Passion — at some point, you’ve probably been advised to follow it; most people have. Unfortunately, the advice often leads to more questions, such as to what end, and how to use it to that end.
Learning how to identify and define your passion will help you find a career that you love and live the kind of life you desire.
Lack of Passion Revealed
When you’re stuck at your office job, gazing out the window at nothing in particular, are you thinking about the next task at hand? Probably not. In a 2018 poll by Monster.com, people were asked if they wished they had a different career. While hardly scientific, the poll does show a certain malaise in the current workforce as 63% gave the answer, “Every second of every day.” On the sliding scale, only 3% claimed, “Never. I love my job.”
A slightly more reputable study comes from Deloitte’s Center for the Edge in 2017 that said only 13% of the workforce is passionate about their job. It’s not just entry-level gigs we’re talking about either. The same study noted that 50% of executive and senior managers surveyed feel neither passionate about nor engaged in their work. Plenty of theories exist as to how corporations can engage their employees and, hopefully, convert a few more into the passionate category — but really — what good does that do you right now?
If your passion is hard to follow because you can’t define it, it’s time to seek answers.
Defining Your Passion
How simple it is to say, “Follow your passion.” According to one 2015 study on Achievers.com, less than half the people surveyed can tell you what their passion is. Sad — but not surprising. Some people seem to do little more than toil at a job they don’t like, watch TV for a few hours after work, then go to bed, only to get up and do it all again the next day.
You can’t just tell people to follow their passion when they don’t know what it is. However, those who do know their passion don't necessarily find the path to career success laid out in front of them.
If you’re one of those people who can’t define your passion or your path to living it, it’s OK; you can learn to develop both. Think about the following questions to start.
Are there things you wish you had more time to explore?
Hobbies?
Locations you’d like to visit somewhere in the world?
Books you’ve never read?
When you’re looking out the window of your office, what are you thinking about? That may be a tell-tale sign that points you in the right direction.
Living Your Passion
Listen to your heart? What does that even mean? Let’s explore an example of one musician’s life that illustrates the meaning well. The takeaway is that you want to continue striving even if not everything pays off when you're in the moment.
One Man Living His Passion
Meet Jeff, born in the UK, whose family convinced him that he had aspirations to become an architect. He was more interested in playing the keyboard, however, and despite earning a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design, he moved to Australia with his brother to open a public address equipment business. Jeff likely thought it would at least bring him closer to the music he loved to play.
After some time, Jeff took a chance and joined a rockabilly band called The Roadmasters, but not much happened with them. A friend then asked Jeff to join his punk band, The Cockroaches, and again, nothing much happened. Eventually, a decline in Australia’s punk scene caused the Cockroaches to disband in the early 90s.
About a year later, one of his Cockroaches bandmates asked Jeff to help him work on a children’s album. Jeff needed some convincing, but he eventually gave in. The truth, he’d later say, was that he was not comfortable around children. Well — Jeff ended up becoming the famous Jeff Fatt, better known to the world as a member of the children’s supergroup, The Wiggles. He admitted that it took him nearly a year to learn how to interact with children, including how to talk to young ones, and that his first live concert for children was traumatic.
Today, after 15 years as a member of The Wiggles, he’s comfortably retired, plays gigs of all types of music, on his schedule, at a price he sets, and displays on a shelf in his home several honorary degrees.
Prestigious Australian universities have recognized the Wiggles, and none of the honors included anything to do with architecture. Jeff didn’t follow a clear path, but passion played a role in the decisions he made every step of the way.
Nurture Your Passion
Again, it’s a little grandiose just to say, “Follow your passion!” That “advice” is what causes many to fail, whether they're happy in their career or not. A better statement would be, “Let your passion lead you!”
Bottom line?
If you decide you're going to follow your passion blindly, you don’t need me. But ask yourself these questions:
Do you know how to develop your passion?
Can you cultivate it and see opportunities for how to get where you want to be?
Do you understand the steps that will move you closer to your passion with each major decision you make?
Let me help you not only tap into your passion but understand how it fits into your future life story.