A very special person in my life once said that if you find something you love, you’ll never work another day in your life. Sure, there are always good and not so good days in anything we do. I love to fish, and there are days my finned friends are uncooperative and I catch absolutely nothing all day. But, I still love being in the water and in the game. And there are days at the plant that seem to work against me from time to time. On balance however, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I am told that a majority of workers are dissatisfied with their jobs, and continue to be dissatisfied as they move from one job to the next. We live in a society that offers unlimited choices for both vocation and the pursuit of other interests. With all the things available to us, I wonder if those unhappy in their vocational or personal pursuits just have trouble selecting one interest over another. In my view, it is all about passion.

Our economic circumstances are temporary, but these are the times when significant changes foster innovation. I believe that everyone has something they are enthusiastically ready to do. Sometimes finding it is the hard part. A career advisor I know recommends that her clients take stock of themselves by “pulling together what they were born with, what they like to do, and what they have learned in school and other experiences. Then, put that large cluster of skills to work in finding their passion.”

Job satisfaction is only a part of the pursuit of a satisfying life. We can no longer be limited to defining our self worth by our jobs or how much money we make. Employers are obsessed with worker productivity and spend billions of dollars on efficiency programs targeted to the parameters of the job. But, workers today are more than who they are from 9 to 5. Many get their stimulation and pursue their passion outside their jobs, through hobbies and other interests.

Taking a holistic approach, and understanding the individual is the key to motivation. Tying together what employees do for you with the rest of their lives, and taking genuine interest in the individual makes a big difference in the mood in both the plant and in the image of the Company.

Helping others discover their passion is important to me, my business and my personal relationships. Before going through that brick wall and doing whatever it takes to find success, one must decide where they want to put that stake in the ground. And, that’s the really challenging part.

We all have something special in us. It may not be running a business, or making a lot of money, but it’s there in all of us. Find that one thing, make it most important, work at it every day, and make it your delight. The rewards are happiness and personal fulfillment. When you are working at it, you’ll be most happy, and if that one thing is not your vocation, well that’s quite OK. During the times you are away from your passion, you will still have a strong feeling of personal satisfaction from knowing that you are whole.