Work With Passion: Actionable Steps to Finding Passion In Your Career

In this day and age, you can surmise that unlimited access to information and the experience of a global epidemic shook everyone to look inward and assess their life choices. Were you spending hours you could have enjoyed with your family doing overtime? Are you truly satisfied with your job? For many, the past two years were an awakening to #SEEKBetter – from prioritising their mental and emotional health to finding work with passion.

These days, many employees – particularly those of the Gen Z variety – have come to understand that their jobs do not define them. And that success goes beyond financial compensation. After all, a career should not just help you pay the bills. It should also support your professional and personal growth. Without the latter, you may find yourself in a career rut.

There's no cookie-cutter path to finding fulfilment in your profession, but no matter what route you take, you must ensure your passion for work fuels the journey.

Why Should You Find Passion in Your Career?

An old saying goes: “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Finding passion in your job helps elevate your career experience and encourages professional and personal development. When you love what you do or do what you love, you become internally motivated and self-directed – key traits that will naturally help you thrive.

Moreover, because passion leads to purpose, you gain a clearer direction concerning what you want to achieve, making career breakthroughs more rewarding and fulfilling. Apart from this, your passion for work drives not only your career aspirations but also your determination to thrive. Instead of you burning your brows trying to meet impossible deadlines and hustling, it helps you draw the fine line between work and life.

How to Find a Career to be Passionate About

Here are easy and actionable steps you can do to find passion in your career:

1. Reflect on your interests and goals.

No one else is in charge of your happiness but you. So, your biggest consideration for anything regarding your future should be yourself. Make time for self-reflection. Write a list of the things you love—what excites you, what makes you feel alive? Is there a specific field or task that makes you want to learn more? What are your professional goals and dreams? How do you want to achieve them?

When finding a career to feel truly passionate about, your voice should be louder than the opinions of others because you are the one waking up to face every work day. Make your feelings count. 

2. Satisfy your curiosity and try new things.

Don’t be surprised if your list of interests involves more than one activity or if you can’t quite pinpoint “that one thing” you’re passionate about. Remember, you're not a static being. You're growing, and your passions can change. Make time to try new things to feed your curiosity and find new hobbies that will make you feel eager and motivated. 

Satisfying your curiosity by trying new things gives you the chance to discover more about yourself and your passions in life. They will also guide you in assessing if it’s something you want to pursue as a career. 

Jessica Alba was a famous actress before succeeding in building a $550-million company. She explored the option of having a business when, as a new mom, she couldn’t find baby products that aligned with her beliefs. After discovering that many baby products contain harmful chemicals, she decided to create her Honest brand and offer the public safer and more effective options for baby care. Currently, her company has expanded to include cosmetics and wellness.

When you give yourself time to try new things, you expose yourself to discovering yourself more. You learn your likes and dislikes. Do you not like the relaxed pace of fishing? Do you thrive in the excitement of speed racing? Do you enjoy the strategic thinking required in chess? It gives you an idea of your qualities and how you can apply them to your career. New experiences also help you find a sense of purpose in the things you believe in or those that matter to you. 

3. Don’t think too much and just take that first step.

Finding your passion is not a race, but as you take the time to do some soul searching, don’t let your doubts or fears of failure hinder your progress.

Do you feel passionate about design and believe you will do well in designing marketing collaterals? If you're holding yourself back because you think your background isn't extensive enough, don't overthink the matter. Go ahead and take your chances and let employers assess your skills instead of feeding your mind doubts without even trying. 

In 1969, 40-year-old Donald Fisher, with his wife Doris, opened his first Gap store in San Francisco despite his lack of retail experience. His goal was to make shopping for trousers more accessible to the public. To date, the Gap continues to be one of the world’s largest clothing chains.

4. Do it over and over again

Found something you feel strongly about? Great news! Now get ready to explore it, learn more about it, unlearn some of the things you know about it, relearn specific skills or upskill, and do it over and over again until you reach your goals. 

Doing what you love or finding a career you feel passionate about doesn’t exempt you from putting in the work and effort to thrive. It just won’t feel as burdensome because you’re doing it for a greater purpose. 

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling had to experience loads of rejections before finally finding a publishing company that believed in her work. Nonetheless, she never gave up and continued pursuing her goal of being a writer. 

5. Don’t make money a priority.

This advice is easier said than done. After all, we all have bills to pay. But at some point during your self-reflection, you have to draw the line on just how much financial reward can motivate you. To be able to find a career you’re passionate about, you need a more significant purpose instead of focusing on money. 

Yes, you should consider compensation, but it shouldn't be the only box you should tick. What do you want to contribute to society? How do you want to grow in your career? A more significant sense of purpose that allows you to enjoy personal and professional growth will always be far greater than a job you don’t enjoy and drains your energy.

6. Don’t settle.

Imagine if Vera Wang listened to that voice inside telling her it might be too late for her to enter the fashion world as a designer at the age of 40. She might still be the successful editor of a famous fashion magazine but she won’t be fulfilling her ultimate passion of designing wedding dresses.  

She is one great example of how success isn’t to be defined by society but rather what your heart tells you. 

Don’t allow anyone to limit you based on your age, educational and financial background, or others’ definition of success. It is never too late to change careers or start on your mid-career journey. If you’re not happy in your current job, consider applying to other positions that are more aligned with your goals. Don’t let anything hinder you from achieving anything you deem worthy.

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