Welcome to Week Two of the Art of Work!
This will be a shorter email than usual… I think. It’s 4:30 in the morning, and I’m at the airport waiting for my flight to Spokane, Washington to meet with my Mastermind group. I’m really excited to get to hang out with these amazing people for a few days, but the wake-up call just past 2 am at the hotel this morning was a bit daunting. So, I’ll try to be at least a little bit coherent!
The section I would like to highlight today is the one on how to know your calling. Goins talks about how many people say ‘they just knew’ when asked how they found their life’s calling, but he points out that this is a myth for most of us. Our calling comes from the intersection of opportunity and hard work in an area of our passion. I found this very encouraging, since so many people seem to be waiting for a clear bolt of inspiration, and the truth is, for many, finding our passion is a process, not a one-time event.
He says there are three steps to really figuring this out:
Step One is to be listening to hear the call. It isn’t something that is necessarily clear. It comes from paying attention to what you enjoy doing, what people tell you that you do well, and trying different things. People who know you well can be very helpful in assisting you to hear.
Step Two is to respond. You have to actually do something, and it requires effort. Again, some people seem content to sit and wait for their calling to find them… you need to go and find it!
Step Three is to begin to believe. I think this may be the toughest step of all. I love this quote from Goins, “This is the paradox of vocation. We think that passion comes first, that our desire is primary; but if we are truly called, the work always comes before we are ready. We will have to act in spite of feeling unprepared.” This really speaks to me personally, because I am always trying to make sure I am well-prepared, but sometimes, opportunities come before we are ready. Parenting comes to mind here… who of us ever felt completely ready to raise a child? Or raise a business? Sometimes we just have to step out and believe that we will succeed.
I thought these three things were worth thinking about for awhile. You may have already found your calling, or you may feel unprepared for what you are thinking of doing. In either case, remember to listen, respond and believe.
Have a great week!
Diane