Must Passion be the Employee's Focus Foundation?

You heard your workmate telling everyone in the office that he's passionate about his work. Your former (college) roommate would say the same thing, repeatedly. It madee you wonder about your passion towards your job. Must if be your focus foundation? Not really.

Passion stems from the Latin word, "passiō", which means suffering and submission. There's emotion involved here, as well as (lots of) time. It's an investment that many people wouldn't have second thoughts if it's about someone they're attracted to. A job doesn't love back, though. If you have expectations about the job, then be prepared for the disappointment along the way. If it won't be the office space that doesn't appeal to your aesthetics, then it may be your employer(s). But something is being done.

Athletes learn to live with the pain, if not injuries, as this would be the only way to be the best in the sport. Artists must endure rejection, even if they have exerted more effort than what is expected from them. If not for love, then parents won't have to go the distance. You must like what you're doing IF you want to keep on going. As far as your career is concerned, you must be able to adopt a sensible approach. You should learn to work wisely. It might have a negative connotation, but it's not.

How to Work Wisely

Be positive. Always. It means showing off lots of positive energy, as you would need it when there are too many tasks in the office. You're feeling the stress, and there are signs that your nearest colleague would bear the brunt of your frustration (or anger). It can also allure to moments when there are lots of things to complain about the office, and you're tempted to join the (office) gossip. But you choose the high road. These kinds of situations require grace under pressure, and a boss would need it more than an employee. Show some resilience if you don't feel like it.

Show your enthusiastic side. Always. Enthusiasm can be contagious, and this might be the only thing that a boss would need to make his (or her) team go along (when it's getting tougher). Some people might see a passionate employer, which could be true. There's something else, though. An enthusiastic boss may be more than good enough. Think about an office that has seen its best days, if not an organization that don't have the best people. Innovation could have done magic (in both cases), but there are other factors to consider. The only thing left for the employer is to show his (or her) team lots of love. Some people might see a boss putting passion into the job.

Take risks (if it's necessary). This is not recommended for everyone. In fact, there's no need to do such extremes if everything seems fine and dandy. You would never know if you truly love what you're doing, though. It doesn't have to be procrastination, where you have lots of adrenaline going on (and you don't need caffeine at this point). On the other hand, taking risks doesn't mean looking for other tasks when you're finished with yours. If you have a vision, then you might want to talk to a trusted colleague about it. Make sure that the credit is yours (if it would be taken into serious consideration).

Know what matters most to you. There are times when (positive) attitude won't be enough. You should think and long hard about this one. Are you an achiever? If you do, then you must be thrilled about your accomplishment, and it doesn't matter if it's big or small. Your colleagues would applaud you, if not rally around you. There might be something else. Do you like to be part of a bigger team? If you're not, then you don't have to be afraid of building your own beat. (One out of three people are freelancers at the moment.) More questions would follow, but you know where it leads to.

There must be interaction on what you love and where you excel. Work becomes easier, if not something like a child's play, if what you love happens to be the one you excel at. You don't have to worry about Monday, if not wonder if you would have an empty tank before Friday. And you don't have to be wary about office politics. If you're a true professional (and a nice person), then there's a high chance that you end up in the winner's circle.

You Must Have the Courage to Dive In

You may have the passion, but the workplace doesn’t inspire you in any way. If it’s not that, then someone (or something) might hold you back. Is it the people you’re working with? It could be a sign that you might look for a new environment. Whether you’re in the business side of thing or someone who is drawn to creative endeavors, keep in mind that wanting it would be more important than anything else. It should make your (professional) life easier, if not less difficult than you imagine.