Follow Your Passion* (Now, what about that pesky asterisk?)

STOP!!!

Please, stop with the “follow your passion” is bad advice thought that can permeate the culture and far reaches of the Internet. It’s cliché. It’s not helpful. It’s hurting far more people than it’s helping.

So, what do I say?

I emphatically say, “Follow your Passion” … (wait for it)

*

Like with many things in life, there’s an asterisk*.

That’s the difference between what I’ll share with you today and what others in the “Follow your passion” crowd believe. I’ll take the “Follow your passion” fight to my grave, because it’s truth. It’s helped me create the life I want for myself. It's the underlying quality I notice in the story of successful entrepreneurs, leaders, employees and for people in their personal lives. It’s helped me set big goals that I never would have had the courage to previously set.

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*BUT… See, I told you about that pesky little asterisk.

If you only “follow your passion” and ignore life facts you’re making an enormous mistake. If you believe passion alone will get you to the place where you’ll find happiness, success, fulfillment, and recognition, then you’re badly deceiving yourself.

Let me first define what I believe passion to be:

Passion is enthusiasm, energy, and creativity concentrated toward doing something that lights the fire inside of you and makes you feel complete.

Passion is both mental, emotional, spiritual, and yes, even physical in how it makes you feel.

So, how do you use passion for your advantage? How do you follow it intelligently and find your way to where you want to go?

You mix it with the following things.

Build Your Game Plan

These five things when catalyzed with your passion become invincible and indestructible. They lead you to the RESULTS you want.

Strengths

Your strengths are the things you do well — what you have a natural aptitude for. Strengths are things that you’ve naturally inherited, as well as socially acquired and are part of your mindset, words, and actions. They represent you at your best, both in the present and potential impact. When coupled with the skills you’ve cultivated, your strengths are powerful tools at your disposal.

Values

Values are a set of guiding principles and ideals that provide a standard for the way we behave and make decisions. We choose to adhere to values because they positively influence our lives, leading us to the opportunities and relationships we desire. They form the bedrock foundation for our lives.

Purpose

Your purpose is your raison d’être — it clearly explains why you’re doing what you’re doing.

Mission

Your mission is how you define success for what you choose to do. The important thing to remember here is — only you get to define success for yourself. Don’t live up to anyone else’s definition.

Goals

The goals you set for yourself are mile markers that are all leading to the results you want to achieve for your life. Set SMART goals — ones that are specific, measurable, time-based and achievable.

Following your passion can become the best decision you ever make. Maybe it becomes your career. Maybe it doesn’t. Maybe it leads to growth, happiness and curiosity that makes you a better father, wife, daughter, employee, coach or human being. Either way, we all crave something that lights the fire inside of us and pushes us forward.

“Cautious optimism” is the term here. This means the need to risk is truly imperative to finding success and happiness. Passion fuels healthy risk when coupled with the components of your game plan!

Even if your day job stays static over the next 30 years of your life, take risks to pursue what you love. Follow your passion! But know this — repeating what works and NOT repeating what doesn’t work is the secret to sustained success. The only way to find out what works is to give it a shot.

Build your foundation. Follow your passion. You’ll soon find yourself living the life of your dreams.

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Christopher D. Connors is the author of The Champion Leader: https://amzn.to/4aIeJaw. He is also the creator of top LinkedIn Learning course, Leading with Emotional Intelligence. He's a keynote speaker, executive coach, and globally recognized expert on emotional intelligence. Christopher consults with executives and leaders at Fortune 1000 companies.