What are you passionate about?
Three years ago this month, I was walking at Onondaga Park with my friend, consultant, and professional blogger, Mitch Mitchell. Out of the blue, he said I should start a blog. My first thought was ugh!
I attempted a blog a few years earlier however like most bloggers, my writing was inconsistent. One week I’d get psyched to write a post and the next essay wouldn’t get written for weeks if not months. I lacked passion for the purpose.
With Mitch’s cajoling, I set a personal contract with myself to write something, anything, once a week. Over the last three years I’ve written 156 posts and developed developed a passion for writing and the written word. Thanks again Mitch!
You know passion when you see it. When you feel it.
This afternoon I experienced passion while taking in the sights and sounds of The Great NY State Fair.
I strolled up to one of the food vendors and ordered the proverbial Sausage Sandwich with peppers and onions. “How are you doing today?!” said the passionate cook working the grill. “Enjoy your sandwich sir” he said with a passionate smile.
I made my way through the horse barn to view and pet some of the majestic show horses. I stopped in my tracks when I saw a slew of blue and yellow ribbons hanging on one of the stalls. I had a twenty minute convo with the horse owner and asked him about the ins and outs of the profession. Passion exuded from his eyes as he spoke of his love of the animals and the sport.
My afternoon ended watching the MKTO concert at Chevy Court. The duo of Malcolm Kelley and Tony Oller thrilled the fairgoers with one great song after another. They sang their summer blockbuster hit “Classic” with passion and their first hit “Thank You” as if they were performing it for the first time.
If you lack passion for your career, hobby, business, or significant other, it won’t last.
Here’s what Steve Jobs said about passion at the D5 Conference: All Things Digital in May 2007:
People say you have to have a lot of passion for what you’re doing and it’s totally true. And the reason is because it’s so hard that if you don’t, any rational person would give up. It’s really hard. And you have to do it over a sustained period of time. So if you don’t love it, if you’re not having fun doing it, you don’t really love it, you’re going to give up. And that’s what happens to most people, actually. If you really look at the ones that ended up being “successful” in the eyes of the society and the ones that didn’t, oftentimes it’s the ones [who] were successful loved what they did, so they could persevere when it got really tough. And the ones that didn’t love it quit because they’re sane, right? Who would want to put up with this stuff if you don’t love it? So it’s a lot of hard work and it’s a lot of worrying constantly and if you don’t love it, you’re going to fail.
Life’s too short. Spend every waking moment on things that you truly have a passion for.
Photo by Anthony Easton.
First, thanks for the mention Steve. You’ve been great over all these years and I’m glad I got you blogging again.
Second… I think I do well overall with getting things done and in self motivation but to tell you the truth, I can’t say that I have much passion for anything these days. Maybe I’m not defining it properly because I still do many things, have some fun and for the most part enjoy being alive, but I can’t think of one thing in my life that I want to be above all else, to the exclusion of everything else. I have my goals, but I’m not passionate about how to get to any of them, nor why I even want them, being more pragmatic instead.
Still, maybe being alive and knowing that every single day I have another chance to shine is a passion; just not sure…
Mitch, you don’t give yourself enough credit.
Being aware is a step most people never take. You’re further along than most.
p.s. Thanks for posting that pic of the Apple Dumpling a la Mode! YUM!!!
I call that “skipping to work.” I love to see it and feel it, and you are so right, you can find such passion in unusual places.
With that said, I’m a little confused about you eating a sausage sandwich? Is this the new 30 day quest?
Ha! When you go The Great NY State Fair, one must inhale at least one sausage, onion, and pepper sandwich.
You sound like a man after my own heart Steve. I gave up blogging as well. 5 years ago I gave up my blog entitled TheEpicBlog.com because I was not seeing a return in my investment; I was chasing the money basically.
So glad I got back into it now and I can honestly say that I am passionate about my blog I can get giddy as a schoolboy when talking about it especially about website design & development.
One thing I learnt this time round is to detatch to outcomes. Like the chasing money bit. I blog for the hell of it and to help others, just like you do.
I sometimes ask bloggers especially new ones why they blog and nine times out of ten they always answer back – I want to make money. Such a shame I think because there going to give up and fail.
Detaching from outcomes and not expecting anything in return for our investment is the way to go. Yes I do charge my clients because hey we goto live and pay the bills but when it comes to my blog I like to help, inspire, provide value & give tips.
That way our blogs will become more successful and the money will come flowing in becasue were not expecting it or working to get it.
Great and inspiring post Steve. Never give up buddy!
– PD
Phillip, thanks for your generous comments and perspective on your own blogging experience.
The blogging journey has been an interesting one. After a while I realized, the real reason I’m writing is to be a better writer.
For now, writing an essay a week lights me up. Not sure how long that will continue.
Knowing what I know about myself, this blogging chapter is a stepping stone for something else. At some point down the road, I envision stopped at the proverbial four corners, feeling myself being pulled in another direction. I’ll reprogram the GPS, step hard on the gas, and go after it, whatever “it” is.