“Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.” – Zora Neale Hurston

If you have something you want to do in life, make sure to dot your I’s and cross your T’s. No matter the goal — whether it’s health, education, creative or professional—you have to do research, so you know what you’re getting yourself into. This step is important because your research is something you can always come back to for further reference or point you in the right direction. 

My husband is always going on about the “Five P’s.” Have you heard of them before? Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. When I tell you, I hear this so many times a week I could probably turn it into a song, but the fact of the matter is that his saying is the truth. 

At the start of researching the Miss Society, my first topic was “How can I make money by blogging?” But, as I’ve grown into my purpose, my outlook isn’t about the money anymore it’s about inspiring others through my experiences. Now my research is based on what ways I can connect to help more people. There were so many blogs that I researched before I finally said to myself, “You know what, I can do this!”

There were two blogs that I researched to a “T” before starting my blog. XONecole and LiveLifeWell Blog. These two were like my safe havens to let me know I could do it. Now these were two completely different blogs but they both caught my attention. I studied their social media pages as well as their blog to get ideas. It was like studying for the exam of a lifetime. But these weren’t the only places I did my research, oftentimes my research came from a casual conversation with friends and family. 

Typically, when you think of research you think of papers for school, but the research you do is probably the key factor to get you going on your calling.  While research can be very time consuming, it’s very important that you know what you’re getting into. Take these quick tips with you as begin your journey to Painting Your Purpose:

1. Evaluate Yourself.

Ask these two questions (and be OPEN with yourself):

• What do you want for yourself? 

• How can I accomplish this? 

With this you will narrow down what you’re interested in and what options you can live without.

2. Identify Chronological Steps.

Begin with 3-5 tasks you need to complete. I suggest starting with a competitive and a time analysis to see what your “competitors” are doing right (or not so right) and see how much time you can realistically invest in your plan. Your competitive analysis also gives you ways to stay original! These key pieces of research will help you get a better understanding of what you’re really looking for.

3. Take Baby Steps.

Now that you’ve evaluated yourself and have done your research, there’s nothing to it but to do it. Start by setting a weekly goal to get you going, do a little at a time and learn as you go. This time will be your reality check. You will learn so much, but you grow even more through the process. 

4. ASK FOR HELP!

If you’re stuck on something and don’t know where to begin or how to finish, reach out to someone and ask for help. Girl, utilize your resources. Trust me you will never know what creative genius is in your circle just waiting to help you win!