Are You Doing What You Love?
“There is no greatness without a passion to be great, whether it’s the aspiration of an athlete
or an artist, a scientist, a parent, or a businessperson.” ~ Anthony Robbins
Does this question sound familiar, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I’m sure you were asked this question dozens of times during your youth. What was your response? When asked the question, without hesitation I would exclaim “I want to be a teacher!”
At 8 years old, I enjoyed tutoring and instructing my siblings who were 7, 6 and 5 years of age. I digress for a moment as I recall the looks and comments I have received over the years, when I share the ages of me and my siblings. We are stair steps—literally, 10-12 months apart. All I can say is that my parents were excited about creating a family :). So now, back to my story.
Playing teacher with my siblings was so exciting and rewarding. Watching their little faces light up when they answered a question correctly or came to understand a concept that once challenged them, gave me so much joy. I felt that I was making a difference. I remember tutoring students in math and rejoicing with them when they grasped and/or solved a math problem that they once thought was beyond their comprehension. For me, being a teacher was my calling.
We all had dreams of becoming something great. For you it may have been a teacher, fireman, lawyer, chef, journalist, veterinarian or a rock star, just to name a few. Well, how did you do? What are you doing now? Are you doing what you love? As we grow older, life becomes busier and things change. Jobs, marriages, children and businesses have a way of getting us off track. However, at some point we must get back on the path that will lead us to true fulfillment. Doing what you love brings true fulfillment. Are you aspiring to realize the dreams from your youth?
Earlier, I shared with you that at 8 years old I was convinced that I wanted to be a teacher. I truly believed it was my “calling.” However, during a career fair in high school I became disappointed by the salary ranges for a teacher and decided to pursue business. I have spent the past 25 years in the business sector; and guess what…I AM A TEACHER! As a speaker, trainer and coach I am blessed to share information that motivates and inspires individuals to aspire to greatness. At the end of the day, this is called “teaching”. I am grateful to God, that on a daily basis I am able to “teach” in some form. Thank God for the inventions of “blogging” and social media, because it has enabled me to widen my classroom.
As some of you may know, I have been fighting a bacterial infection over the past five weeks. During the past 5 weeks, I have lost my voice twice for a period of 3-4 days. For two weeks, I was confined to bed and completely drained of my energy. Although I was sick, I was appreciative for the gift. The gift to be still, quiet and reflective. As I was convalescing, I had quite a bit of time to think about my life and realized that I’m truly doing what I love…I am living my passion. What I realized is that it’s time to take things to the next level. Going to the next level will require me to make some bold and life changing decisions, but I’m ready. So, I am excited about the next chapter of my life. Let me ask you, “What will the next chapter of your life entail?” Will it include you finally doing the things that you love?
While no job or business is perfect, the important thing is to enjoy it and learn from it. If you are unhappy in your current situation, take steps NOW to change it! You only live once. Somewhere out there is a job or business that is perfect for you. If you are already there, I applaud you. If not, realize that it may take some time to figure out what you really want to do, and even more time to actually get there. That’s all right! Just make a decision and begin the journey. I can tell you from experience that finding and doing what you love is absolutely worth it, every step of the way. I am pursuing my purpose with passion; and there’s no greater feeling!
Do what you love, and love what you do, whatever that may be. You’ll be happier for it, trust me. It’s the only way to truly ASPIRE TO GREATNESS!