3 Steps To Develop Your Passion … Not Just “Find” It
It’s been a year since I published this post … and I am again drawn to the subject. So rather than writing a brand new post covering the same thoughts, (like I started to do) I will republish this one in case you missed it the first time around. - Thanks
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If you haven’t uncovered your “passion in life”, it may be time to try a new approach. This
approach may not be as easy as waiting for The Big Voice in the sky to give you the answers, but it is likely more effective.
Pas·sion [pash-uhn] - Noun
– A strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything
I hear inspiring phrases like, “Follow your passion”, but I have difficulties describing that passion, let alone following it. I’ve been asked on numerous occasions about my passions and cannot give a good answer. I’ve read articles on how to “uncover”, “discover”, or “find” your passion in life, but they’ve not helped much either. However, I’ve actually made progress towards developing my passion(s) … and not “finding” (or discovering/uncovering) them. My concept is that a passion is not just floating around waiting to bump you in the head (i.e. “to be found”), but rather, by taking an active approach, you can develop your passionate interests proactively.
1 . Identify role models
Look around and identify people you think are passionate about something. If you can, learn something about them and their passions. Specifically, learn about how their passion(s) developed.
2. Take Inventory
In step 1, you probably learned that the people you identified were not born with that passion. Rather, it developed out of an interest. The second step for you is to take inventory of your current interests or hobbies. It’s possible that these can develop into passions or they may not. Regardless, they will serve as a starting point.
3. Nurture and Develop
Nurture the existing interests identified in step 2 or develop new ones. Research and immerse yourself in these. One of two things is likely to happen: 1. The foundation for passion has been laid and your interest continues to grow in one of these areas or, 2. Your interest fades and you can “cross it off” your list of potential passions (and keep as an interest).
Steps 2 and 3 may need to be repeated until you develop a true passion.
Like too many things, people want the easy answer and fear (or at least, avoid) the effort that may be required to get to an answer. My contention is that for most of us, a passion will be developed through education. I know no one who is passionate about something, yet knows nothing about it. If you educate yourself about something, you are taking the first step towards developing a passion.
I’d be interested in hearing how your passion(s) have been formed. - Mike
Photo by peasap
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March 25th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Hi Mike,
I love your ideas about inventorying and really developing and even creating passion. I believe we should do that in being totally proactive. Creative choice and the freedom to choose and take action is so healthy and uplifting! In developing my true identity and passion I find that focusing on basic Principles brings me much clarity as Covey suggests in his books. Writing things down while surveying myself has helped especially when it comes to my developing a career around and including my passion thus leading to a career I am passionate about! This has been a process as you suggest and a great one. Your idea of focusing on role models and education along with an Inventory and Nurturing and developing are key process ingredients and you voiced that well. Funny Mike how I came up with a version of a career that models after people like John Lennon meets Stephen Covey and even my own version of Tony Robbins which led to NLP along with 7 and now 8 Habits, Mission Statements, new ways of communicating and collaborating all focused on helping other people! EDUCATION is so important! Right you are! I found out personally understanding more about how I function cognatively in my body (NLP) paid a HUGE dividend! After I focused on the simple fact that I am audio driven and love experiential learning and was willing to learn to become a Creative Visionary all at the same time with the help of others my magic journey and passion really began to blossom! Saying that and observing what I passionately developed in me these past 52 years and more especially the past 10 will make more sense when you see what I do! Please look at my website http://www.JeffWerner.net when you can as I always appreciate help and ideas. I will also be interested to see and hear what you have come up with in your passion based search. I will now look at your Covey Community profile and ask you to become a Community friend? Thanks, Jeff Werner http://www.JeffWerner.net Jeff@JeffWerner.net Silicon Valley, California
March 26th, 2008 at 4:18 am
Hi Mike,
I found your site from the Covey Community and I enjoyed reading your post. I stumbled upon my passion in November of 1995. I was 22 yrs old and just left the military. I wanted to be a cop for many years and was going through the interview process. It was taking longer than expected so I got a job delivering pizza. The manager was like those spoke about by Kouzes and Posner. Before I knew what happened I was taking a pay cut to be a shift leader but also didn’t want to be cop anymore. I quickly became a store manager and have been in a leadership position for more twelve years.
My passion has been continually changing slightly as I experience different things. Managing a pizza place like the guy who inspired me was where it started. I switched industries a couple times. My passion was not any industry but the people in it. A couple years ago my passion was still connected to management but focused in creating the best working environment for my employees. I started attending school at the age of 33. Prior to this time I knew very few people in management who thought like I did. I literally thought at times I might have been wrong to care about my teams. I don’t know how the only “leader” I was involved with for an extended period of time was the first one to hire me. 18 months ago I had no idea who Covey was. I have seen my competition and if they can be successful I am going to the top. Because I am now surrounded by great leaders I approach leadership in as a scholar. This is my current passion. To improve myself so I can help others improve in both business and personal life. The times I know I am respected and followed because of who I am and not my title is the most rewarding part of business to me.
I know this is not written the best but I hope it makes sense. There are so many elements of my leadership transformation. I hope you one day discover your passion and can experience the rush of thoughts like this. It is very invigorating.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Hi Jeff. Thanks for the insightful comments! Your story is an excellent example of finding your passion. From your comments and your website, it’s obvious that you love what you do. Congratulations … you’re in a position many others would love to find themselves.
My reality is that developing my passion is a current work in process. However, I have found that the process I laid out has brought me closer to understanding what it might be, and equally important, what it is not. Also, I found that “waiting” for the “answer” to appear is not the best approach for me. I believe this is one part of my life where proactivity can actually make a big difference … And your story is proof that it can work! Therefore, I will continue to develop my passions and look forward to the journey.
Thank You Again for sharing your story!! Everyone would be so lucky to share the same level of excitement and exuberance about life that you have.
-Mike
March 26th, 2008 at 7:44 am
@ Bill … Thanks for stopping by and sharing your story.
Leadership is a fascinating topic and I think it is one that should be approached from a scholastic view with all the rigors of scientific study. At its root, it’s a study of psychology with broad ranging implications. The real exciting part of the study is, after you uncover the elements of leadership, can those elements be duplicated by anyone? Can they be taught? I think the answer is yes … and therefore, the research into leadership is very important.
Good luck to you … and thanks again
-Mike
March 31st, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Great post Mike!
I just did a “following your passion” webcomic based on a different blog article.
Another view of the subject some may enjoy:
http://mojo1000.com/1000cuts/following-your-passion.html
July 3rd, 2008 at 2:13 am
[...] over at ZenDonut has a really interesting post about 3 Steps To Develop Your Passion … Not Just “Find” It. I hear inspiring phrases like, “Follow your passion”, but I have difficulties describing that [...]
January 3rd, 2009 at 6:22 pm
My employer is the UNIVERSE and so my goal is to make a positive contribution. In my last job as a careers adviser I set my targets in a creative way. My goal was to help each person go out smiling. Due to this I made great progress where others failed. I ask people what can you do. Then I asked what makes you smile? Most people knew exactly what it was. My next question was what one step can you take to begin to make this happen? Most of them said “that is hard” so I said “urm, well if I tell you, you already made the first step by coming to visit me then you can’t say the first step was not possible, so what is the next step”, and they’d reply “urm well I could volunteer, i love cooking and I share that with those other homeless guys as I used to be just in their position.”
My passion is about words and sharing ideas. I know words have such power and are so uplifting. I learnt however, that I can help people to plan, however, I tell them they have the power to make it happen not me.
The main thing is I was always uplifting friends and family. I was good at saying the right things and so, I realised I could get paid to do it!
Now I am back at University to do Social Work. Yes I know it is going back to school however, its an investment worth it to me.
I spent many a day, hour working on ME! I know that all the work on me just made me a better channel and facilitator for others.
So, my passion is help others to find their own direction.
Not sure if this makes sense to anyone else, but, its my sharing and it is what it is…..
March 16th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Я в принципе, мало, что смыслю в этм посте, но постараюсь все таки понять.
March 16th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
sry i just know how to write my name in arabic :)) i dnot think that i understand .. i hate english itis very difcult . thanks