Today, I helped teach a class about Adobe Illustrator. It was an art class, for college level students and I was pleasantly surprised by the level of skill that existed prior to my teaching. It was a little frightening, considering I went into college with minimal skills in my chosen profession and worked my butt off to get to the level I am today. These students are getting some of those skills in high school, what does that mean for the graphic arts profession?
That was not the chosen topic of this post, but it does segue nicely into finding your passion. While I was teaching today, I was really energized. I might have been a little off putting with my enthusiasm, but I found my passion.
I am passionate about my work, I do it well, but I believe my passion is teaching. Seeing students “get” what I’m trying to teach them is a profoundly rewarding experience. Here are some steps that I have found to find your passion:
- Go back…way back
Do you remember what you were passionate about as a child? I wanted to be a comic illustrator, which probably played heavily into my current career decision. What did you love? What really got you excited? Can you turn that former passion into a current passion?
- Inventory your life
What do you love to do outside of work? What do you do at work but wish you could do more? What in your environment would be indicative of your passions? I have guitars, two of them. I have a passion for playing guitar, although it is not nearly as strong as my love of design and teaching. What do you have or do that would help you find your passions?
- What gets you excited?
I know it sounds painfully obvious, but how often in our day to day lives to we get to explore what really gets us fired up? Between paying the bills and the day job, there isn’t much opportunity to really contemplate or really explore what we really love. Take 5 minutes and really focus on what you like, is that your passion?
Knowing what your passion is can greatly increase your focus, either in getting to your passion or in the execution of your passion. Focus breeds productivity, need I say more?
Do you know what your passion is? Did you find your passion in an interesting way? Tell me in the comments
The talk about passion on Valentines day, was totally unplanned. The irony…
2 Comments
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I found my passion almost haphazardly. Somehow I found myself drawn to working with families and couples, and as I have gotten more experience I find myself more and more passionate about my work.
I wonder if we actively seek out the things we are naturally drawn to, or if they sort of “find” us…Not sure, but I sure did enjoy this passionate post :)