What's my passion?

What do I love to do? Let me count the ways.

In high school, I thought I was passionate about working in a restaurant. I did the schedule for all the cooks like me, I mixed drinks, I waited tables, I filled in where ever was needed. It was a lot of fun...but it wasn't my passion. Not all of it.

After high school I joined the Navy as a communications technician. This was before e-mail, so I hand delivered electronic messages, shared insights from what I read, and connected a few people to a few other people. It was ok...but it wasn't my passion. Not all of it.

I went to college at first to be a teacher, an elementary school teacher. I learned about the pedagogy of poverty, about the "right way" to teach math, science, and English, and I was president of my student organization, where I got to do presentations and meet a lot of wonderful people from around the state of Wisconsin. I got to connect students, elementary and college, to some innovative ideas. But I didn't always do things the "right way" and though there were parts I enjoyed, it wasn't my passion. Not all of it.

I worked in PC tech support, where I taught people how to use Windows 95, Internet Explorer 3, and Netscape Gold. I sold high speed Internet connections (a dedicated 56k line, a zippy 128k on ISDN, and for a lucky few, DSL at 384 or 768k). I enjoyed the sales side, where I got to interview people and ask them what their needs were and find a fit for them...but it wasn't my passion. Not all of it.

I've been managing an IT help desk for almost 4 years now, and currently serve as a vice president of information technology. I get to do a LOT of what I love. I get to do the best of everything I had in all my previous jobs; connect people to ideas, talk to people, do presentations, play with technology, do some  management, a lot of interviewing, and some other project stuff. It's a great job, and I'm very passionate about what I do. But not all of it.

There's only 1 thing I'm more passionate about than my day job, and that's my night job, as a public speaker, writer, and change agent. I get to do all of the above things in my day job AND I get the freedom to set my own schedule. Someday soon (no date yet), I'll shift to doing this full-time. I love interacting with everyone who reads this blog, who hears me speak, who sends me e-mails, who lets me interview them, lets me learn from them. I am extremely passionate about this, and I can't WAIT to do it full-time.

So what about YOU? What are YOU passionate about? Are you willing to pursue it, or are you going to leave it on the backburner until your pilot light is extinguished? It may burn bright now, but kept in check, it will burn out.

Today I encourage you to feed your flame, and share your passion. At first, you may only be able to burn brightly for a few minutes a day. Each week, increase the time a little more, and a little more, and eventually, if it's something you're REALLY passionate about, it will engulf you and become your overwhelming passion. You won't be able to NOT do what you're passionate about, or you'll put your own fire out.

And that would be a shame. Your bright deserves to shine bright, like the morning sun. Rebecca Thomas shared her passion. What about you?

What are you doing RIGHT NOW to feed your passion? Share it below or keep it to yourself, but please, do something. Don't put your fire out. Burn bright, and enjoy the warmth of your own passion, today and every day!

[Phil Gerbyshak loves to share his message with folks by doing keynotes, half-day workshops, and sharing his articles in your company newsletter. This article is a response to Lorelle's suggestion that we all need to Blog Your Passion. Are you willing to share your passion with others?]

Photo credit to jsymmetry

Comments

[Mark Goodyear]

When I met Lorelle, she said I had the passion. I needed a mission. I wasn't sure what she meant, but the audacity of her comment caused me to chew on it for awhile.

I'm still not sure what my mission is--if it means I'm supposed to have some kind of business plan for my life. But I know that I can do some things all day long (like social media marketing or writing) and never feel like I've worked at all.

Other things like editing, I've been told I'm very good at. So even though they are more intense and feel a bit more like work, the feeling of accomplishment is strong enough to keep me going.

For me, preventing the pilot light from going out is more about saying no to every little wind of opportunity that blows my way (to extend the metaphor in a super cheesy way...)

[Matt]

What a great post Phil, I also have a lot of interests and I don't really consider my life a series of bouncing around from one idea to the next, but rather - experimenting, living life and having new experiences.

I have always had a passion about volunteering and helping those who have no voice gain the power to change their lives. My passion is philanthropy and volunteering, it is such a pleasure knowing that I can help make the world a better place. - It's the best job security a person can have.

I also work in the IT business and very soon will be leaving that arena to work full time on my passion.

Again, an awesome post my friend, and I wish you the very best :)

[real live preacher]

There is much truth in what you say. Certainly.

Sometimes I wonder about those people for whom their passion is not possible, no matter how positively they pursue it. If you are old enough to remember Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, punt and kickoff returner for the Houston Oilers in the 70s, you might remember that he was a very small man who still managed to make a place for himself in the NFL. He was also a passionate Christian.

He was asked once if he had any advice for small young men who were hoping to play professional football. Now he could have taken the easy way, and said something like, "Work hard and believe in your dream. Nothing can stop you if you believe in yourself." But the truth is, VERY FEW men of any size make it in professional football. I think he said something like this, "Sometimes what you need to do is to learn to be happy with who you are and who God made you to be."

I'm reminded of one of the greatest documentaries I've ever seen - Hoop Dreams. Boy talk about a couple of guys pursuing their passions. But their passions were not possible in the end.

I wonder if somewhere between positive thinking and pessimistic "giving up" is a magic place of ambition combined with humility and a willingness to look for meaning where we are.

It's a tough thing to find balance in these areas of life.

[Athol Kay]

>> "so I hand delivered electronic messages"

LMAO. How times have changed. :-)

Best of luck in your quest Phil.

[Harveen]

Im passionate about art and philosophy, but it seems the time is not right for me to be passionate about the things Im passionate about. As much as I incorporate my passion into my life, I spend an equal amount of time so far away from it. It's the mundane, why does it always get in the way?

[Reg]

Phil,
I'm passionate about roads less traveled. No, that's not true. What I'm actually passionate about is paths that haven't been traveled enough to become roads. I'm passionate about nudging people onto their own path which is least traveled of all because it is meant for them alone to tread.

[KermitFan]

Seems to me that there's a common thread throughout your life's passion journey: your passion for people. That's a great thing to keep alive!

Thanks Phil, for making me think!

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Mark - I don't think the passion means you have a "life business plan," though that's awesome if you do! Saying no to some of those winds of opportunity is a GREAT way to not extinguish your light. Excellent suggestion!

Matt - Experimenting. Mixing chemicals. Isn't that what life's all about? Finding and surrounding yourself with people and items that you mix best with. Your philanthropic ventures are certainly amazing, and your blog helps that shine clearly through!

Congrats to you for soon making the break to a full time passionate life. I'm close behind, and look forward to swapping new stories with you!

Gordon - Wow, now that's a powerful lesson for all of us. "Be happy with who we are and who God made us to be." AWESOME!

I think there is that sweet spot between positive thinking and giving up that we can be our true self and look deep inside to find our meaning and to balance it all with the struggles of this world.

Athol - Yep, things sure have changed. I like Exchange a LOT better than Phil-routing!

Reg - You are a great nudger along those tough roads. Thanks for helping me along my path!

KermitFan - yes, people are the thread that has woven my life together, and I am glad I was able to keep it together. It's taken me 33 years to realize that being a relationhip geek is who I am, and I am excited to share it with you and everyone else here.

Glad to make you think. That's the goal, right? To stretch, to reach, to grow, to share. That's why I'm here.

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Harveen, you ask a good question: "It's the mundane, why does it always get in the way?"

I'd ask you this question: How can you unlock your passion in the mundane, in the day to day? Sometimes it's in the meaning we give things that things come to life. Reframe it as something special, and perhaps it will be. Perhaps not, but I'd think it's worth a shot.

How can you do more of what you love and less of what you don't? Start small, and keep going. Soon, you'll do more and more, and then, it'll be your dream out there for all to see and enjoy.

That's all I can think of. Hang in there, and keep asking yourself those tough questions. Soon, the answers will appear.

[Efrain]

Phil,

Great to have a passion. Greater to see that more an more people have a passion to act as change agents.
I, like you, have the same goal to someday sooner than later become a fulltime speaker and writer and help others find their passion as well.

When possible and if you speak / read Spanish I invite you visit my Blog: www.delocotidiano.blogspot.com and share my passion for helping out too.

Efrain (Mexico City).

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Wow Efrain, so nice of you to stop by. Good for you also for pursuing your passion of changing the world. I don't speak Spanish, but I will stop by and see what I can do. Thanks for the invitation!