Tag: WordPress

Passion

Posted on by philipdodson

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I was at a meeting recently of an organisation that is relatively new and is there to be a voice for an emerging industry.

So we kicked off with the usual intro’s ‘Hi I’m Mary (there wasn’t a Mary) and I’m an accountant (Mary wasn’t an accountant either)’.

By the time we were half way round the table, there was about as much enthusiasm in the room, as there would be, if I’d asked people to volunteer to work a 7 day week for the rest of their lives.

When we’d done, the person next to me pointed out the lack of enthusiasm, and I suggested we went back round, only this time we all said why we do what we do. After the initial looks of horror had eased, we set off.

Interestingly after the first few, people slipped back into talking about their product/service and very little ‘why’, with the exception of the passionate ones, who were able to articulate clearly their reason why they leapt out of bed in the morning.

If you want a head start not only tell your why first, but add your passion to it.

When I left, I was waiting for my colleague at reception, and was talking to Cristal (not Mary) and she asked me what do you do? I said I’d rather tell you why I do what I do, then how I do it and then what I do. She said that was really interesting (clearly being polite!) and then I explained why I answered that way. She replied saying ‘but what you do is important to know’.

I asked her what do you do? ‘I’m a facilities manager’ – so I said she was like 100,000’s of other facility managers all over the world. She obviously didn’t like that idea. I then asked her ‘why do you do what you do?’. She replied with real animation and passion ‘I love people and I am passionate about doing a good job, I like to organise things, variety and serving others….’ Immediately she had changed how I now understood that person. I knew her values were passion, people, variety and structure.

Before all I knew was she managed facilities.

So do not sell yourself short, because when you talk about what matters you will be animated and passionate. If you’re not, then it is not what matters.

Life is about what matters and people connect with genuine passion.

Where’s the rush?

Posted on by philipdodson

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We are taught to hurry, to get things done quickly, grow our businesses fast, before someone else comes along and does it first.

There is a great deal of pressure associated with this philosophy and it is all driven by the feeling of following the accepted ‘wisdom’.

It is all part of a culture of instant gratification and not being prepared to wait for anything.

We set up a business and immediately want to fast track it to success by borrowing money and buying instant success.

If it doesn’t work instantly, then ‘pivot’ also known as giving up.

But where is the fun in that? Where is the sense of satisfaction?

Life is a wonderful journey and if we are to craft our very best creations, then that takes time.

Taking time and enjoying it, is much more rewarding and it doesn’t matter if others are perceived to have done ‘it’ first, as you are not looking to create any kind of ‘it’. You are looking to create your own unique work, that will be simply that, unique. That takes time, practice and patience.

Enjoy what you do, don’t rush it for others. Go and create what resonates with you, take your time, enjoy the challenges and digest the learning. Then feel the happiness and joy of sharing something that you know is the best you could have done.