Turn on the Passion!

Do you know what it means to be passionate about something? Being enthralled with one thing (could be more than one thing but to me a passion is all consuming whilst the rest are interests or hobbies)?

And if you can't think of anything right now, think back when you were a child, when you were so excited (well interested is ok as well!) doing something (a sport, an art, an activity…)

Passion is active not passive; even a stamps collection needs some efforts: buying, exchanging, classifying, sorting, researching etc.

By now I do hope you have recollected your state of mind when you were passionate.

If still nothing comes to your mind, picture when you got completely focused on someone who was explaining or showing their "art" or when a biography or a TV program took your breath away.

Passion not only consumes you but it is contagious no matter what the subject is.

Whether you have experienced it directly or indirectly, your attention gets locked in.

Can you turn your "passionate state of mind" on and off?

Take work: most likely you haven't saved any lives in the whole of your career (I haven't saved any except mine in some cases of extreme boredom) and none of your output has changed the face of the Earth or has advanced mankind.

Sitting at your desk for so many hours a day is simply a torture if you are not passionate about what you do. I am not advocating a sudden passion towards spreadsheets but try and trick your mind to find some interest in what you do.

Tricking your mind will make you change the way you communicate, behave and people around you will notice.

This is not about attention seeking but bringing some oomph to your work, your output and your relationships.

Being in a client facing role helps, being in sales should attract that type of behaviour as well. 

Do or don't: simple but you are either fully committed or don't bother turning up; someone else may need that job more than you do. Money being the only driver to your satisfaction is short lived and will only lead to disappointment, dissatisfaction. 

Why do you need passion?

It helps engaging with people (audience, clients, colleagues, teams, stakeholders etc.); they are more likely to listen, to hear without thinking you are selling them something,

You tell a story and stories are both palatable and memorable, 

You believe in your story, others will start believing in you and your words,

You escape boredom if anything else! 

Try short doses of it in the confine of your family first then explore possibility of getting into positions that need some passion.

I know this is not for everyone but am sure there is something that makes you happy somewhere, sometimes - reconnect to that energy, it is needed.

It will be easier for you to lead yourself and others then.