I love to cycle. There are few better feelings in life than scaling a mountain somewhere in the Dolomites. The feeling of exertion and exhilaration combined with some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere in the world create a buzz like no other.
This is no flash in the pan however, for the passion lasts throughout the entire year. I avidly consume resources and information on how to train more effectively or how my diet can be improved. I religiously follow the major races on the pro circuit. The passion for cycling piques my curiosity for it, and I seek out ways to do it better.
Through the course of this I naturally seek out others who share this passion with me, be that online via the many cycling forums and networks, or offline via clubs and activities. These connections inevitably involve a constant flow of advice and feedback. Knowledge courses between participants, each one seeking to help and improve in equal measure.
This desire correlates easily with a desire for new challenges. Whether this is gradual improvements in training or new mountains to ride each summer somewhere in Europe. What might prove stressful for someone that does not share such a passion actually becomes exhilarating for those that do.
Imagine therefore, if you can tap into that level of passion for your work each day. Imagine if all of your employees have that level of energy and excitement each morning when they come into work.
It’s difficult to imagine a social business existing without that level of passion and excitement. Social business relies on employees having the curiosity and drive that so often accompanies passion in order to seek out those of like mind, to help and develop one another and to meet the rapidly shifting challenges we face at work each day.
I’m fortunate that the work I do fosters the same kind of feelings as cycling does. Does yours?
Yep, I love what I do, but it's easy to see how many don't, and what's more, how so many organisations seem to wilfully discourage/prevent people from doing what they love.
It is a real shame isn't it? What's more, I suspect a good many organisations don't even know what excites their employees, much less tap into that latent enthusiasm.
Great read this morning as I was actually reflecting upon this recently. I started my own consulting a little over 18 months ago, and honestly… it's awesome! I won't say "I should have done this much earlier" because I don't think I was ready, and that career profile was at the level where it's now. So I can honestly say life is good, so long as health remains in order, which is really the most fundamental part of it all. Physical and mental health, that is. And when you love what you do, and the people you are with, it seems to positively impact how you feel physically as well…
Cheers Adi and have a terrific weekend 🙂
Frederic
It's pretty liberating isn't it and almost makes work not seem much like work at all. Thanks for the comment Frederic, and have a wonderful weekend too 🙂
Yes, Adi. I completely agree with you. I began my web career as a developer and I can see the difference now that I've made the transition to writing and digital marketing. It doesn't feel like work anymore. I'm glad to hear that you feel the same although I'd already though so and I assume that anyone who blogs about their chosen career path needs to be pretty passionate about it since blogging takes up so much time and effort as well.
Thanks for stopping by Gazalla. I think anyone in our industry has to love what they do because things change so quickly that learning has to be something that comes naturally to you.
I'd never really thought of it like that, but it makes a lot of sense. I must say though that most of the people I've worked with have mostly been passionate about outside interests rather than their work.
I wish everyone could feel the same way about the work they do! So honestly, sometimes I love it and sometimes I hate it 🙂 But overall I would say that I have a passion for what I do and I understand completely what you're saying about how you want to learn and explore even when you "don't have to". That's when you don't separate work from the rest of your life. Plenty of people go to work, can't wait to be done then forget about it the second they walk out the door. But when you enjoy your work, it's part of everything you do. Maybe your post will inspire others to look for more if they don't feel the same way!