Finding Your Passion: Do You Love What You Do?

It’s business as usual where I reside. The sun is shining. Parents watch as their children dash to the entrance of the local elementary school. And my routine commute is marred by gridlock traffic.

As I engage in a battle of “who can obnoxiously inch their car into a foot of free space the quickest,” I worry about the time I’m losing, the deadlines I have to make and the caffeine I need to function.

I tell my brain to “shut up” and, instead, I start reflecting on bigger things. What is really important in life? Family, friendships and health always top the list. I then switch gears and begin to ponder my chosen profession. Why do I do what I do every day? It’s been a while since I asked myself this question—and thought hard about the answer.

We spend most of our waking hours at the office. There are going to be plenty of “office space” moments. Maybe you’re contemplating one right now. Just stop. Overall, do you love what you do? How long did it take you to reach a conclusion?

Take a moment to remind yourself why you love your work (if you struggle with this task, learn from it). Here is my short list:

• I love to learn. I am primarily responsible for managing our sister publication (Print+Promo), so when I was asked to blog for Promo Marketing, it took me out of my comfort zone. How was I supposed to discuss an advertising medium completely unfamiliar to me? Furthermore, how could I tie in celebrity gossip/fashion to provide relevant content? A year has passed (read my first post from April 18) and I’m still figuring it out, but I’m having so much fun along the way. I’ve gotten to learn from some of the creative minds that make up this industry, and I’m grateful for that. Is that how you felt when you got your start with promotional products? Are you invested in your company’s future and spreading the word about a new product line or campaign?