Finding your passion can often feel like an overwhelming task. There are tons of assessments, questions, blogs, books and speeches out there, and wading through them all is a gargantuan project. Whew! It’s hard to know where to start.
But what if starting was actually easier than you think? What if finding your passion could begin with just a few simple questions?
The most important part of finding your passion is understanding what you love, and to do that, all you need to do is a little reflection. So, clear your desk and take a breath (and push all of those assessments to the side). It’s time to learn more about YOU.
Question 1: What did you use to dream about doing in your career? (At age 10 or at age 30, there’s no judgment!). What we used to love to do in the past is a often a clue to what we want to do in the future, so take a second and write down whatever comes to mind.
Question 2: What do you love to do now? Are there any tasks, hobbies or activities that make you lose track of time? If you are struggling with this question (hey, sometimes your mind is just a blank), then open up your browser history as a guide to how you spend your time. We spend time on things that truly interest us, so don’t discount your internet searches.
Question 3: What makes you feel strong? What tasks or activities play to your strengths, but also give you a feeling of empowerment and joy? (So, if there is something that you hate but are good at, keep it off this list!). Areas where you feel strong will help you narrow down what you want to do moving forwards.
Question 4: What do people thank you for? Is it your stellar advice? Your help with fashion? Your leadership or communications? Often there is a clue here that will lead to your next job or career. For instance, people used to call me “life coach” as an inside joke, but they came to me for advice all the time. And now, I’ve turned it into a career!
Question 5: If you could do anything with your time, and money is no object, what would you do? Often something outrageous will pop into your head, and that’s great! You might not actually want that outrageous job, but aspects of it could be exactly what ignites your passion, and will guide you on your next career step. So write down whatever comes to mind, and then ask yourself what features of that job really resonate with you. For me, it was a secret love of being a judge on America’s Next Top Model. When I thought about it more, however, I realized that it wasn’t ANTM that fascinated me, it was helping mentor people in their careers, having work that was different every day, and doing a job that had a bit of glamour to it. And being a career coach hits all three of those things.
So there you have it – five simple questions to help you find your passion. Answer them, see what trends you notice, and then pick something and follow up on it. Clarity comes with action, no matter how small the action may be. And if you need help finding your passion, grab my 6 simple steps to finding work you love right here.
