Passion: Strategies to FIND, IGNITE, PURSUE and REKINDLE It
Author: Nancy Pridgen
“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” -George Eliot
Passion is a critical piece of achieving success in your career. As a key scale on the Entrepreneurial Mindset Profile® (EMP), it provides the energy and motivation to making your workplace goals a reality. Here are four practical strategies:
FIND IT
Set aside some time to go somewhere quiet and peaceful where you won’t be disturbed. Think about—and perhaps write about—the things that make you the happiest or give you the most joy. Think about your strengths. What have people told you that you’re good at? What gives you energy? What are the times and situations in which you feel “in the flow,” when you’re working on something so engaging and interesting that you almost lose track of time? What is it you’re doing those times? Are you solving tricky problems? Envisioning exciting new possibilities? Working side-by-side with a highly energized team? Helping others? Once you’ve identified what these activities are, try to figure out ways to incorporate more of them into your work.
IGNITE IT
Take a moment to imagine the future when you’ve already achieved a particular goal. Picture yourself having “already arrived” with the goal accomplished and the hard work and effort now behind you. Isn’t that a wonderful picture? Maybe you realize how finally accomplishing that goal has freed up your time or resources. Now think about how the little things you’re currently doing that may seem tedious or monotonous relate to that long term goal. All of those little tasks might be stepping stones to the big goal or what you truly want in your life. Seeing the bigger picture can really motivate you to keep going and maybe even in a more determined way.
PURSUE IT
In addition to visualizing the future, it’s also important to have an actual plan with definite milestones along the way. Nothing is going to happen overnight, but working a plan brings you closer to your goal. Include details, but be open to changing events. You can almost guarantee there will be some setbacks. Also, plan the small steps along the way. Getting from Point A to running a multi-million dollar business seems overwhelming, but reading a book, seeking out a mentor, or successfully managing a smaller project first are all doable first steps.
REKINDLE IT
One of the first things you can do to rekindle your passion is admitting you’re no longer as passionate as you used to be. Why? Reflect upon what really happened that changed how you’re feeling about your work, relationships or interests. Once you get to the root of the issue, you can start to make little changes to address it. Another strategy is to simply rest and recharge. Maybe that means an actual vacation, spending time relaxing or just doing things that are rejuvenating to you. Since passion is so closely linked to purpose, think about what really fuels your purpose in your personal and professional life and make sure those activities are part of your daily routine.
To learn what your Passion score is and get feedback on the other Personality and Skills Scales of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Profile® (EMP), visit the EMP website to take this cutting-edge assessment online in just 10-15 minutes.
