The notion of separation of our work and personal lives is becoming obsolete. It is an archaic way of looking at the individual within the world of work. It is a relic of the industrial age. Living dual lives takes energy, and the energy spent takes its toll. It weakens the individual, lowers their ability to succeed, and adversely affects performance.
-From blog post 6/4/2011 by Ric Gonzalez, Woo Woo Leadership
Donald Davis was Kathryn Tucker Windham’s friend the last 30 years of her amazing life. Noting her incredible stamina of life and work, Donald asked how she kept up such energy. Kathryn answered, “Energy comes from interest. I am interested in so many things.”
Interest creates energy: This resonated in me in two major ways. First as it relates to passion. Passion requires energy. As my client Ken says, “Work in the light of passion is renewable energy.” Varied interests are like a wind turbine; creating energetic passion from a limitless source. Secondly, interest assures performance. Living one’s life in a singular flow – where it is difficult to discern when one is working versus playing – is a path of impact.
Kathryn further energized my belief that so much in life is simply a matter of choice. It is important to open to diverse interests, focus the accrued energy through passion, and choose happiness.
… choose happiness!
Wow. Great post Jeff. There is so much here. Where to begin? You are so correct that you can choose happiness. I think that Kathryn’s diverse set of interests and her passion for living helped fuel her energy. Furthermore what Ric says that we no longer separate work and personal interests is definitely true! And finally Ken is so right about passion being renewable energy. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Mel. I used to think that my varied interests was not a good thing – that I should only have one or two key interests. No more!
When you live your passion and are fortunate enough to do what you love as your “work” and career, work feels like play and the separation between work and personal life definitely becomes a blur!
I so agree that interest is energy.
I know that when we take on a new project, I am always energized to create something fabulous. When the project moves along smoothly and quickly, I stay energized through the whole process and deliver a product that is well beyond what I promised because I was having fun creating it.
But when a client can’t get their act together, delays the project, disappears, and the project drags on for months and months, I definitely lose that energy and getting excited to work on it again is difficult.
We must be related in some mysterious way! I’m just like you with those projects. Keep those projects of interest coming along!
I took interest in the first few sentences about the separation of live and work. I love teaching people the concept of work as their life practice. The energy we put toward our work IS part of our life energy. Thanks for the reminder.
Absolutely Sue … work is such an opportunity to play out that life energy!
This is such a great post, Jeff. I agree–so much there. I especially love the idea of interest. For me everything changed when I adopted an attitude of curiosity. Then I no longer felt jaded from 30+ years of working; everything became interesting and I was curious about how people got to where they were stuck and curious about how I could help them. For me, curiosity sparked interest which led to passion and energy.
I love how you express curiosity as a cure for jadedness! Thanks Linda.
I definitely agree that interest fuels you. i always feel energized when working on a project that interests me and feel quite the opposite when it is “something to do”.
“… something to do.” I agree Bill; how boring and life-sucking … right? Thanks!
What a great post Jeff!! I love the comments others posted as well. It takes a little work to get to a point of truly understanding your passion and then in turn to get to where your career and your passion meet. I am glad I have found that combination and work hard to help others get there as well. It is such a great position to be in especially during these tough economic times because you become enveloped in the work. You do not get caught up in the other “things” that detract from your ability to deliver on your vision.
Wow Ken … you remind us that our confidence is not in the job; it is in ourselves as we do our work – our art! Thanks for your comments. And most of all, thanks for your inspiration that helped create this post.
I totally agree with everything in this post! My concepts of GIFTS and Seamless Success are based on the idea that your business and ideal life can mesh seamlessly together, and that success is so much easier when it is fueled by passion. I work with entrepreneurs and many of them have formal ADHD diagnoses. My mentor and ADHD coach pioneer, David Giwerc always says that ADHD is a challenge of interest. Once someone figures out their passions and interests, and intentionally builds them into their life they thrive. People once accused of being lazy exhibit super-human stamina when they find that spark of interest and the fire of passion.
Tiffany, I love how you referenced understood personal passion and interests as a way to thrive as one “… intentionally builds them into their lfe …”
[...] there is a simple clue to personal and professional growth, it just may be that interest creates energy. And possibly the most pertinent experience of true growth and development is the journey itself. [...]