Jim Collins taught me years ago that we excel at what we are passionate about. Or at least we have far greater chances of excelling at what we are passionate about, according to Collins. Well, my take on this basic human principle these days is that we are at our best when we are happy.
Sometimes, I think happiness is having a few moments to sit back, relax, and breathe a little slower rather than always going full throttle. It’s in these quiet downtime moments I can reflect and become present to how blessed I am. I truly am so appreciative of all the gifts I experience in my life! Being a spontaneous and somewhat emergent person, going all out actually is really fun for me though. It just isn’t sustainable to run at full steam all the time.
The reality is that I’m happiest when I connect with others and make a difference in their lives. By connect, I mean at a deeper, more intimate level, not just the more common “Hello. How are you?”s in life. This is probably why I love watching my children play soccer. Because when they step out onto the field, I get a quick glimpse into what makes them happy and am able to see them shine. I will forever cherish these moments, and especially our post-game conversations when I actually get to talk to them about the experience which simply deepens our connection together.
Fortunately for me (and my clients I suppose!), I’ve recently discovered what really makes me happy at work too. I love coaching individual leaders and facilitating group workshops such that I can transform people’s experiences in their own organizations and create new possibilities for them that would not exist without those interactions. Sure I’m proud of the results I produce and my ability to improve performance in organizations. More than that though, I’m touched by even the simplest of changes my clients implement that have such a significant positive impact on their lives and the lives of those they work with. Again, it deepens the connection between us.
So what makes you happy? Figure that out, and nothing can stop you. Figure that out, and you will experience breakthroughs you never imagined possible in every aspect of your life!
