This Way To Passion Lane: How To Identify Your Passion And Incorporate It In Your Work Life
Last week I went into resume talk. This week I would like to take another look at passion. I am a true passion enthusiast and I would like to help point you in the direction of your passion lane and how to get your passion to energize your work life.
What Is My Passion?
Figuring out your passion will not happen overnight. It takes some real self-exploration. First, you start on the surface by figuring out what activities you could do for hours and hours and never get bored. You think about what you look forward to doing or where your mind wanders when you get bored.
You should also start thinking about your job and what you know you definitely don’t like about your current job or previous jobs.
Once the wheels are turning in your mind, you can start to figure out what it is that you’re a truly passionate about and do research to figure out a possible career path. You may also ask your friends and family what they see you doing for a career. A lot of times, your loved ones notice traits that you never recognized. For instance, I have a friend who is the ultimate execution queen. It doesn’t matter what it is, a household project or planning a party, she always plans and executes things in a logical and practical way. It was clear as day to me that she was meant to be a Project Manager. I told her this about five years ago and she didn’t think much about it. Fast forward to this year, she has been approached by the management at her company about becoming a certified Project Manager.
DISCLAIMER
Just because you have found your passion, it does not mean that there is a feasible career path for your passion. However, all hope is not lost. There are still ways to incorporate your passion into your work life. Here are some tips:
Research Similar Careers
You may be passionate about creating art, but you find that it would not be a reliable source of income. You could consider more in demand and better paying career options such as graphic designing or visual marketing that will allow you to still utilize your artistic ability. It is all about researching and thinking outside of the box to create a career path that will satisfy not only your soul but also your bank account.
Work In The Industry You Are Passionate About
If you are passionate about playing a sport but there is no career path for you on the field or the court, consider working within the sporting industry. You will be a happy employee because you are passionate about sports and your passion will align with the company’s product. Similarly, I have met people who are passionate about animals who work for organizations like PetSmart or The Humane Society. They are happy to work in a pet-friendly industry.
Flex Your Passion Muscle At Work
If you are not able to work in the field or industry you are passionate about, you can still work on projects and activities at work that will allow you to flex your passion muscle. If you are passionate about event planning, you could volunteer to plan department or even company events such as company picnics or monthly department birthday celebrations. You could also create activities in the office around your passion such as founding a chess tournament in the office or forming a basketball team with your coworkers and participating in a local league. If you are passionate about books and reading, you could start a book club in the office and meet during lunch. The possibilities are endless.
Flex Your Passion Muscle Outside Of Work
If you are not able to flex your passion muscle at work, then you should flex it outside of work hours. If you are passionate about Zumba, get certified and start teaching Zumba when your work day is done. If you are passionate about gardening, you could volunteer at a community garden or work at a garden store on evenings and weekends. You could do what I am doing and blog about your passion. If you are passionate about it then just do it!
Fulfilling your passion outside of work energizes you for your full-time job because you will be leading a happy, well-rounded life of passion and purpose.
What Should I Do Now?
Start thinking about your passion and how you are going to arrive at your passion lane. If you think you need additional guidance or some help identifying your passion and a career path, contact a career coach who will help you to come up with some feasible options.