What can you say are the causes for all the success that have been stacking up recently with regard to this area of your life?

I believe that not wasting time and having acted on something that I truly desire played a big role in my life. Again, having Faith worked for me. Just going for it, and staying the course even when it seemed like pure hell at the moment.

6. How does it feel knowing that and I quote :) “rediscovered your thing”? What's so interesting about this "rediscovery" is that even when I was in college 13 years ago, I said to myself, "my passion will one day surface, and it will be something that I do for the rest of my life. And other opportunities will grow from my passion." The dots are now connected.

7. What kind of advice would you give to those who are maybe in the position you were before – trying to decide between two passions? How can they choose between the two?

You've got to ask yourself the tough question. What passion, desire, skills, gifts and talents do you possess that could add some type of value to yourself and/or others? This could be a easy or difficult task for anyone.

For me, along with asking myself the above question, I just had to ask myself how I could combine my passion to help other's and my own skills and talents that I've been blessed with since birth to accomplish my personal goals.

I truly believe, we were all put on this earth for a purpose, and we all possess skills, gifts and talents.

8. What kind of advice would you give to those who are still on their journey to finding what they love to do?

If you’re truly interested in finding what you Love to do, have Faith that it'll come. Just know it's already in you and it will happen regardless of what's happening at the moment. Discovering what you love to do may surface at different times for everyone, just be patient. I have met people of all ages who's gifts and talents surfaced when they least expected it.

Ask yourself questions about where you really want to be in life. Develop a vision of what you can see yourself doing; Picture yourself in the position that you desire most and start to hang around people who are already doing it. It's pretty cool to have a network of individuals who can show you the ropes. Try new things; you never know where it could lead to. Don't allow Fear to stop you from trying something different.

Don't always try to predict what the outcome will be, because the outcome may be a bigger than you could imagine. Do not place any limitations on your future.

Brian, your article on How to find what you love to do is great, and I would suggest reading it.

9. What’s next in store for Soyica?

The best thing that I can say is, the sky is the limit! I have made some contacts internationally so, I do hope to work in different countries. I also have plans to develop my own business and to continue to gain more knowledge and experience. In this industry, you can never know it all.

10. Any last pieces you want to give to those reading this, to hopefully motivate and inspire them in these hard economic times?

Our economic times are becoming increasingly tough day by day, and almost everyone is affected by it around the globe. Now is a great time to take advantage of this "down time" to really invest in yourself. Whatever it is that you desire, start now and finish, don't wait. Now is not the time to wait for things to happen, you've got to make it happen. Once you do, you'll be able to look back on it and be thankful that you acted on it, especially when the future is uncertain. Never get too comfortable because one thing that is certain; Life is all about change. You never know what the future may bring, so take control of your own mind and start acting now. If you have a Dream or Passion, don't rely on approval from anyone, it's your Dream! Go for it, You won't regret it.

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I want to thank Soyica for taking the time to write this and for his willingness to share it with others. I really appreciate it!

For those of you who have found what you love to do and have gone in pursuit of it, you will completely understand everything he has written, not just on a conscious level but on a level where you literally feel it.

Even though your passion may lie in another area, the journey you both went through will feel the same from the discovery of your passion, the hardships endured, and the light seen at the end of the tunnel.

The first thing I want to point out that struck me was that he wrote down his goal and the deadline, to finish the program and get licensed by 2009.

It was done by Jan 2., 2009.

The power of writing indeed.

Second, most people after their nine to five job, want to sit back on couch, prop their feet on table, crack open a beer and watch the latest shows on the tube.

Not Soyica.

Standing on his FEET, five hours after work, waking up at 6 AM in the morning, coming home at 11 PM for one and a half years, Monday through Friday – no person is willing to go through that unless they are really passionate about what they are doing and are going for their dreams

And did I forget to mention the 7 additional hours he spent on Saturdays?

He also mentioned that he had that feeling that he knew what he really loved to do, so he just did it.

And it was confirmed.

Listen to your gut feeling. It’s usually right.

Then go on to do it.

Just do it.

You’ll also find that he was already doing what he loved to do at a young age, which is a BIG sign that you’ve found your passion (I mention that along with the importance of that gut feeling in my second book, How to FINALLY Find What You Love to Do: The DEFINITIVE Guide to Finding and Successfully Pursuing Your Passion).

In a time where jobs are hard to find, he has choices of where to work due to his time spent networking and has also gotten an offer to teach at the school he attended.

This is the part most people don’t tend to see when they think about pursing their passion.

They focus on all the obstacles they might have to overcome and don’t really think anything will come of it at the end, but as you can see, the dots are all connecting for him.

Opportunities are literally knocking on his door – he even has the option of working internationally and is thinking about developing his own business.

The thing about pursuing what you love to do that makes you stand out from everybody else is the energy level you invest and project when you do what you love.

That results in two things:

1. You’re going to excel at what you do and be at the top because you invested so much energy in it, which was the case of Soyica. He aced his exams and got offered a teaching job at the school he attended.

2. And people notice that, especially people who are in a position to give you opportunities. Passion elevates you from the crowd and puts you in the sight of many people who are more than willing to give you opportunities because you’re great at what you do and you have the energy to mow down anything that gets in your way of doing it.

There’s so many more great nuggets of truth that I want to dissect, but instead I will urge you to go back and read his words.

But here’s one more portion of what he wrote I want to share.

“But it was all worth it because I knew my Passion and my Dreams. I held myself accountable to bring them into reality.”

And one more:

“I believe that not wasting time and having acted on something that I truly desire played a big role in my life. Again, having Faith worked for me. Just going for it, and staying the course even when it seemed like pure hell at the moment.”

And last but not least: “I get to do something that I Love, where I can add value to people and myself.”

How many people can say that?

For those of you who haven’t found what you love to do, look at his answers to question number 8 and 10. I urge you to read them again.

Also, read the article (How to Find What You Love to Do) that Soyica mentioned and if you want more, you can always get a copy of my second book, How to FINALLY Find What You Love to Do: The DEFINITIVE Guide to Finding and Successfully Pursuing Your Passion and get a free bonus special report too entitled, 3 Real Life Stories of Those Who Did It– see how they applied the information in the book to find and successfully purse their passion like Soyica did.

“Whatever it is that you desire, start now and finish, don't wait. Now is not the time to wait for things to happen, you've got to make it happen. Once you do, you'll be able to look back on it and be thankful that you acted on it, especially when the future is uncertain. Never get too comfortable because one thing that is certain; Life is all about change. You never know what the future may bring, so take control of your own mind and start acting now. If you have a Dream or Passion, don't rely on approval from anyone, it's your Dream! Go for it, You won't regret it.” - Soyica

You really won’t regret it.