| Follow Your Passion: You Can Love What You Do
By Megan Martin
“Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion.” So says philosopher and founder of German Idealism, Georg Hegel.
If you take a moment to reflect on your life’s achievements, you can probably relate. But what about when you think about your career: when you imagine the colleagues you’ve worked with over the years, or imagine yourself? How many of them (and be honest!) have truly loved their jobs and achieved greatness in the workplace?
It’s likely that not many names and faces spring to mind. Studies across the board show that fewer than half of Americans consider themselves to be “satisfied” with their job, much less passionate about it.
You may be thinking: Sure, the mantra “Love What You Do” sounds great in theory, but is it actually feasible? Do passionate people exist? Is it possible to apply that passion to work?
If this sounds like you, throw your negative thought patterns out the window. John Folkestad, co-founder of SALO, thinks differently. Folkestad, who spent years as an auditor before finding a love for sales, believes deeply in passion, and in finding a job that deeply satisfies you.
“I could’ve been an auditor. I was okay at it. But it didn’t feed me,” he says. “I speak with people all the time who are 55-65 years old. Most have been successful professionally, but never loved what they did. They were good at it, and they could do it, but it never fed them. And these are often people who are extremely talented.”
If this sounds like you, Folkestad has some advice not only in regard to finding your passions, but translating them into a job that you love.
What’s the Problem?
You might be asking yourself, “Why am I bored with my job? I was completely qualified for the position; it fit with my skill strengths and experience; I aced the interview; it seemed like the perfect match...until my first day in the office.”
Folkestad believes it’s likely that people continue to pursue one career path because it’s in line with their past experience. While this sounds like a perfectly rational way to approach a job search, it may be an error in thinking.
“I think a lot of people use their history as an anchor,” says Folkestad. “They think about what job they could do, rather than what job they should do. People stick to what they know and what they’re marketable as, based on the industry or position they’ve been in. But it may not be what they love.”
It may come as a surprise, but the process of finding what you love to do might not have much to do with what you’ve done in the past or where your experience lies.
A Personalized Solution
Make a List
When Folkestad, who had received his CPA and had years of experience under his belt, discovered his passions lay outside of his job history, he did the “practical thing” and made a list. But his list was highly specialized.
“It was an enormous list of things I’m passionate about and things I hate,” he says, “things that I had strong, almost palpable reactions to.”
In making a list, Folkestad recommends thinking big (his original list covered 6 double-sided pages), and outside the box: Include everything you have strong feelings about, not just work-related feelings.
Think back through your life and include the span of your entire existence: childhood memories of places you loved and hated, foods, events that frustrated or made you happy, movies, music, hobbies, things and people in your life that you’ve had particularly strong reactions to. Include jobs, bosses, co-workers, and work environments as well.
“If you don’t have a strong love/hate reaction to it, it doesn’t make the list,” says Folkestad.
Carry the list with you; make it a part of your daily existence; a healthy obsession. Any time you experience something and have a strong reaction to it, write it down!
Translate Passions into Positions
Once you have a large list, you’ll likely begin to notice patterns—that you have a taste for the finer things in life, for example; a passion for people, change, organization or adventure. Think about why you feel this way, find common themes, and then begin to narrow your (likely very long) list down to the elements you feel most strongly about.
Here’s the catch: While you might have always said, “I’m a people person, so I should be in sales,” and while you may even have spent years in sales, you may discover that your hatred of high-pressure situations actually contradicts your belief that sales is where you fit. Don’t panic. See it as a chance to move above and beyond where you’re at.
When you begin seeking out new positions, Folkestad has a few suggestions.
“You have to be able to translate your passions on your own,” he says. “Only you can do that. You have to be honest and say, ‘Does this position match up with my values, passions and long-term goals?’”
He recommends looking at a wide variety of positions in a variety of industries. (After all, you may not yet be completely familiar with all the jobs that could be great outlets for your passions.) Again, trust your gut, and look more deeply into only those positions that you have a strong positive reaction to, double-checking to see if they line up with what’s on your list.
The Trick of the Trade
Folkestad admits that companies and recruiters are often not prepared to hire outside of their own industry. “Too many companies aren’t open to transition,” he says.
So how should you approach a company, especially if you’re switching industries?
“You’ve got to know what feeds you,” says Folkestad. “You have to be certain of it and then be able to go after it like a bulldog. If you’re passionate, people will see that. Being upfront and honest is important.”
Especially if you’re interviewing for a position that’s a far cry from your job history, you have to be willing to put yourself out there, and to bring an interviewer’s attention to your innermost passions. Don’t be afraid to let the interviewer know how you can be an asset to this particular industry or company.
“Companies want people who are invested in their long-term success,” says Folkestad. “You have to show them how you can play a key part in this, and you can’t back down.”
“Yes, it’s a tough process,” says Folkestad. “But it’s worth it: there’s so much that can be gained.”
So if you’re ready to transform your average workday into an adventure, get out your pen and paper and get to work!
|
