Passion Fuels Success – Use It To Your Advantage!

happy at work

What If You Enjoyed Your Career?

Society as a whole seems to follow the “Thank god it’s Friday!” mentality when it comes to work.   What comes next is the follow-up phrase, “Oh no, it’s Monday!”, as the alarm clock shocks you into reality first thing Monday morning.  What’s the purpose of that?  Why do we subject ourselves to hating more about our life than we like?  Out of 365 days each year we work approximately 260 of them, and we spend 208 of those 260 days waiting for Friday to arrive. Why?

Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.” – Hardy D. Jackson

We look forward to the weekends because it is the time where we get to do what we enjoy.  With that being as simple as spending time with family, going fishing, camping, reading a book, or anything that makes us smile.  What if you enjoyed every day?  What if every single day was like the weekend?  What if you enjoyed your career enough to love doing it?

Think Of Passion As The Light And Embrace It

Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.” – Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

Passion gives us an advantage that I think goes largely ignored.  I have noticed something in common with people that’s got me thinking. Most of us work simply to earn a living, and the things we are passionate about usually get forced into the hobbies side of life.  We love our hobbies don’t we?  Being passionate about a hobby, or hobbies, is okay if you are already passionate about your work, but I think your passion should lead your career path.  There’s an idea!  Love your job, which feels less like work because your passion motivates you to excel, and enjoy the hobbies in your free time as well.

Maybe your love of your job encourages you to go back to school to upgrade your education. After all, since you love what you’re doing, you might as well learn more about it so that you can further invest in your career. If you are working as a lawyer and have recently decided that you enjoy tax law, why not enroll in a graduate tax program? The specialized financial training that this program provides not only upgrades you to an advanced law degree, but also allows you to become an expert on the most important concepts of tax law.

When you are passionate about something you are willing to learn more about it.  That really goes without saying.  When you enjoy something you enjoy learning about it.  You are more motivated to grow in that field, and that gives you an advantage over someone else that does not share your passion.  So what next?

Take Action

  1. What you are passionate about? If money was no object, what one thing would you choose to do to earn your income?  What do you LOVE?
  2. How can you serve others doing it? There are many ways to do this. Be creative and explore your mind for ways to provide your expertise to those searching for answers.
  3. Become addicted to your passion. Become an expert!!  Learn everything you can and more about your passion so that you have something to offer others as a result. 
  4. Draft a plan to help you make it a reality. Don’t consider anything impossible.  Challenge yourself by brainstorming all possible routes to reach your goal.  Some speakers tell us to envision what success would look like and then work backwards.
  5. Remember that success does not happen overnight. Be patient with your plan.  Avoid using debt to fund your transition or capitalize your business.  Starting a business is hard enough without adding the extra stress that comes with using debt to fund it.  (especially if it fails)

You know the saying, “life is too short” right?  If it’s so darn short,  you have even more reason to work in an area you are passionate in.  It also helps to know that you would be making a positive impact on those around you.  Does your current career have purpose?

About Brad Chaffee

2 Responses to “Passion Fuels Success – Use It To Your Advantage!”

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  1. Sean says:

    Some great advice here. If you aren’t doing the things you are passionate about, then whats the point?? Anything can be reality, you just have to be willing to make it so, and always keep in mind “Success does not happen over night”. Thanks for the inspiring post!

  2. Brad Chaffee says:

    Thank you Sean! It is true. Why waste your time doing something you hate when there are so many opportunities to do something you love. To many people settle in this regard leaving them unable to fill the void. The status quo tells them to work 40 hours a week until they are 65 so they can retire and do nothing. I want to live life in my retirement years not just exist and doing something I love will keep me working without feeling like I am working at all. I just love that concept!

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