#193 doing it for love

Last week at a concert, guitarist James Hersch related the story of how one of his former teachers (Mr. Brown) told students "what the world needs out of you is what your heart loves best."  This led James to pursue a career that combines music, storytelling, inter-generational contacts and service.  James now passes along this wisdom to a generation of students as they wrestle with alignment of interests and vocational choice.

It is a similar line of thinking as the Hedgehog Concept in Jim Collins' brilliant book Good to Great.  With the alignment of what you are deeply passionate about, what drives your economic engine and what you can be the best in the world at -- the intersection of these three conditions form a focus that allows for extraordinary success.

What a great thought -- that what matters most in pursuing our career is what matters most to us.  So often the pay scale, job title or even just an employment vacancy coerce us into accepting a position for all the wrong reasons.  We can also be seduced into staying in a job because it is easier than risking a new career path or trying to find another job that makes our heart sing.

Find some time in the hustle and bustle of this season to pause and reflect on what your heart loves best.  Then commit to giving it as a gift to yourself in the coming new year by incorporating it into your life's work -- existing job or new, hobby or paid position -- but in one way or another aligning your love and your life.

-- beth triplett
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