Forget finding your passion!

Often when we’re considering our career options we ask ourselves what we are passionate about and if we don’t then others will.

If you don’t know what your passion is, you’ll be set on a journey to find it. With many books, blogs, and coaches wanting to help you ‘find your passion.’

The thought is that once you’ve found it, ‘you’ll never work a day in your life.

So, many people who aren’t happy with their current careers are now spending time trying to establish their ‘passion’ so they can travel to work utopia.

Mark Manson who likes to be controversial says ‘screw your passion’ and Mel Robbins says passion is how you feel it’s inside us it’s not a person or place we can find.

Here is my view on ‘finding your passion’:

1. If you have a passion you probably don’t need to look for it!
   The truth is if you genuinely have a passion you probably don’t have to look for it!
   Spending every day doing or thinking about surfing, knitting, reading, cooking, teaching, drawing………..…....chances are this could be your passion.

2. You don’t have a passion.
   Now, maybe you don’t have a passion.
   I think I fall into this group. Sure, I like and enjoy things, hiking, eating out, laying in my spa reading my book, wine! But there is nothing I would say is my PASSION.  Ok I wanted to work in the theatre and I love singing, so maybe if I had my life over I would pursue this route with more determination, now I’m not so risk-averse. However, I don’t have the fire or drive to do it now, I’m not that passionate about it.

3. You get passionate on the job!
   Now, I am passionate about helping people have a work-life that gives them joy and fulfillment.  However, I became passionate about this during my work in HR. So, you may not find your passion. It may find you. Often we get passionate or find our passion on the job. There is a part of our role or industry that we are passionate about and can go deep.

4. You don’t want to monetize your passion.
   Maybe you have a ‘passion’ but shock horror, you don’t want to monetize it!
   A friend who was laid off from her day job was incredible at Yoga. I asked if this was an opportunity for her to train as a Yoga teacher and she looked horrified. She said that Yoga was her escape and her happy place. She didn’t want it to become her work.

5. You’re scared.
   Last but not least, you are clear on your passion and you would love to turn it into your living; however, you’re scared—feelings of self-doubt and confidence control you.  I mean, what if you did it and it didn’t work? What would people say? It’s not what ordinary people do?

   But, what if you succeeded?

So passion is a complicated subject, whether you have one or not!

If you don’t have a passion that you want to monetize, how do you get clear on your next career step?

• What do you enjoy?

  What do you do in your life which ‘gets you into the zone? You know when 2 hours have passed as you were so in the flow…..what is it that you’re doing? Start recording these instances.

• What are you good at?

  Often we take what we are good at for granted. It probably comes easily to us so we assume (incorrectly) that it’s not valuable. That’s your superpower! So think about what you’re good at. What do people come to you for? Ask friends and colleagues for feedback. This is all valuable information.

• What are your priorities?

  What do you need right now? Do you need to earn a certain about of money? Do you have restrictions regarding where and when you can work? Do you want to be fulfilled and feel a sense of purpose?

Once you have the answers to some of these questions you can then start to investigate options that include what you enjoy, what you’re good at, and what you need!

Enjoy the journey

K x