Finding your passion

September 1st officially marks 27 years since I started my own business - it was an accidental beginning and I really didn't have any idea where the journey would take me. Looking back at these past 27 years I can see it's been about finding and developing passion - passion for what you do, for those you work with, for what you can do for others, and especially for the family you're supporting and providing for.

This is not about telling the story of how I began or the many mistakes I've made along the way (making mistakes means I've also learned a lot!). This is about how I have found passion in what I do which is the fuel that keeps me going, and hopefully provides some insight and inspiration to others who may be missing a bit of passion themselves.

Passion in this context is not sexual - it's about giving you energy to keep going even when times are tough. It's about imparting that energy to others around you who may themselves be lagging and need to be swept up in your wake for a bit - somewhat like how cyclists will sit behind each other to benefit from the riders ahead of them.

Despite operating a technology business, technology is not my passion, business is not my passion, making profit is not my passion, marketing is not my passion. It took me a few years to work out what it is, but when I discovered it I knew instantly - it's people! Specifically it's growing people, enabling and equipping them to achieve their greatest potential.

I get to do this with staff, customers, vendors, and other business leaders. I surely don't have all the answers, and there's still plenty for me to learn, but I can take what I have experienced and learned and pass this on to others so they can grow.

Now it's true I do get a bit of a pep in my step when some cool new technology is released, but that's more like a sugar hit - you get a bit of a short term high but then it passes. It doesn't remain, it's not my passion, it doesn't keep me fired up.

From about the age of 8 I wanted to be a pilot, specifically a fighter pilot in the RAAF. Everything I did at school was aligned to me being that pilot - every subject I chose and the books I'd read (there was no YouTube back then!). That was my passion all those years ago. I've heard it said that if you tend to look up whenever you hear a plane go by you've likely got aviation in your blood - that's me for sure!?I won't tell the story here but I never became that fighter pilot and my dreams of flying were put aside for too long. Then, not quite 3 years ago I had opportunity to take a flight in a gyroplane and I was hooked. Aviation re-entered my blood and I re-discovered my passion for flight.

In March 2021 I got my solo pilot licence for gyroplanes - a dream come true as I was now a qualified pilot. But there was more.

In July 2021 I achieved my passenger endorsement which meant I could take others up and share the joy of flight with them. My first passenger was my son, then my daughter, then I even got my wife to come up with me. It's been an incredible experience since then as I've improved my piloting skills and flown dozens and dozens of people.

In July 2022 I qualified as a gyroplane instructor - one of only 31 in the entire country! This is both a great privilege and a huge responsibility (cue the Uncle Ben speech - "with great power comes great responsibility") as I can now teach others to fly.

I have found a new passion - it's helping others realise their dream of being a pilot, making it a reality for them, but it's still a "growing people" activity.

If you ask me about my IT business, sure I can talk about the great work we've done and the countless people we've supported and helped over the years. I can proudly talk about the various staff members I've seen grow both personally and professionally - not all of them stayed as employees, but that's OK because I was able to grow them as far as I could and they moved elsewhere to continue their journey. I still keep in touch with some of them and have enjoyed witnessing their continued growth.

I talk about people growth with passion.

But if you really want to see me get fired up let's talk about flight - specifically gyroplane flight. Last Saturday I taught 2 students - I love teaching which is something I never thought I'd do. At the end of the day as I walked out of the hanger I called back to my business partner "I love my job!".

How many of us can say that at the end of our work day?

I am so blessed to have found my passion which covers both IT and aviation - it's growing people.

The other week I took my wife out to buy her some jewellery for her birthday. The assistant in the store was very helpful and during the conversation she asked me what I do. Without hesitation I said I'm a pilot and flight instructor, then my darling wife added that I also have an IT business. I responded "yeah but that's boring, being a pilot is so much more interesting!".

If you're struggling to find your passion, and if work is getting to be a bit of a drag, why not spend some time with someone who has found their passion - like the cyclists you might get caught up in their wake, benefit from it, and discover your own passion.

If you're in Adelaide I'd consider it a privilege to spend time with you and help you find your passion, or we can just talk about gyroplanes, or better yet I can take you for a flight so you can experience how amazing these aircraft are.

What's your passion? I'm keen to learn - please let me know in the comments below.