I have a wide number of topics, tips, and ideas but I promised to also use this website to bring more of my personal side out. Since we’re focusing on what makes me who I am this topic is really relevant.
Anyone that knows me, knows how hard I push, how dedicated I am, and how passionate I am with my work. This isn’t because I’m addicted to work; it’s how I’m built. This is true whether I am playing a sport, a chess game, or playing hide and seek with my God Daughter (Hi Brielle!) Don’t get me wrong! I know how to have fun and I don’t consider myself a poor sport in any way.
The approach of being addicted to a result (such as to to win, or to execute) comes with problems that only those close to the individual can understand.
The problem with being passionate and dedicated is that you can never truly be passionate and dedicated fully to more than one thing at a time. I’m not saying there isn’t a balance. I’m saying the problem is with the ability to balance work/life or any other aspects of your life needing attention. Whatever that balance is, the issue remains. I’ve been completely consumed by work before, many times in fact. I’ve lost two relationships that I can remember due to my focus on work (sure it wasn’t the only reason, but it still applies to how dedication can get in the way.)
I’m an optimist. The glass is ALWAYS half full. I wouldn’t trade my approach or dedication towards life or work in any way. However, I’m also a realist and can identify when I’m wrong or when there is a problem, even if it’s not one that can be fixed completely.
I think this goes further than just dedication and passion. It can also be based on the type of person you are and how much of a problem this could potentially be. Some individuals will only live for that dedication and the focus is on one thing. In my case, my approach to life (genuinely having good intentions for just about anything I get involved in) creates challenges. For example, the amount of times that I have put my all into something only to be complained to and disrespected later always surprises me. One example is building a website, or improving someones presence online so their phone rings more, only to have them focus on a deliverable that was never brought up before.
Having good intentions and being passionate and results driven, matched against someone who is upset because they don’t understand the details and work that is put in, can create a level of frustration that is hard not to obsess over. I think we’ve all felt mistreated in one way or another and can relate to this. From a job, to a personal relationship, we can all find examples. Think about obsessing over that feeling every single day and knowing that the other side is just not reasonable at all.
The frustration is real. The passion is real. The challenge is real. In a way, those challenges motivate me more to continue to improve every day. However, the hardest thing I’ve ever learned is that you can please some of the people all the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.
The problem with being passionate and dedicated is you forget. You forget that there are other things besides the things you are doing in that moment. Sometimes you need to pull yourself out of it and recognize the many things in life, even though it’s exactly that focus and passion which is why you are so good at and love what you do in the first place.
Do I have your focus? I now encourage you to get out there and live in the moment. It might be a slow process to learn new habits, but the results are worth it. Passion and focus matched with a balance of other aspects in life will bring in so many rewards. I’m trying to take my own advice every day – key word ‘trying;’ let me just proof read this article twice and answer some client emails first … Like I said, the struggle is real.
