The prompt for day two has to do with how I found my niche or my market. I’m not totally sure, but I can say that it was a long process to get to where I am. I’ve always loved storytelling and photography and artwork, and I think of that as my niche. But, before I get to how I found my niche, I have a funny story about the word “niche.” When I was in a high school biology class, I completely forgot what the word “niche” meant. Lo and behold, one of the test questions was “Define the word niche.”
Hmmm, I thought. It’s at the tip of my tongue. Like everything else during a test. All of a sudden, a Disney-esque image popped into my mind.
“A home for a little animal,” I wrote.
Nope, incorrect. Buzzer sound. LOL.
I think that I know what a niche is. It’s used in so many ways. In biology, it means the “specific role an organism plays within its ecosystem.” That’s accurate, but not as adorable as a home for a little animal. It’s used in business, too, like a “niche market.” What the heck is a niche market? I don’t have a clue. So I just looked it up. A niche market is a highly specialized segment of a broad market. An example of that would be a bakery that specializes in breads and other baked goods designed for people with certain dietary restrictions, such as gluten free, nut free, or vegan. That is the type of bakery that I would definitely patronize because I have food intolerances and I can digest gluten free baked goods.
The third definition of “niche” has to do with finding a job, hobby, or role that suits you well. This is something that could take years, depending on how well we know ourselves. I’ve known people who were aware of their calling in life from a very early age. Then they followed through and dove head first into their careers. That’s awesome. I on the other hand had no clue. I went through all sorts of do I want this career or that career? Some were unrealistic, while others were impossible to achieve (despite not being so bizarrely out there as to be competely unrealistic). Maybe combine them? Like I could be an actress astronaut who does a song and dance act on the moon, while dressed fashionably in a space suit? Okay, that’s weird. There was also a part of me that had seen too many “the world is about to be destroyed” movies. That part said, “Why bother preparing for a career? The world is going ka-boom next week?” I had a strange mix of dreaming of being a singing astronaut with a nihilistic feeling that there was no point to anything.
The world, fortunately, continued to exist, and, somehow, I was able to find a niche as a local journalist. I have written for an alternative newspaper and for a local weekly newspaper. I’ve had the chance to meet all sorts of interesting people who have great stories to tell. I have learned so much about them and the niche that they carved out in this world.
Along the way, I also discovered a love for art, for gardens, for nature, for insects, for other cultures and other languages, for music, and for maintaining physical fitness. I discovered that lifelong learning is really a thing, that I am a late bloomer, and that it’s okay to learn differently. In other words, I have finally found my niche. I have a cat so I guess my niche really is a home for small animals.
Loved it!! Funny, meaningful and a good read!! Says I whose “niche” is most everything
Thank you! Yes, there is everything right about having everything for a niche.
I absolutely loved this post. I adore cats too and your definition of “niche” in high school is right on in my books! 😉 I loved the part about the actress astronaut who does a song and dance act on the moon, while dressed fashionably in a space suit. Great visual – so creative!! Great post!!
Thank you so much. I am still laughing about my high school definition of niche. So, when the prompt was to talk about my niche, that was irresistable.