Put Passion In Your Profession

I've taken numerous groups down the path of discovering what they love about their jobs and making more of it to build the passion and "get up in the morningness" for their jobs.  There have been many moments when people light up realizing they need to ask for what they want at work, taking the risk that they might actually get it. I've heard the stories of people who took on responsibilities outside of their job descriptions to build their resumes for that passion filled opportunity they were eyeing.

Last week I got the opportunity to teach Developing Your Career Potential for CalPERS. An organization I love working with and a topic I enjoy. They each took the Elevations Career Discovery tool, a rich way of sorting your values, skills, and job interests. I took it too in preparation for working with them. My final job interests? Public speaking and Photo Journalist.

I laughed at first until I realized what I was teaching was exactly what I was living! Anyone who has attended a class with me in the last few years has endured endless photos in my powerpoint presentations and projected randomly through breaks and lunch. While I love what I do, photography is a true passion for me. When a friend Debbie asked me to teach a photography class on her website, I was thrilled! Nothing like being able to do what you love and share it with others! And it's not too late for you to join!

So, what are you passionate about? And how are you putting it into your profession?