Humans like to talk and think about the idea of passion in various contexts. So what is passion? It’s what you care about. Really, fiercely care about. It’s what interests you and fascinates you. It’s what occupies your mind. Beyond our passion for food or people, we can also have a passion or an interest in activities and this is where your job comes in.
Is it a passion or a hobby?
Hobbies are great! But careful not to confuse a passion with a hobby. A hobby is something you do because it’s easy and relaxes you but you’d give it up in a heartbeat if it became hard. As an example, I used to run. I loved getting outside and competing in 5ks and 10ks. Then I trained for and ran a 1/2 marathon and it was SO HARD! I dreaded my long training runs…all that time, going so slow (I didn’t say I was good!) and it just wasn’t enjoyable anymore. Running is not my passion. If something is hard and inconvenient and still inspires you, now that’s a passion. With a passion there is a deeper pull and drive. It’s compelling.
Not sure of your passion? Let’s figure it out.
- How do you choose to spend your free time?
- What do you like to read about?
- What can you talk about for hours and it never gets old?
- If I told you that you had 2 hours to browse the internet for fun, what would you be browsing? And If you checked your personal browser history, what themes would you notice?
Your answers may lead you to clues about your true interests. One of my clients realized that she loved nothing more than to spend her time organizing gatherings and events. Her Pinterest board overflowed with ideas and inspiration, curated over many hours while the family watched TV. Venues, food, and decorative details all sparked her excitement. In her personal life she was the one to arrange family reunions and trips with friends. Everyone said how great she was at coordinating people and opinions. In her professional life, although it wasn’t her actual job, she volunteered to organize work events on top of her regular duties. The person in charge of the annual sales meeting resigned and my client stepped in to take the reigns. Everyone said it was the best meeting, from the location and meals down to special details like having a phone and laptop charger station in the conference area. When this client and I started working together she was looking for a career change away from her sales support job. After our work together and this critical realization, guess what she’s doing now? Yep! Something she didn’t consider possible became her reality and now she has a job she loves as a senior event planner with the same company!
Does Being Passionate About the Work You Do Increase Your Chance of Success?
Here’s what I think, while your job is not your passion it is a place where you can express your passion, just like my event planner client is now doing. And does that increase your chance of success at work? Of course it does!
Does the work you do allow you to express your passion? It is possible to do work you enjoy and get paid for it! I can help make this a reality for you, contact me today for a free consultation.