The Dark Side of Loving Your Work

Happy Tuesday Fam!

What are you loving today?

I am back after a two month hiatus. And it was a blast! I rested a lot. Hiked, Visited friends. Discovered I can cook a mean pilau. Created 3 short films. Witnessed the magic of four of my favorite music bands live. Lived in stunning new cities and lost my way in several gorgeous mountain villages.

It only took me eight years of being an entrepreneur to take two months off continuously! I am slowly integrating this experience and will be sharing key insights with ya'all soon.

In two weeks time, we enter the last quarter of 2023. Honestly this year feels like I blinked and it was over... I also find myself deeply contemplating why I love what I do.

It’s the inspiring moments when a professional smiles, and says, ''Wow, I never thought I was capable of this!'' Or a business leader recommends our work to another saying, ''You should definitely work with this team! They have helped us build a STAR senior leadership team''.

As I shared on the Alive Podcast (listen here) several moons back, it’s also the freedom I get to do work that I love and I am great at, while strongly and positively catalyzing the social-economic space in East Africa and beyond.

Many of my clients who seek our support are on the journey to finding such work. Work that allows them to fully utilize their strengths and talents to contribute invaluable ways. And to take long breaks to rejuvenate

While the path of finding the work you love may not be as glorious, it’s the balancing the dark sides of the work you love I find more fascinating.

You see, many professionals think that once they find impactful work, all problems will fade away and one will be gifted with an overflow of fulfilment. I honestly wish this was the magic wand.

For a decade plus I have relentlessly (and stubbornly) pursued only work that align to my aspirations and super powers. Here is are four things I have learnt about the dark side of doing work you love.

1. If you are not careful you subconsciously create a thin line between work and personal time (note not personal life, for when you love what you do so much, these intertwine, and that’s ok...however, a potential problem arises...the inability to unplug...
2. Your standards of what great work looks or feels like shoot up. Like Mt. Everest high. The danger of experiencing a high is you have proof it exists. As a result it becomes harder for you to take work opportunities below your new standards
3. You risk missing opportunities. When you passionately adore something, chances are you are blind to everything else. It's thus possible you miss other equally great but not so obvious opportunities that come your way.
4. You are often the alien in your circles. Not many ‘get what you do’. Not that this is to be your concern.?But yeah, it's an uphill climb to find your tribe and you will spend many years feeling alone in your unorthodox path.
5. ?You become unstoppable. The more you love something, the more you immerse in it. You come face to face with your limitless potential. You want more. Be careful, that other areas of your life don't get neglected.

Your invitation to you this week: Take sometime to contemplate what are you willing to let go in order to pursue work you love?

If you are already pursuing work you love, what of the above dark sides are you struggling with? What support do you need?

Always happy to help

Luna