Do What You Love. Love What You Do

I once asked a friend who has a succesful career about his secrets to career advancement. The first thing he said was "Love what you do." It may sound like cliche but he could not be more right.

Think back at a time when you were doing something you were passionate about. Did you notice how it brought out the best in you? You became creative and resourceful, and were determined to finish it or move towards your goal.

Steve Jobs talked about the time he was fired by Apple at a Stanford commencement -

"Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."

What are 3 things that you love about your job, your marriage or whatever is important to you? If you can't name them, what are the 3 things you would look for in the next job, marriage etc? What can you do in the new year that you haven't already done to bring the 3 elements into your life?

Mark Twain said "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed in the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore....Dream....Discover."

To a brave and passionate new year!