We all have heard about how important is to have clarity about what we want. But not all of us know why it is actually good to be clear.

There are people (maybe even you) who have several interest areas, are very clearly going for and focusing on them. You also probably know some people who wanted to be a doctor from since they were kids, became a doctor and are happy to work in that profession for the rest of their lives.

Many of us have no clarity

But most of us don’t know that clearly what to become and many of us have too many interest areas. Most of us actually even knew what to become, but have then listened to people around us, got influenced by them and sidetracked. Then they reach their 40s or 50s realize that they would love to do something totally different. But now it seems too late or too difficult.

I am sure you know many people from your close circles or colleagues who may be good at something. Maybe even very good. We all are good at something, right? But do we think the things we are good at are also things we are passionate about?

Yes, there is a difference! So continue reading.

There is a difference between good and passionate work

I met many people who have several areas of interest. They may have some generic education like economics, which actually allows them to have different professions. With that background they might be dreaming about:

• being a sales manager in bigger company (because sales guys can earn a lot if they do great sales)
• being a marketing manager (like their father was. And hey, he always brought home lot of nice shampoos samples for the whole family. 🙂 )
• owning a small retail shop (like their brother does and it looks like a quite simple business. And he earns fairly well too.)
• working in a bank (like their mother did her whole life, having very stable career and a decent salary)
• having a small restaurant (like their friend does. And who doesn’t like good food?)
• or running a travel agency (since they love traveling)

And they could do any of those and would be fairly satisfied. For a while. Until they find out that it’s not actually a dream job for them.

Do what you want to do, not what you are told to do

And it could easily happen this way. Just imagine this scenario:

Your friend from university times asks you to join his company, he introduces you to your potential manager who offers you some marketing role. You are really looking for a job, so you take it. You have an education in economics, so why would you say no? Anyway you always liked the description of marketing from your father, who was doing it. So you get started. But then you realize, that in this particular company marketing is done in very different way. Perhaps they even move you to digital marketing and it is all about online, content and analytics and nothing about creative TV marketing campaigns. So you quit.

Since you don’t know what your passions are, you are open to several options. And you apply to different types of roles. Just to land some job. Just to have some cash-flow and stability. Then you get lucky and get a job as a sales manager. Everybody tells you that it is fairly close to marketing and you can do it, so you get started. But very soon you learn that you are not the best sales guy in the team. You do like sales, but you don’t really enjoy networking, going to events, client dinners, seminars, exhibitions and you really don’t like cold calling on the phone. And there is too much traveling too. So you quit again.

Beware of ending up in a loop of unwanted jobs

Your mother is seriously worried about your career so she arranges you an interview for some job at the bank she works for. You kind of feel that it might not be a best fit to your career plans, but since you don’t want to disappoint your mother. Also, you do need money and everybody does tell you, that you can do it and learn, you give it a try. You learn. You do it even very well. And you do it even for quite a few years. But every single day you look at your watch and count the hours until you can go home. When your manager asks you for some extra time, an extra project to finish or extra event to attend to, you always have some excuse why you can’t go even though you’d love to. (ehm ehm…). And that’s because you are not passionate about your job, even though you do it well. You don’t have your heart there. You are not ready to walk the extra mile and you are not even interested in studying more and learning more since your heart is elsewhere.

We all know people like this

I am sure you know many people like that. The problem is, that if they need to find a new job for themselves, they will do whatever is close to what they were doing before. They don’t take a moment to think where their heart really is. For a few reasons:

1. If they realized what they are passionate about, it might be either too scary to change career and do something totally different. They care a lot about what other people would say. Essentially they don’t live their lives, but lives of others.
2. They would realize that to get where they want to get, they basically would have to start from zero. Maybe study something new or take some time-intensive training.
3. They’d have to take serious pay cuts. After all the profession they are passionate about is not a well paid as the one they are in right now. And with a house loan, wife and three kids they simply can not take that step! Everybody would call them crazy: their wife, their parents and all their friends.

So they keep that old job they are not passionate about and continue doing it for as long as they can. Until they either get fired or end up burned out. And then many of them suddenly take an opportunity to make a change. They take some courses, start from zero. And what happens?

If you feel good, your surroundings will as well

Eventually they all find out, that this new job is so fulfilling that they love every minute of their working day. They don’t watch the clock anymore. They jump out of the bed and do work even during the weekends. Not because they have to. Because they love to. And since they love what they are doing, they are passionate about it. Not surprising, they do it very well too. And even though they work hard and long days, they don’t get burned out, because they love their job. They have never been more satisfied at work and come home not nearly as exhausted as before. Now they also have more energy for their loved ones. They are happier. And their loved ones become happier too. They don’t get every flue, because they are not so stressed as their colleagues. Suddenly their headaches stop and their digestion problems disappear.

Many things can happen and change for the better, once you do what you love to do, find your purpose, and are in the flow. Things will go with ease and you will feel that time flies.

Who of you would not like to have such a job? But does it have to be a privilege? Can we all do what we are passionate about?

What is it you love doing?

Yes, we can. Sometimes it’s not that easy to make the switch, but it is always possible. But to do so, you need to have clarity about what you are passionate about and what you really want to do. What is your purpose in life?

Most of you don’t know it. And how do I know? Several studies and researches from around the world show that only about 30% of people really do what they are passionate about. Everyone else is wasting their life and resources and trying to find happiness outside work. But that is not sustainable for long.

So I would very strongly advise each and everyone of you to spend a moments and think about what are the activities you really enjoy doing, at work, in your free time, when you are on holiday, etc. Get some clarity. What did you want to become when you were a kid? When your friends and colleagues compliment you, what is it for? What do you do with ease and what are you good at? With some mindfulness and retrospection and talking to people who know you very closely, I am sure you will get some hints. And with our guide including 13 very helpful questions, you will get there for sure, so download it now here! Make a good tea, sit in a comfy chair, and enjoy the process!

Just imagine…

Imagine we all would do what we really love doing. Think about the results of companies, if all employees would be engaged and passionate about their jobs. Imagine the impact on the economy, society, families… With this clarity, the world would be a better place! And I did commit to change and help as many of you as possible. Because you all deserve it! And I can promise you, that it’s absolutely worth it! I know it 🙂