This guest post is written by Austin Johnson, currently in the middle of a 10-week college internship at The Ken Blanchard Companies.
What is something you are really passionate about? How do you feel when you’re involved in your favorite activity? Do you feel that same joy and intensity in your workplace? Hopefully, but if you are like most people you probably do not. In today’s society, many people come home and complain about work to their friends and family. Don’t let that happen to you. You should work at what you love, and love your work. If you don’t, it is time to re-evaluate your goals.
Here are a few signs that you are not on the right path.
- You lose your passion. Passion is the number one key to being happy in your career. Passion turns something you have to do into something you get to do.
- You feel an overwhelming sense of dread on Sunday night. When the thought of going to work on Monday morning (or any morning) causes you to feel anxiety or dread, you are not where you belong.
- You spend more time surfing the web (or playing solitaire) than doing your job. If you are not being productive in your work, you are just wasting your time and your company’s money.
- You find yourself staring at the clock. Wishing for time to go faster will not change anything, except make you more preoccupied and decrease your productivity.
- You find yourself complaining to your friends and family about how terrible your job is. Complaining will only continue to drain your motivation and start a downward spiral.
If any (or all) of these signs apply to you, it is time for a change
- Re-visit your goals. Ask yourself, “What is it I truly want out of a job?” Once you have defined exactly what you want, choosing the right path will be much easier.
- Take your time. Do not rush your decision. If you run headfirst into another job opportunity without thinking, odds are you will end up just as miserable and unproductive as you were in your previous job.
- Give appropriate notice. When you have found your new opportunity make sure to give your company at least two weeks notice instead of just jumping ship. You do not want to destroy your relationship with your employer.
Doing something other than what you are passionate about is a waste not only of your time, but the time of those around you who actually enjoy their work. You should pursue your passions and love what you do. When you reach the point where the line between work and play begins to fade, you will find yourself exactly where you should be. “Follow your passion, and success will follow you.” – Arthur Buddhold
Austin!
Thanks for the great post. Passion is one of the most important things in my life, both at work and at play. I see people lose that passion at work every day. With today’s economy being what it is, you can see how businesses are changing and putting more work on the employee. It becomes very easy for that employee to lose their passion at work. One of the things that I try to do as a leader is to get with my people and learn their passions. Then try to find a way to bridge that gap between their passion and the task at hand. I know that all leaders do not share the same concern. I encourage all leaders to take the time to find out more about their employees passions and embrace them. For the employee who has a passion that is not currently being embraced in the work place, now is your chance! Bring it up with the boss, coworkers, the janitor, anyone who will listen. Brainstorm some ways to incorporate the two. Who knows, it might be a profitable enough venture for the company that your passion becomes your job!
Tom