This is not a man who has come into my life recently, rather, it’s one that is going to be removed shortly. Though he has only been a part of my life for less than a year, he has become not only a mentor but an inspiration as well. He has led an extraordinary life, and though I only fit onto one portion of one chapter of his life, I like to think I had an impact on him as well. But this isn’t about me is it? Of course not…
This is a person I met shortly before my most recent move back to the Midwest. At the very first encounter, I knew he was someone I would come to admire. He has a great passion for life – not just his personal life, but his professional life as well. And one of the greatest lessons he taught me is the importance of combining the two – of being passionate about the work that you are doing each and every day. Sure, it’s easy to say, especially when you are starting your career it can be difficult to find a good balance while still proving your worth to a company. Regardless, this is an extremely important goal for which to aspire. In order to be successful, don’t you have to truly enjoy the work you are doing, to have such passion for your work that “you feel most alive when doing it.” Other words of wisdom he shared with me today regarding passion for your profession are so simple, yet so hard to come by: “Everyone here has something special that can’t be taught. When you walk in the door you either have it or you don’t.” Passion and desire in your career is what makes you marketable, and those are the people that come with that little something extra that makes them the best, the experts, in their field.
Take, for example, the Spartans. Let’s go way back ancient Greece, where Sparta ruled not just because of it’s king, but because of the army behind him. These men were proud. Being a Spartan was more than a duty, it was a profession, and a way of life. The passion that each of these men brought with them to each battle proves that accomplishment comes to those with the most fire in their soul, and believe in not only themselves, but those with whom they work the closest. Victory after victory, these men grew to trust in one another and learned how to work efficiently and effectively together to accomplish the ultimate goal – to wipe out the opposing army.
Granted, this isn’t quite what most of us professionals are out to accomplish today; more like beat out the competition in a new business pitch – but you get the analogy. Everyone should have this sort of passion for their work. And for those who don’t, find a way to fit it in; transform the daily grind into your profession. So the next time you suit up and head into the office, realize that you too have that something special in you that gets you up in the morning and makes each day better than the last.
Spartans, what is your profession?
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