Let me start off by writing that I am totally biased when it comes to voting in contests and competitions that involve my friends and/or acquaintances. I vote for whomever I have the closest relationship with…or I just don’t vote at all if I’m equally close to everyone. Having said that, several of my blogging friends are participating in Lifetime Moms’ Clean Start Challenge 2011. I am voting for Team 3 because I have known Beth the longest and the closest. All three teams (Follow Your Dreams, Increase Literacy and Boost Kids’ Self-Esteem) are really great though. You should check them all out and vote for the cause that moves you personally. This post really isn’t about the Challenge though. Rather, one of the segments that Stephanie (from Team 1) shared, Karen Walrond’s Tips for Finding Your Passion, really spoke to some of the things that I have been working through (career-wise) so far this year.
The first thing that Karen spoke about was how she found her passion. Basically, she wrote down everything that she loved to do/the things that brought her joy. Then, she grouped them into three categories. (For her, it was speak, write and shoot.) Lastly, she made the decision to only choose opportunities that were fun and/or that involved two of her three things/categories.
I heard Karen speak at Blogalicious a couple of years ago and I thought that she was fabulous, so I did what she did. I realized that I am so blessed because there are so many things that bring me joy in my personal life – walking Michael to school in the morning; sitting on a blanket in the middle of the living room to have picnic lunches with Sean; those “catch-up” times at the end of the day with my best friend/husband; and so much more.
There are also many things that make me happy work-wise. Last year was a bit insane, but it helped me to see what I enjoy – as well as what I extremely dislike in opportunities. Overall my three “things” are learning, leading and talking. I love to learn so that I can go and teach what I’ve learned to someone else. When I say “leading”, I don’t mean by title. I mean that I like to help groups come up with a vision of what we all are trying to accomplish as a team and facilitate coming to a consensus regarding ways to get from “A” to “B”. One of the highlights (in some ways) of last year was overseeing a team of talented paid writers. As far as talking – it’s just what I do…a lot. 🙂 Anyway, over the last couple of weeks, I have been offered several work opportunities. It has been very helpful to have this type of framework along with my business advisor (also known as Reggie) to run things by. So far, few things have been especially good fits, but that’s alright. Last year was a great teacher -doubt really does mean don’t! Anyway, I prefer spending time with my family and laying the framework/building up my own sites in the absence of excellent outside opportunites. (Yes, sites. My wonderful, amazing close friends and family have encouraged me to keep Mom in the City – for parenting resources, events and such – in addition to launching Foodie City Mom where I will focus on the foods of New York. Yay!)
Back to passion…Stephanie also asked Karen if she had any advice for moms in regards to helping them find their passion. Karen’s response was that we moms should get to know ourselves. Once we figure out what turns us on, the next step is figuring out how to do it for a living. While the “figuring out how to do it for a living” is usually the most challenging part, I think that this advice is a wonderful start. As Polonius said to his son Laertes in one of my favorite parts of Shakespeare’s Hamlet:
This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.
In the play, this was a father talking to his son. I can only imagine what impact it would make if we moms taught this concept to our sons and daughters – by both our words and our actions. I’m trying and I’m sure that you are too!
Would you say that you have found your passion? If so, have you figured out how to do it for a living? (I’m taking notes!)
(This image has nothing to do with anything. A nice elderly gentlemen just randomly gave me this bouqet of beautiful flowers today. Wasn’t that just lovely?!)