Lately, there’s a lot of talk about passion.  People everywhere are talking about “pursuing their passion.” They say things like, “I’m passionate” about this or that.

But have you noticed that most people you ask will admit that what they do for a living is definitely NOT what they are passionate about?  It’s unfortunate.  Seems most individuals have been raised to believe that having a dream job – one that they love – isn’t the real world.  In fact, I’ve heard many folks go so far as to say that they believe most people don’t even like what they do for a living. 

Everyday we see winners talking about passion.  We see athletes, actors, and celebrities all the time telling people that they love what they are doing for a living.  Not so much people in business, but there are a lot of them out there.  Some come to mind quickly – usually the rich guys like Steve Jobs or Oracle’s Larry Ellison. 

Others are less well known.  There’s a great story about John Donahoe, President of eBAY’s Business Unit.  He was a management consultant who was fortunate enough to have a smart fiance back when he was just 23. She realized that he was pursuing a career which – although it was going to make him a lot of money – was not what he really wanted.  She helped him realize that what he cared about wasn’t going to be realized if he pushed himself to succeed in a job because it was the “safe” and “smart” thing to do.  He says, “Her challenge to me was, ‘Be who you are.'”  He changed his course, started fresh in a different career and has ended up as the guy who will probably run one of the Internet’s biggest businesses.  All because he did what he was passionate about.

Each of us need to realize our own potential to be truly satisfied, successful, and happy.  No one will attain all 3 of those without having passion for what they do.  

Some can fake it for a long time.  As a coach, I work with a lot of great fakers, ones who had convinced themselves for many years that what they were doing was what they cared about.  But at some stage it always falls apart.  And then those people become the walking wounded.  They have a life filled with a great deal of morose about why they didn’t do what they really cared about.

Don’t allow yourself to become one of those sorry people. 

Take the time now to decide what you truly want to do. And then take whatever action is required to do it.  You’ll never regret it.

                                                            – john

                                                        Career Coach