Passion

PASSION

 

When a device is running low on energy, it often goes into a power saving mode 
This mode lowers the brightness on the screen, keeps some of the programs from running in the background, and caps the processor at a lower speed. So you just can’t do as much with it until you recharge it and it returns to its full capabilities.

The same thing happens to each of us
When our passion and joy for what we are doing begins to wane, we just don’t have the same level of effectiveness or efficiency. We function on a kind of autopilot — just trying to make it through the day, or the week, going through the motions. But not really living.

Some of us go through the majority of our lives this way. Especially at work, where we spend most of our waking hours — often waiting for the day to end or the weekend to begin.

It usually doesn’t start that way
Most of us begin our professions excited about the possibilities, eager to make an impact, and optimistic about what we have the ability to achieve and contribute. But over time things can become routine, disappointments and frustrations can jade us, and a frenetic pace can lead to overwhelm and burnout.

We lose our connection to what is meaningful in our jobs. And some of us come to see work as nothing more than another four letter word.

It’s as though a dark cloud settles in that keeps you from seeing the sun
You may feel discouraged, frustrated or bored. Or you could be a little frayed at the edges — stressed, overwhelmed, exhausted and busy running in circles but not really accomplishing much. And you may think that if you can just make it through the day, you can go home and be free. But the shadow has a way of following you out of the office and into your home. It’s no way to live.

Entire organizations can run on power saving mode
The lights are on, but no one is home. Employees are disengaged, leaders disconnected, customers disenchanted. Productivity dips and morale drags while turnover and absenteeism rise and it becomes tougher and tougher to attract and retain key talent. Research shows that only 13% of employees across 142 countries are engaged and emotionally invested in their jobs and that active disengagement costs the United States $450 to $550 billion per year.

But it doesn’t have to be like that
We can power up our lives and our organizations in much the same way we recharge our devices. By generating and rejuvenating the energy that lights them up and keeps them running at peak performance.

But what if you’ve already tried “feel good” seminars or programs?
Reigniting passion and enthusiasm doesn’t require that you give employees a bunch of perks and programs, or that you incentivize their performance. In fact, research shows that those approaches often backfire and end up de-motivating people. Similarly, attempts to motivate ourselves with external rewards rarely sustain us in the long term.

Passion and enthusiasm comes from the inside out
It is the product of reigniting something within you and your people and infusing work with meaning, purpose, and significance.   It starts with you. With me. With anyone who cares enough to stop the madness that keeps us confined in little boxes and bust out to discover a whole new way to live and lead — personally, professionally, and organizationally.

One that allows us to reclaim our passion and joy, to bring who we really are to what we do, and to discover ourselves to be greater than we ever thought.

When we reignite passion, we become unstoppable

• Vitality and high energy lead to increased productivity.
• Heightened clarity and discernment leads to better problem solving.
• Increased optimism and possibility thinking lead to higher creativity and innovation.
• A renewed sense of meaning leads to higher morale and stronger relationships.

For a company, that translates into increased profits and a competitive advantage that is sustainable. And for individuals it means greater success, freedom and true fulfillment.

Being on power save mode is no way to live
The time has come to lead better and live brighter, starting with ourselves. Below are some steps that you can take and resources you can utilize to reignite passion and joy in yourself and your organization.

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WANT MORE?

Check out these articles

• Why Losing Your Passion for Work is a Bigger Problem than You Might Think
• Does Your Work Life Need Resuscitating?
• Creating an Inspired Workplace: 3 Examples to Light Your Way

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