The idea that we experiment and seek experiences in life until we find our true passion and calling is ingrained deeply in the human psyche. Consider the wisdom in this quote of unknown origin: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”
I remember the day I discovered my true passion and calling - It was the first day of my Intro to Industrial/Organizational Psychology course with Professor Matt Riggs at CSUSB. I had always felt I looked at work differently than other people in my circles. It was never just a job for me. Every job I had since 14 was an opportunity to learn something new, to figure things out, and find better ways in doing the work. Working for the wrong bosses, this got me into trouble at times. But working with the right bosses, some of the best experiences in my life. I/O Psychology gave me the vocabulary to put names to things I encountered in my work and the methodology to take things to the next level. Twenty-four years later, I feel I approach work with the same amount of passion albeit maybe at a somewhat slower pace. I recently finished Ryan Holiday's Ego is the Enemy. Toward the end of the book is a quote from Joseph Conrad that I liked very much and I think applies to today's post: "I don't like work, nobody does, but I like what is in the work, the chance to find myself." (I'm paraphrasing). My advice, be passionate about the work you do and who you are. Don't apologize. If some people take issue with it, you're spending time with the wrong people. Get yourself some new people.
Terminology definitely. Once you understand the fundamentals of something, how something works, what things are called, etc. you develop better 'maps' to overlay on top of the thing you are observing/doing. I remember a story I read about an artist back in the 1500s/1600s/1700s (shortly after the microscope was invented). He was looking at human tissue and cells and drawing what he saw. Later on, doctors and other non-artists criticized his work saying many of the colors he depicted in his illustrations simply were not there. It wasn't until much later 1800s or early 1900s, when microscopes got a lot better, that people could see what this artist saw all along. Because of his personal experiences and life history of being an artist, he simply had developed richer cognitive maps that he could apply that allowed him to see the finer details. It's what you folks at Admired Leadership are doing. You're laying a foundation/framework and developing a language people can learn, apply, and overtime and a lot of practice, develop better 'leadership maps' to overlay onto situations they encounter.
I absolutely love this. It makes me reflect on the importance of making a positive impact on the world. The importance of clarity in our impact. And the fuel that passion provides to unless brilliance in ourselves and those around us.
If your operating definition of leadership is something like "making people and situations better" -- then it makes a lot of sense that you see the importance of making a positive impact on the world. Glad we can operate on the same team with similar frameworks.
I love the clarity of this. It resonates with my own life experience. Perhaps passion does help us navigate to maximum effectiveness & or sustainability?? it certainly is disempowering though, to believe that we can only really "show up" energetically if we "feel like it" in that moment. Thanks again, Randall for these helpful daily articles.
A behavioral approach certainly has a knack for getting rid of that disempowering logic.
Acting with passion might suffer an accusation of being too performative, maybe even too phony.
But even those who aren't performing for others, those that only have an audience of themselves, can recognize the tangible benefits that come with acting with passion even if you don't feel like it.
Do you find the body can inform the brain?
You don't feel like running until you're a mile in.
You don't feel like being generous until you're part way thru the generous act.
Yes. Movement is a great way to manage your state of being. I suppose this is an application of that truth, "Body can inform the brain".
As for "acting with passion", I'm using that as a shortcut to describe feeling alive in my daily activities. I've experienced both & definitely prefer the feeling of "aliveness".
I remember the day I discovered my true passion and calling - It was the first day of my Intro to Industrial/Organizational Psychology course with Professor Matt Riggs at CSUSB. I had always felt I looked at work differently than other people in my circles. It was never just a job for me. Every job I had since 14 was an opportunity to learn something new, to figure things out, and find better ways in doing the work. Working for the wrong bosses, this got me into trouble at times. But working with the right bosses, some of the best experiences in my life. I/O Psychology gave me the vocabulary to put names to things I encountered in my work and the methodology to take things to the next level. Twenty-four years later, I feel I approach work with the same amount of passion albeit maybe at a somewhat slower pace. I recently finished Ryan Holiday's Ego is the Enemy. Toward the end of the book is a quote from Joseph Conrad that I liked very much and I think applies to today's post: "I don't like work, nobody does, but I like what is in the work, the chance to find myself." (I'm paraphrasing). My advice, be passionate about the work you do and who you are. Don't apologize. If some people take issue with it, you're spending time with the wrong people. Get yourself some new people.
Which felt more fulfilling, David...
Finding your tribe?
or
Finding your terminology?
Terminology definitely. Once you understand the fundamentals of something, how something works, what things are called, etc. you develop better 'maps' to overlay on top of the thing you are observing/doing. I remember a story I read about an artist back in the 1500s/1600s/1700s (shortly after the microscope was invented). He was looking at human tissue and cells and drawing what he saw. Later on, doctors and other non-artists criticized his work saying many of the colors he depicted in his illustrations simply were not there. It wasn't until much later 1800s or early 1900s, when microscopes got a lot better, that people could see what this artist saw all along. Because of his personal experiences and life history of being an artist, he simply had developed richer cognitive maps that he could apply that allowed him to see the finer details. It's what you folks at Admired Leadership are doing. You're laying a foundation/framework and developing a language people can learn, apply, and overtime and a lot of practice, develop better 'leadership maps' to overlay onto situations they encounter.
I absolutely love this. It makes me reflect on the importance of making a positive impact on the world. The importance of clarity in our impact. And the fuel that passion provides to unless brilliance in ourselves and those around us.
Thanks, Dylan.
If your operating definition of leadership is something like "making people and situations better" -- then it makes a lot of sense that you see the importance of making a positive impact on the world. Glad we can operate on the same team with similar frameworks.
I love the clarity of this. It resonates with my own life experience. Perhaps passion does help us navigate to maximum effectiveness & or sustainability?? it certainly is disempowering though, to believe that we can only really "show up" energetically if we "feel like it" in that moment. Thanks again, Randall for these helpful daily articles.
A behavioral approach certainly has a knack for getting rid of that disempowering logic.
Acting with passion might suffer an accusation of being too performative, maybe even too phony.
But even those who aren't performing for others, those that only have an audience of themselves, can recognize the tangible benefits that come with acting with passion even if you don't feel like it.
Do you find the body can inform the brain?
You don't feel like running until you're a mile in.
You don't feel like being generous until you're part way thru the generous act.
Yes. Movement is a great way to manage your state of being. I suppose this is an application of that truth, "Body can inform the brain".
As for "acting with passion", I'm using that as a shortcut to describe feeling alive in my daily activities. I've experienced both & definitely prefer the feeling of "aliveness".
"Hit it like you live!" was what the brick layer I worked for in high school would always say.
We had to create our own enthusiasm around demolition jobs.
I concur, great read. My question would be when does passion become your negative attribute?
Passion is a liability if it is perceived by others as being out of your control.
That might be a single guardrail among many.
Can you think of others?
I'd suggest passion becomes a problem if it morphs into an obsession to the exclusion of everything else.
Well put, Tim.
Good question.
Maybe when you see your passion being used as an excuse to dismiss relationships is when you might begin to raise flags on yourself?
Interesting point of view.