By Andrew C Abraham
“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The search for treasure has been the subject of many a book and movie. While the quest itself conjures up images of excitement and adventure, the end prize is to fill a void that is felt very deeply in us. Discovering our passions take us on that same journey – to find the treasure within us. He who does, will certainly be a rich man!
The emphasis on this article will be how to discover what you’re passionate about.
It’s during the formative early adult years that one generally starts discovering what their passions are. You’ve finished high school, are absorbing yourself in university and experimenting with different courses, people and activities. Some people are still at a loss when it comes to answering the passion question though, so I’ve outlined some tasks to help you along the way.
1. Ask others – I recently did this exercise myself. I sent an email to 20 of my closest friends and family and asked them what THEY think I’m passionate about. The results varied slightly, but there was an overwhelming consensus about three main areas – Health and Fitness, Self Improvement and Cricket. All of which I am very passionate about. This tells me that I at least portray to others what I am genuinely interested in and thus galvanizes my Personal Brand.
2. What do you read about? If the above exercise doesn’t reveal anything conclusive, then focus on the literature that you read – gossip magazines? Cook books? Lifestyle section of the newspaper? Blogs on new web technologies? Most people spend a fair amount of time engrossed in different topics, but never realize that these subjects could form the basis of your eventual career. Rather than resign this past-time to merely a hobby, immerse yourself in it more and become an expert.
3. What are you good at?/What do you want to be great at? – Unless you’re just starting out in life, you’ve acquired some skills or an aptitude for certain things. It could be that you’re a great debater, work well with children, have a knack for writing or possess a keen sense for teaching. These are all areas that could form the foundation of your personal brand if developed further. If you’re yet to develop the flair for a given activity then ask yourself what you truly want to be great at and how you’d like to be remembered.
If steps 1-3 haven’t helped so far, move on to the next phases. In fact, do them anyway!
4. Get involved – Nothing can substitute for actually getting involved in the topics that you’re interested in. If you’re an avid reader of culinary publications then join a cooking class; if you’re concerned about the welfare of your local community then get involved with the local government party. There’s no point in soaking up knowledge about a topic without executing what you have learned. For a number of years now, I’ve been fervently following Mixed Martial Arts and the UFC. I watch all the fights, I study Youtube videos and read MMA blogs. I took this passion further a year ago when I started learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and dabbled in other art forms such as Muay Thai and Boxing. While this may seem on the extreme side, it ties in nicely with my other passions of self-improvement and fitness.
5. Give something back to the Community – The reason I included this one is because it’s not until we are exposed to people that may not be as blessed as ourselves, that we understand everything we have to be thankful for. This feeling of self gratitude ignites in us an inner fire to discover our talents and use them for the betterment of others. If you participate as a volunteer and ultimately enjoy it, then it says a lot about something you could be passionate about. After all you aren’t receiving any financial incentive to do so. If you love animals then volunteer your time at the local animal shelter; if you enjoy the company of the elderly then proffer your services at a nursing home. There are endless volunteering opportunities for passionate people.
6. Choose a portfolio of passions – Don’t be preoccupied with discovering your one true passion so early on – if you invest everything into one purpose and realize later on that what you selected is not your calling, it can be discouraging to pursue something else. Rather broaden your options to a portfolio of passions and then marry them up according to what you hope to achieve in life. Immerse yourself in these passions but don’t worry about the end goal as things will reveal themselves in time. I myself participate in all my passions so enthusiastically that it’s difficult for me to make sense of my career in the windshield, but somehow it makes sense in the rear-view mirror. I’m not dispirited by this though and recall some very wise words from Steve Jobs in his speech to Standford University – going forward it was difficult for him to see his path clearly and why he made the decisions that he did; looking back on his life though, he was able to “connect the dots” and acknowledge his purpose.
For all Gen-Y job-seekers out there, I encourage you to pursue your passions and develop your personal brand on them. By focusing on your identity and the value you can add to potential employers, you will naturally align yourself to fulfilling opportunities.
I really love the above quote from one of my favorite books, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. The beauty of it is that the universe itself is personified to carry you forward in achieving your dreams once you realize what they are.
About Andrew C Abraham
Andrew is Founder of Gradkin, a Branding and Networking platform to connect Candidates with Employers. Please share your thoughts on his careers blog . He offers a unique perspective on Gen-Y, being one himself and having recruited and managed this generation. His previous positions in Sales, Communications and Human Resources have given him an insight into understanding what truly motivates this new generation of Millennials.
And in the real world:
“All the universe conspires against you, to prevent you achieving it”
– “A fact of life”