Curt Rosengren gave a catalyzing presentation on Discovering Career Passion at the EastSide Professional Networking Group (ESPNG) recently. He began with a simple and empowering definition of passion:
Passion is the energy that comes from bringing more of YOU into what you do.
Curt also invoked the Mayan notion of center as a direction (via the word "yaxshim" (sp?)) and contrasted this with modern western society’s tendency to get away from our centers and move toward something else (the "next big thing"). He then went on to provide a pragmatic process to creating a vibrant, fulfilling career (more details about which can be found in his Occupational Adventure Guide).
While Curt was emphasizing baby steps toward igniting career passions, I got to thinking about what the world might be like if everyone was fully and passionately engaged in everything they did. I earlier speculated on what the world would be like if all people and organizations adopted a strict policy of socially responsible investing of their financial resources, but what if we were to only invest our time and efforts into activities about which we felt passionate? What kinds of careers would survive? What kinds of careers would thrive? What kinds of corporations would exist … and how large could they possibly be?