In addition to celebrating the sweethearts in your life in February, take time out to ignite or fan the flames of your passions…it will lead to better work relationships, more customers and some joy you’ve been missing.
I’m not referring to your romantic or love interests here, but to all those things you care about, get excited about, and that motivate you to live your life fully.
Show me a successful or happy person and I’m sure to see someone who is passionate about something.
Here are three simple ideas to rev up your own passion:
1. Remind yourself why you’re doing this work in the first place. Can you believe that we forget or lose sight of what got us excited in the first place? Ground yourself again in what is so cool, and so important and so right about the work you are doing. It will set you up to take important risks…just like you did in the beginning. (And you might get us excited too).
2. Connect with others who have the “fire in their belly” and are passionate about YOUR work. Maybe you’ve not only forgotten, but you have piled up ideas about your company, your job, your future that de-motivate you. It’s time to get with that enthusiastic customer, employee, partner or even competitor who is completely crazy in love with the profession, the industry, the pursuit, the goals or the mission you call you own. THEY can remind you why it is so incredible to be alive and doing this work this year. YOU need that enthusiasm to succeed.
3. Give your life new energy and recharge your batteries by doing what you enjoy in your off-time. Many people spend their leisure time and “off-work” time engaged in activity that does NOT invigorate them—it even makes them more tired about life. Spend time in your week involved in activities that are life-giving to you. This is especially true if you don’t find as much passion for your work…find something you DO care about, that does bring you joy…from serving others, to play, to being creative, to learning…and invest some of your week there. Your work will benefit.
People who are working and living passionately are not complaining. They are excited about what they are doing. They have an enthusiasm that can be contagious. They are optimistic and hopeful about the future. They make others want to get going and make things happen.
And isn’t that what you’ve been wishing for in your employees, your partners, your kids and yourself?
(This post was previously published in the February 2010 issue of Business Leader http://www.businessleader.bz/ )
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Written by Tom Plake
Topics: Pursue Meaning