How Do You Balance a Career and Personal Passions?
- Ryan Gonsalves
- Apr 4
- 3 min read
Can You Succeed in Both Work and Your Passion?
For many of us, balancing a career with something we love feels impossible. Whether it’s a sport, a creative pursuit, or a business idea, we’re often told we have to choose. But what if we didn’t? What if we could excel in both?
That’s exactly what Marnie Wills did. She built a business while representing England in netball and touch rugby. Her journey proves that the skills we develop in one area of life can help us thrive in another. I get it, I’ve been there, navigating the shift from football to business. It’s not easy, but it’s absolutely possible.
What Can We Learn from Managing Two Careers?
No matter what industry you're in, balancing different roles takes strategy. Here are some key lessons from Marnie’s experience, and from my own journey:
1. How Do You Manage Your Time Between Work and Passion Projects?
Balancing a demanding job with a side passion takes serious discipline. Marnie mastered time management, ensuring neither her sports career nor her business suffered. I’ve had to do the same, structuring my days like a training schedule to keep things moving forward.
👉 Lesson: Treat your passion like a priority, set goals, follow a plan, and stay committed.
2. How Do You Stay Adaptable When Things Change?
In any career, unexpected shifts happen. The same applies to balancing multiple pursuits. Marnie pivoted from teaching to running Sporty Minis and later embraced AI consulting, something she never expected to do. I had to adjust when I left football, figuring out where my skills fit outside the game.
👉 Lesson: Be open to new opportunities. Success often comes from unexpected directions.
3. Why Is Having the Right Support System So Important?
Success in any field is rarely a solo effort. Marnie built strong networks in both sports and business, leaning on teammates, mentors, and business partners to navigate challenges. I’ve seen firsthand how the right people around you can make or break your journey.
👉 Lesson: Surround yourself with people who challenge, support, and inspire you.
4. How Does a Competitive Mindset Help in Business?
Confidence plays a massive role in both professional and personal success. Marnie’s confidence on the field translated into her ability to take risks and push forward despite setbacks. I’ve had to remind myself that the same resilience I had in football applies to business, too.
👉 Lesson: Cultivate a winning mindset. Believe in your ability to learn, adapt, and succeed.
What Are Three Steps to Balance a Career and Passion?
If you’re trying to manage both, here are three things you can do right now:
Set Clear Priorities – Know when to focus on work and when to shift gears to your passion.
Leverage Your Network – Many opportunities come through connections. I’ve leaned on mine more times than I can count.
Use Technology to Your Advantage – Tools like AI can help streamline operations, making it easier to manage both commitments.
What’s Your Next Move?
You don’t have to choose between your career and what you love. With the right mindset and a bit of crafting strategies, we can do both.
Are you looking to transition into something new while managing your current commitments? At 2ndwind Academy, we help professionals—especially athletes—navigate career transitions with confidence and clarity.
💬 What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from balancing work and passion? Drop a comment below!
🎧 Listen to Marnie’s full story on the 2ndwind Podcast: 2ndwind Podcast
📺 Watch the episode on YouTube: 2ndwind on YouTube
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