Years ago when I was in a sales role, I was having difficulty getting to a very large prospect. He had an assistant who was his gatekeeper. She was very controlling, ornery, and had that mother hen type personality. I decided that the only way I was going to get anywhere was to win her over. That became my mission. I knew I would have to find something she was passionate about in order to make the connection. I began by looking around the cubicle she worked in to observe pictures or items on display. If someone uses the limited office space they have to display something unrelated to work, there is a very high probability that it represents something for which they have a passion.…
I talk to so many people that are counting down the days until retirement. While I understand the concept, I find myself feeling sad for them. If you truly love what you do every day, in a sense, you are already retired.
I am fortunate to be passionate about my work. That’s no accident. It’s the byproduct of a conscious decision, extreme focus, discipline and drive. It hasn’t always been this way, but I’ve learned that if you truly want to monetize your passion, you must decide what you love to do professionally, figure out how you are going to get there, and execute every day until you’re doing it.…