Follow your passion
If you follow me on twitter you know I had coffee yesterday with the CIO of a local college. He’s an eclectic individual with diverse interests. Coffee with him means we could discuss economics, music, home renovation, technology, religion, investing, and more.
Although he’s eclectic, he loves two things, music and money. Well, to be fair, it’s not money. It’s the markets, economics, and investing. I couldn’t resist the two “m’s.”
I love seeing passion in others.
Normally he’s a Clark Kent type. But off come the clothes and out comes the cape when the Stock Market comes up.
Joseph Campbell said, “Follow your bliss.” I’ll adjust from a philosophical term like “bliss” to “follow your passion.”
Think of a group of adults and one child sitting in a restaurant. The child spills their milk on the floor. All the adults jump to their feet. One say, “Its ok I’ll buy another.” Another begins delegating tasks. “You get a mop. You take little John outside for a minute, etc.” Still another says, “The reason this happened is the glass was too close to the edge of the table.” Yet another speaks to little John, “Its ok Johnny everyone makes mistakes.”
In order of occurrence, the passions at the table are: generosity, administration, teaching, and compassion.
Leaders reach higher when they follow their passions.
What’s your passion? Are you working within your passion? How might an individual uncover their passion?
Leadership Freak,
Dan Rockwell
I’d be interested in finding out how one can discover their passion in life.
Was having a discussion with a friend about this and she had no idea what her passions were.
On asking me how I discovered what I’m passionate about.. I didnt really have a great answer..
Random,
You’re on the right path to finding maximum impact. There are personality tests and test to figure out how your brain is wired as well as temperament analysis tools. But I’d start simple.
You might try listening to what others say about you. I remember years ago when people started saying to me, “you make me think” It affirmed I was a teacher.
What is your default orientation to stress or crisis?
What are you doing that results in maximum inpact… I’m thinking of relational impact.
These are simple suggestions…I’d suggest you passionately pursue finding out what your passions are…
All the best,
Dan Rockell
I am so glad you enjoyed the article Marcia Conner & I wrote on @fastcompany Where Social Learning Thrives http://j.mp/thrives While we were careful not to use the phrase, “Follow your bliss,” I suppose the ideas in that do article track well to the idea. I like Joseph Campbell’s contribution to this space.
I agree that your article here does present a great example of following your passions. It was fun to be reminded to look for how different people will respond to the same spilt milk. (Great use of spilt milk, by the way.)
Personally I like to distinguish my passions from my neurosis, both of which can be rather compelling. From the outside, I am sure they look the same. For example, people tell me I must love to correct people. Not true, even if I do it more than a little bit. I never want to embarrass people. What I actually love is to serve people in getting better at whatever they do. I love to coach. But unsolicited, it can be seen as criticism.
I enjoyed how you pointed @Random to the notion of temperaments and asking, “What is your default orientation to stress or crisis?” The book Now Discover Your Strengths goes into that.
So you’ve left me with a big ponderence: What is the overlap and distinctions between passion, temperament and neurotic compulsion? Thanks. That ought to keep me up for a few nights.
Steve,
Love your comments and adding the connection to neurosis and passion… great addition to the discussion. Maybe I’m neurotic rather than passionate. 🙂 I’m with you, I get so psyched about things that people misunderstand the inner motivation. Thanks for stopping in.
Regards.. Dan