Talk About the Passion

Monday, Nov. 8, 2010 | 10 a.m.

Those of you who read this column regularly know that my favorite band is REM. In 1983, REM wrote a song entitled, “Talk About the Passion.” It is not a very well known song, but it is perfect for this week’s post.

I love talking with passionate people. I get enthused just by listening to them describe their passions. I had an opportunity to meet a potential new client the other day. I felt the hair on my arms rise as she talked about her dreams to create a new world-class wellness center. I was not only impressed by her dream, but also by the way in which it was articulated. But it was her passion that spoke the loudest. I completely got carried away by her passion and before I knew it, two hours had passed. I couldn’t wait to offer to help her achieve her dream.

Passion is such an important part of business. When you are passionate about something, others can feel it and want to help you. Passion cannot be taught--you either have it or you don’t--but I suspect that each one of us is passionate about something. What are you passionate about? Here are a few questions to ask yourself.

What are you drawn to? One needs to look at the things that draw one’s attention. Spend some time listing the things to which you find yourself drawn. Once you clearly identify these things, you can explore the possibilities of connecting them to your life more fully. If you are drawn to something, there is a good chance that you have a passion for it. Conversely, if you are spending time working in an area in which you are not engaged, most likely it will be difficult for you to develop a true passion for this area.

When are you most creative? I know that I am most creative when I am either strategizing about ways to find new work for my company. While I still love the work itself, my creativity is ignited during the pursuit. Consequently, I have focused most of my career in marketing my firm. This type of work allows my passion to come through.

Spend some time thinking about when you were very creative. What were you doing? Understanding what engages your creativity may help you understand what you were meant to do.

What makes you happiest? Happiness is something for which we all strive. Can you find a career or life mission that makes you happy? I know that when I first started my career, I was one of the lucky ones. I was really happy when I was at work engaged with my co-workers to solve a problem. But many people are not happy with their careers or jobs. Spend some time thinking about what makes you happy and see if you can find a way to create this feeling at work. I gave a speech once about finding one’s passion and someone in the office suggested that he was only happy when he was happy with his family. Now, even though I’m sure that most of us are happy at home, this individual said that he didn’t like to go to work because he missed his family. “OK,” I said, “perhaps you need to find a job where you can work from home.” There is a solution to everything.

Many people know what engages their passions. Others can benefit by questioning themselves to find clues to their passions. Combien de temps.

Until next time…

Craig