Do What you Love, Love What you Do.

johnstepleton — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:42:39 +0000

For a few years now I’ve been telling my children – do what you love, and love what you do. They are 8 and 11 years old. I do this because I wish my father would have told me this. These words would have saved me a tremendous amount of frustration and heartache throughout my life. Early in my career, I made too many choices based on what I believed others wanted me to do or be, or what I thought I could gain from doing what I did (e.g., money, material objects). Hindsight is 20/20. I now realize that my happiness is more closely related to how I feel than what I own or what others think of me. I’m lucky because I’ve found my sweet spot - that intersection between:

a) what I’m uniquely gifted at

b) what I’m passionate about

c) what my definite purpose is

This formula comes from a book I recently read - Finding the Sweet Spot by Dave Pollard. I recommend the book to anyone who finds themselves struggling with their job or who feels uninspired with their work. This is the perfect step-by-step guide for discovering responsible, sustainable, joyful work.

For the millions of Americans who find themselves unexpectedly unemployed, you are now in a unique position - you are now able to make choices about what you do next, and about what you put your time and energy towards. I understand that it’s easy to think of this as something awful, but you can also just as easily consider your recent misfortune as an opportunity to make changes in your life that will lead you to satisfaction and happiness. If anything else, think about what it is you would do if you could do anything. Think about what your gifts are, what you’re passionate about, and what your purpose is in this world.

This is the location of the “sweet spot.”

Knowledge Fulcrum » Unique Ability

Do What you Love, Love What you Do.