10 THINGS YOU CAN DO IMMEDIATELY TO MAKE YOUR PASSION HAPPEN

Although some people may tell you it takes years to discover your passion, I think it really only takes enough time to develop a skill set to get you on your way. That does not necessarily always mean several years getting a degree or half a lifetime learning wisdom.
Here are 10 suggestions you can implement NOW towards making today the one that make your passion happen.

1. OBSERVE...Keep a log for a few days noting the things that make you comfortable, happy; things that keep your interest, beg for your opinion, pull at your heartstrings. Is it a cause or a circumstance? Is it an activity that causes you to lose track of time when you are involved? What draws you back again and again?

2. WRITE...Start a list. Some might call it a bucket list but it can also be your wish list. What would you really like to accomplish in life. Is it to get a degree, travel more, help those who really need an advocate, change careers, move, etc? Put your thoughts into words and keep it somewhere where you see it regularly.

3.EMBELLISH...Take that list and address a specific step for each wish. If you want to get a degree, have you looked into colleges, financial aid, contacted a career coach, started on- line courses? If you want to travel, are you researching your favorite locations? If you want to give back more, have you looked into volunteer opportunities? Interested in changing careers? Have you talked with others or connected on line with those in careers you might be interested in pursuing? If you are doing nothing about what you wrote about, you have to ask yourself if you may not really want the things you think you do.

4.READ...Become an expert at what you want, review travel sites, blogs and books. Spend a day at the local bookstore selecting books which will help with your career development. Develop a library of resources on leadership, time management and intentional living. Investigate and explore opinions from experts in the fields you seek to pursue.Create a wealth of information to help you make wise and life-changing choices.

5. SCHEDULE...You will never develop your passion by wishing. You must schedule some time regularly in its pursuit. You can't write, embellish, read or create experiences to help you pursue your passion if you are constantly devoting time to everything else. Be intentional and schedule regular pockets of time for your passion projects. You schedule time for shopping, eating and sleeping, so why not for what matters most? Make regular passion appointments for yourself to continue to develop the next step of the journey.

6.CONNECT...The internet has made it exceptionally easy to reach out to others who are involved in similar pursuits. Connect with those who can help give you a perspective, provide encouragement, hold you accountable, teach you more than you know. One of my favorite places to connect is 48 Days, because everyone there is at some stage of "once where I was" and the support and suggestions are amazing. Start joining and connecting with groups that will assist you in developing your passion projects. Writers Guilds, groups for stay at home moms, Professional organizations, women's groups, political activists, fund raisers can all help you expand your passion with the right tools.

7. ATTEND...Find at least 2 or 3 face to face events that will help you develop a perspective and set of tools to assist your passion pursuit. Locate conferences where you can learn the nuts and bolts of  making a dream become reality.Connecting face to face with people often is the beginning to opening doors of opportunity. Think of a face to face conference as a gift you must give yourself periodically.

8. SEEK A SPIRITUAL CONNECTION... Christians believe God has a plan and purpose for their lives but even those who do not necessarily believe in a God, have recognized a spiritual connection or power about life's purpose. Make a regular connection through devotional time, inspirational meditation, awareness of yourself on a different plane than simply physical. Spiritual awareness and guidance allows those who are seeking a passion to become aware of their gifts and direction with more clarity and intent.

9. RE-CHARGE...Constantly being "on" is dynamite to burn out. Never feel guilty for needing to take time out to "breathe". Yes, you must have an action plan but you also must be able to give yourself permission to be in the moment. People pursuing their passion recognize the need to enjoy time to relax and recharge. You will be better at doing what you love if you also make time to do what you need to do; step away from the issue, take a vacation, sleep, exercise, watch a movie, take a walk, shop, listen to some music. Sometimes you can't begin to discover your passion, until you give yourself permission to enjoy some of life.

10. COMMIT TO BEGIN...Take a stand about what you want and commit to pursuing it. Stop rationalizing, making excuses, sabotaging and underestimating yourself. Dave Ramsey was broke, Oprah was poor, Steven Spielberg was rejected and Steve Jobs had no degree...eliminate saying "whatever" and start saying, "however".  You can't make any passion happen if you are your own worst obstacle. You can want to own the best cupcake shop on the planet, but if you are not baking it's not going to happen. You can want to be the best nurse on the face of the earth, but if you're not involved in some aspect of developing health care skills, you're stuck. Painters must pick up a brush. That's how it works.

WHAT ONE ARE YOU WORKING ON TODAY?

If you enjoy this blog, please commit to becoming a follower and never miss a chance to engage with others who feel the same and connect with other Trailblazers who are not content to just talk about what they want to do. Come introduce yourself and make your passion happen.

Kathy is an author and workshop guru. Want to have her help your group or organization make their passion, happen?

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I HATE MY JOB!

Last summer,Forbes reported on a study which indicated Americans were more satisfied with their jobs. That is, if you consider less than half were more satisfied and only 15.4% were very satisfied. Yikes!

Does this mean that you have a 50/50 chance of having a doctor who is removing your kidneys, an attorney defending your case, a grocery clerk scanning your weekly produce or a teacher influencing your child downright unhappy in their current line of work? That's scary! While the study concludes older workers were more unhappy, from a 71% satisfaction rate back in 1987 to a 46% rate in 2011, probably due to having to delay retirement, it's no secret the average American worker is not the loyal for life worker of past generations. But people have been "hating their jobs" long before this generation.

from empowernetwork.com

Why are so many workers disappointed with how they are asked to earn their living? Last year, CNBC reported Americans were "quitting their jobs on their own volition because they are seeking more personal fulfillment in their workplace lives."

I've always been interested in the reasons people give for disliking or even hating their jobs, and after interviewing several individuals recently, have concluded the phrase, "I hate my job!" is not dependent on reimbursement, level of responsibility, education level, age, gender or commute. I heard similar comments from a nursing superintendent, a successful lawyer, a landscape worker, fifth grade teacher, delivery driver and advertising salesperson! They were at different ages, stages and levels of their career, but the comment rang clear and loud and whenever I asked why they felt this way, I got a resounding and nearly unanimous,"I don't feel what I do makes any real difference" or "I just feel more unfulfilled everyday."

Like the previous, CNBC report, Dave Ramsey in his book, Entreleadership talks about people needing to see the job they do as making a difference whether in their life or someone else's.

So, if you are the one out of every 2 people experiencing job dissatisfaction, what do you do, especially in this economy?

I suggest you look for ways to determine what you are passionate about? Discover what types of things you truly enjoy and investigate how to bring those joys into fulfillment. It may be changing careers and taking a leap of faith for some, but for others, it simply may mean carving out some time to "enjoy what brings you joy."

That "I have no time" mindset really doesn't work when you are talking about your life passions. You only get to live once. You HAVE to make time to discover your passion and to work on adding it into your life while you still can. Maybe it's a hobby, a product you want to get to market, a cause you want to support, an idea you believe in.

If you want to be satisfied with what you do in life...YOU MUST DO IT!

If you hate what you are doing, then you must figure out how to spend time doing what you love. It's not rocket science; it's simply the honest truth.

Pick up a copy of FINDING YOUR FIRE to get some help in discovering where your passion lies and plan on attending the CALLED WOMAN CONFERENCE to figure out how to go from, "I hate my job." to "I love my life." Your job is 40 or so hours out of your week, your life is 168 hours weekly. Don't let what you hate rule what you do with the rest and the best of your life. Get started on taking control so you can find your passion, live your purpose and make a difference daily.

Come visit the MAKE A DIFFERENCE MONDAYS and tell us what you are doing to make a difference in your life or someone else's


Did you ever have a job you truly hated?

What advice do YOU have to someone who hates their job?

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THE MIRROR TEST...TAKE IT AND SEE!

I looked in the mirror and I saw a woman who loves what she does. I saw a woman who can write, speak and make a pretty mean cheesecake. I saw wrinkles and some grey hair and a woman who doesn't care if her make-up isn't perfect as long as her presentation is spot on. I saw a woman who feels blessed to have the people in her life she has and someone who isn't ever going to want to learn to play bridge.

Maybe some other people see a woman with an attention deficit disorder because I realize that's what they call what I have. I didn't just realize I can't do one thing at a time, I have no patience when I must wait and have nothing to "do", I feel like I am wasting my most precious commodity whenever I sit in traffic or I am a veteran at both multi-tasking and misplacing many things I own. I've known those things for quite some time.

Multitasking (Photo credit: foreverdigital)

Oh no, I always knew I was not good at just sitting and listening. Even when it appeared I was totally present, I was mentally planning my shopping list, or rearranging my family room. Having had to look for cell phones in refrigerators and keys in trash cans, I always handed important things over to others stating, "Hang on to these for me, I "lose" things easily. 

But recently when I was listening to a webinar while trying to check my email, write some directions to a friend and toss a toy to my dogs, I realized I never called what I had what everyone else already knew!! Yes, I once had a friend who reported on her birthday card I stated,  how much I valued her friendship and then,"a platform for non-fiction is quite different than one for fiction." (Yes, listening to a lecture, while writing out her card!) And once when I was joining a group of friends for tennis, I forgot my tennis shoes but brought my recorder and someone asked me if perhaps I had taken my tennis racquet to the interview  I had done earlier. Asking my husband if he has seen my car keys whenever they are in my hand is a pretty huge revelation but I always thought that was just part of my personality...and IT IS...but others call it, "attention deficit disorder."

People give names to all types of things and because many people function very efficiently despite those labels, few people often realize they are dysfunctional, codependent, socially challenged, conformity resistant or high maintenance. I think sometimes that is perfectly Okay!

One woman I know constantly complains about not being able to get started on her goals. When I suggested perhaps she is a procrastinator and might need some "help" moving on, she said, "Oh, no I'm not a procrastinator, I just have trouble getting things started!" 

So, I have attention deficit disorder according to most definitions and I don't believe it's going away anytime soon and you know what, it doesn't really matter much to me.

You see, labels are just that. They are labels simply identifying a behavior or condition. We are slender (or not), accident-prone, generous, insecure, impractical or focused. We might be identified as having anger management issues, executive function problems, technophobia  or even obsessive /compulsive behavior and while taken to any severe extreme, these behaviors can prohibit our growth, many people are quite successful despite those labels.

What you see yourself as becomes an internal mirror for a direction you choose to take. The woman who I mentioned could be described as a procrastinator has had a successful marketing career for over 20 years, has raised 4 amazing children, been on the board of a large non-profit and can make Ray Charles look like an amateur at the piano. She drips with talent but her goal is to write a book and while she talks about it all the time, she has never really begun to put her thoughts into print. She confessed that she thinks no one will take her seriously and she can't see herself as a writer and as much as she wants to be, she won't ever start until she believes in herself. 

Look at yourself. Seriously look. Do you see yourself where your passion wants to take you or do you really want to achieve something that "feels" strange and "looks" foreign to you? You will never grow a passion if you don't "see" yourself the way you want others to see you.

So, I write, because I am a writer. I speak because I want others to hear how they too can make a passion happen...and I misplaced my cell phone in the clothes hamper and mailed the phone bill without the check inside because I have attention deficit disorder (I guess).

It's all good as long as what you see in your mirror is the image you want it to be.

What's in your wallet? ( I mean, mirror!)

Want to really make your passion, happen? Register for the Called Woman conference. A day just for you to get your idea launched. More than a dozen speakers, break-out sessions and amazing networking. Finally get your idea off the ground. Early registration ends February 1.

Want Kathy to speak at your next event? Contact her here.

• I'm Grateful for Adult Attention Deficit Disorder!

WHAT WOULD YOU REALLY DO?

(image courtesy of red cheeks factory)

So it's the New Year and most people have made at least some mental resolutions regarding things they want to see happen in the New Year. There are a few things people shy away from resolving; like being more awesome, creating a larger legacy, effecting major change because just telling someone that is your resolution sounds larger than life and often overwhelming.


 But let's face it. Everyone of us has a major dream or goal we would love to eventually see come to pass. Maybe it's to retire at an early age, become a household name or find our soul mate. Some dreams and goals aren't shared because the dreamer knows  telling someone what they really want to accomplish when their current situation seems anything but headed in that direction can be like taking a walk; naked... everyone has an opinion about something that is personal to you.          

But for just this moment, imagine all your ducks were in line, all your resources were in place. It was the right time and you were with the right people. There was no obvious risk and everything you needed to achieve your dream was within reach...

WHAT WOULD YOU REALLY DO?

I'd love you to share your answers here, but if you don't, I hope you at least write it down somewhere for your personal archives and regularly assess if you are headed in the direction to reach that dream.

If you believe you will never have the resources or circumstances to make your dream come true, you are probably right, but if you are a BIG DREAMER and if you see the BIG PICTURE and not just the little pixels that make up each step, you are well on your way to  going in the direction of your dream.

Steven Spielberg (Photo credit: rvthomas67)

Steven Spielberg was convinced he was a director, despite the fact that he had never attended any prestigious film school and actually was rejected from both UCLA and USC. He literally walked into the lot at Universal by looking like the other execs that came through. Dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase, often filled with only candy bars or a sandwich, Spielberg found an empty office and set up shop and the rest was hi
story. Spielberg saw himself as a successful director. He believed despite his circumstances.

So how about you? How do you see yourself and what would you really do if all the stars aligned and you got your BIG SHOT?

Are You The Believer You Need To Be To Live Your Dream?

If you enjoyed this post, come join the Finding Your Fire Community.
Looking for some great direction and support for getting your ideas off and running. Register for the CALLED WOMAN conference before February 1 for the best deal on a conference that will help you launch your dreams farther than you can imagine.

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