In today’s ultra-competitive environment, true success requires energy, focus, and a rigorous work ethic. Yet, so many of us act incredibly lazy – especially at work. Why?
Passion
Think for a moment – what are you most passionate about? Pick the one activity that really gets you fired up. Maybe it is skiing, playing fantasy football, or growing a garden. Maybe it is tutoring kids, spoiling your grandchildren, or baking treats for your dog. (Is the activity you chose related to your career?)
Now consider this – how much time and
energy do you focus on your favorite activity? If you spend 3 hours every Saturday night maneuvering your fantasy football lineup, or wake up at 4 a.m. to hit the ski slopes early, you do so because of one emotion – passion.
Laziness
Let’s flip the situation. What activity do you dread, and tend to put the least amount of effort into? Is this activity related to your career? Is it your entire job?
By now, you realize where I am going with this. If you are lazy at work, what is the secret force behind your laziness? You are not passionate about what you are doing!
I believe that true success requires hard work, and true hard work requires passion. This equation doesn’t add up well for those who lack passion in their career. If this applies to you, what can you do about it? (If it doesn’t apply to you, congrats! What do you do for a living? Leave a note in the comments.)
Change
First, don’t panic and rush into your boss’s office shouting angrily about 2 weeks notice. In this market, anyone with a steady job should consider themselves lucky. Instead, start planning a long-term strategy for change.
Think back to the activity that you were most passionate about. Build the list out further and form a Top 5 or a Top 10. Can any of those activities be turned into careers? It might not seem so at first, but think creatively. Check out these examples:
Fantasy football analyst
Find the one thing that fuels your fire, 
and begin to research it further. Because you’ve kept your day job, you’ll have to put in extra hours after work. But, if you are truly passionate about the subject, it won’t feel like work at all.
As you build your skill set, begin to incorporate your abilities and expertise into your personal brand. Don’t know where to start? Try a few of these top personal branding tools. Become engaged in relevant communities, and learn for yourself what career opportunities might exist. Ning is a social platform for niche groups built on passion and interest. With a little research, a dash of creativity, and a ton of hard work – you just might be able to turn a hobby into a career.
Have you already turned your passion into your career? Let us know about it, leave a note in the comment section. Your comment might inspire someone else to chase after their true dream.
Lazy cat by ~fb. Skiing image by A tea but no e. Pencil image by audreym
