I previously blogged about completing projects on my To Do List. I'm happy to report that I completed 1 of the 2 items! Blogging helped me re-focus on the big rocks, while letting the small things fall by the wayside, where they belonged! With this new lens, it bothered me that my scatter-brainedness was coming from a lack of singular passion in my world. But, before I get to that, an interlude:
Labor Unions
On Adam Carolla’s 03/19/2009 podcast, he ranted about his split feelings on the usefulness of unions. The fact that there was a time & place where unions served a real purpose; and the other side (like SAGS) that represents actors who complain that their 2-day gig was not sufficient to pay their families bills for an entire year. I, too, see both sides of unions.
There are still some sectors of our economy where workers are taken advantage. For instance, back in the day, there were domestic workers in CA, who took care of our invalids but weren’t paid for all of their hours worked, let alone got health insurance. Those workers certainly need to unite to demand for their rights. On the other hand, some larger unions have bureaucracies that are just as corrupt as the corporations they “fight against,” workers are paid 2-3x less than the union leaders, and these workers may already have benefits that far exceed that of the average American work. In these instances, it seems that the lifecycle of the union is ready to be dissolved. The bigger downside is that once jobs are protected beyond individual contributions, an individual has less incentive to work hard. For instance, if my pay isn’t based on my good customer service, being a team player, etc., but rather based on the tenure within my company – why should I extend myself beyond the letter of service to which I am paid? Nonetheless, this same union has to continue to fight for higher wages, benefits, and working environment in order to justify the membership dues. The employers, though they may have employees who strive for mediocrity, may benefit from not having to pay for an entire HR department, as this is outsourced to the union. They are locked into a contract for better or worse, and only need HR periodically for negotiation. But for the underlying goals (to achieve better environment for the works), you will meet people in the labor movement who are truly passionate about their work.
For myself, I don’t want my wages tied to the lazy dude, with the same job title, in the cube two aisles away. I’d prefer to have the flexibility to negotiate for benefits that better suit me, rather than be locked into a program that meets the needs of the lowest man on the totem pool. But who knows, maybe if I were to hear a passionate union leader, I’d change my tune. But luckily this ain’t something I need to worry about for now!
Back to Passion
This weekend, I hung out with someone from high school. When I heard his name, I had remembered an affiliation Nation of Islam and the name Dwayne Wayne from A Different World. While both of those associations were off the mark from his past, he’s now a political junkie looking to get a Masters in Public Policy. This was fascinating because as we toured DC, he was constantly people spotting as he is truly enthralled by the mastery of politics and the science of networking in those circles. I would have otherwise been oblivious to the various Top Advisers with whom I was sharing lounge space. Meanwhile, in discussing folks from school and where they are today, I’m so proud that so many classmates have achieved their dreams!
All around me, new friends at the non-profit, friends on Facebook, friends at work, people I meet on the street -- so many people are truly PASSIONATE about their life work. These individuals live their lives in pursuit of goals. Within my own life, I don’t have that sort of passion about anything. I am extremely curious, so there’s a sincere interest in learning. Though my flexibility gives me an open perspective, it also makes me feel like something is missing in my life.
Previously
Once upon a time, I was passionate about dancing. But I turned my back on that passion when I learned I couldn't have a career that would provide a good life being a dancer. I still enjoy it, but I don't get to it anymore because it's not a priority. I had once been passionate about teaching, but became disenchanted by public school systems, by the extreme focus on teaching to standardized tests, the lack of parental involvement and no sense of responsibility from the actual students. Everyone seemed to be trying to skirt by with the least amount of learning, but the greatest amount of praise. Thus, after teaching algebra in a private program, I realized that I’d never have an institution where I could be a passionate teacher. Instead, I periodically use small, focused training classes to realize this former passion.
Future Passions
I wouldn’t mind if my work became a passion for me: living to work wouldn’t be too bad. If I had the powers to re-vitalize the values of the company I first signed up, because they align with so many of my own aspirations, I could have gotten behind those values. The last time I became passionate about a role was in the Fixed Income department. I still don’t know if it was the people I worked with, the constant learning in a new field, or the constantly changing dynamics within the market – but I easily could work late into the night, and still feel excited when I woke up the next morning to come in to do it again.
Ultimately, I think it’s time to either develop a new passion or kindle a passion of my past. Having a feeling I can get behind (like a fanatic!) could do wonders for making my life feel more fulfilling. Hmm, now…where do I start getting ideas??
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