In a world where social media and flashy lifestyles dominate, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea that success means having a high-paying job with a fancy title and a big office. But all too often, this pursuit of success comes at the cost of our happiness and well-being.
Your career is just one part of who you are, and like any specific domain of life, you shouldn’t allow it to completely consume you, no matter how much you enjoy your work. Instead, take the time to pursue your passions and interests, both in and outside of work. This not only allows you to build a well-rounded and fulfilling life, but it can also lead to unexpected opportunities and growth in your career.
Consider pursuing activities that really speak to your natural interests, whether they’re related to your job or not. By devoting attention to personal development, you may just stumble upon something that could have a knock-on positive impact on your life and career in unexpected ways.
Uncover New Ideas Through Exploration
Many years ago, even as a pre-medical student in college where your curriculum is heavily tilted toward the hard sciences, I found myself more drawn to studying human relationships and people dynamics as a psychology major. As far back as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed hearing other people’s stories, especially their struggles, which I found more intriguing and interesting than simply hearing about one’s successes.
Eventually, during my decade as a brand marketer in the corporate world, even though my job was primarily focused on branding products and services, I found myself gaining more gratification from coaching and mentoring others, not necessarily direct reports, but people simply seeking out an objective sounding board to discuss their careers.
Eventually, I trained to get my coaching certification, then started working with clients during my evenings and weekends outside of work. At some point, balancing this work with my full-time job just became too much to juggle, so I eventually left my corporate job behind to start my own career consultancy.
Explore Without Expectation
On the other hand, interests need not always be productive – they could simply be enjoyable. Having a side hustle is good, but do not pressure yourself into thinking every interest you explore has to transpire into something bigger for your career or your life.
To share a personal example, while working at a health policy consultancy in Washington, DC, I taught salsa dance lessons at a Cuban nightclub nearby simply as a way to decompress after a long day at work and connect with other people.
Salsa dancing wasn’t related to my career in any obvious way, nor did I ever have any intention to pursue it professionally, but my short-lived stint in salsa dancing widened my networks and pushed me outside of my comfort zone, a skill that’s since become quite valuable in my professional life now as a keynote speaker.
People often say that you should follow your passions. However, I’ve always found the word “passion” to feel a bit out of reach. If you haven’t reached the level of being passionate about anything, don’t fret. Passion is not a prerequisite to exploring things that interest you.
Discover Your Interests Within
What is one small, concrete step you will commit to taking today to finally get moving on your side interest or project? Pursuing side interests is a low-risk way to invest time and energy into things you enjoy, which can provide clues into where you take your career.
As Kurt Vonnegut once said,
More important than following your passions is allowing yourself to explore the range of interests in your life. While your interests certainly could evolve into a passion, at the very least, you’ll feed your soul.
Hear more about this topic as I discuss “Living Authentically” in more detail on Career Relaunch® podcast episode 17 with marketing to passion project founder David Pullara.
This article was originally posted on Forbes.
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