I am so excited to be presenting at one of our local Central Florida Chambers next month on finding your passion through community involvement. I am one of those really intense passionate people who shies away from small talk and would much rather find ways to change the world. My heart is happiest when I am making a difference in the world.
My passion is employment. I love seeing people achieve their goals and dreams. Helping to teach someone how to dress or answer interview questions and seeing the impact when they get a job, makes me want to get up in the morning (that and my amazing family). I love to help people achieve their dreams and to inspire them to do more.
Once a month I get together with a group of ladies. We call each other the A team. We actually act as advisors and cheerleaders for each other. Each of us has our own passions. One of the ladies is passionate about foster care and children. She has a houseful of kids and she loves every one of them as if they were her own. She serves on several boards and just got elected to chair one of the boards she is most passionate about. Another is an advocate for homeless issues. She too serves on several boards and has a vision for a project that will bring light to the plight of some of the people who are viewed among the least in society. The other has a passion for widows, orphans, foster children, and the elderly.
These women are so inspirational to me. By surrounding myself with people who are doing things in the community, supporting each other, and just as intense as I am, it makes me a better person.
As I talk to other women (and men) about following their dreams, passion is always a topic of conversation. Many people are stuck in dead end jobs or don't know what to do next. The first piece of advice I give them is to write a list of what they are passionate about, what their skills and abilities are, and what they don't like to do. The latter is important because often people fall into jobs and end up doing things they hate. I always tell people I never list payroll on my resume because I am not detail oriented enough and I am just not good at it.
Your passion does not have to be your vocation, but when you find your passion and combine it with your work, it makes your job much more fun. Besides, that having the opportunity to share yourself with others in a meaningful way, makes life better all around.
There are schools of thought out there who are saying not to combine your passion and your work because you could burn out on your passion. This can happen, but if you really are passionate about it, the passion will not die.
It has been said, if you don't know your passion~ follow your curiosity.