This weekend I was watching a ton of college football games as the season officially kicked off. Many of the teams I was watching were not able to score once they made it to the “red zone.” This is the area of the field that is 20 yards away from the end zone. Some of this was just poor play calling, and other blunders were missed assignments.
As I was watching, I was thinking about people that desire to be in the “passion zone” but just never get there. The “passion zone” is where your life constantly intersects with the things that mean the most to you. Kind of like Trisha, with whom I met this week. She has a super successful sales career with a local company but desires to make a difference not just a dollar. She wants to find work beyond volunteering that truly maximizes her passions.
So how does one go about finding their “passion zone”?
You must take the time to honestly answer three questions. The answers to these questions truly can “unlock” and “unleash” your passion every day of your life.
- Define your target. Whom does your emotional heart beat for? There are so many possibilities for you to choose from. Here are a few: Kids, moms, dads, single moms, the elderly, business professionals, athletes and animals.
Who is your target?
- Determine the needs. Why does your emotional heart beat for them? This question truly gets to the “driver” of your passions. Think about the type of needs you want to help meet. Fully realize no one can meet “all” needs but everyone can meet a few. Here are some examples of needs: Emotional, relational, educational, vocational, financial, spiritual and intellectual.
What need(s) will you meet?
- Decide your service. Now that you have determined “WHO” and “WHY,” it’s time to decide “WHAT” you will do to help your target group. Again, there are so many possibilities. Here are some samples – counsel, coach, train, inspire, teach, mentor, feed, advocate and write.
What will you do to meet the needs within your target group?
I have had the honor of helping thousands of people discover and maximize their “passion zone” over the past 20 years of my life and it always comes down to these three core questions. I truly hope you will give your emotional heart permission to beat so you too can move beyond a “dollar” and make a “difference” with your life.
NEGU,
