The Upside and the Downside of Being Multi-Passionate
This is a real image, of a real post-it note, that I really have stuck to the wall of my office.
I am a self proclaimed, proud, badge wearing, multi-passionate human. I have so many interests and am always running down different tangents being excited by multiple things. Which is awesome. It feels great to so frequently be inspired.
It also feels tough when you don’t know which way to run.
In my early 20’s I had a colleague who described to me a future employer like this:
Jade is like a football player. Give her the goals and she’ll run directly towards them.
Remove the goals and she’ll keep running around the field finding her own goal posts.
It was an eye-opening description for me to hear. I have always had great direction, and known what I wanted (which I’m very grateful for), and I have a natural tendency to always search for whats next. I do create my own goal posts. If I’m not given a clear task, you bet I’m going to make one up.
That said, the running around the field element can also be exhausting.
It’s different now, as I’m my own boss and I no longer have a manager highlighting my KPI’s and sharing where the ball needs to be kicked. I create them for myself. Which is awesome, and it means I’ve spent my fair share of time running around the field, looking for a goal post.
Why is this relevant to you?
Well I found a really valuable tool that allowed me to stay on track. Thought you might like it too.
It’s called a post-it note.
No no, I’m just kidding. Although visual reminders like that are incredibly helpful. That specific post-it note above sits directly above my computer screen and I look at it regularly.
The tool I have found is just as simple though.
I use an excel spreadsheet to create a life goals list.
Every time I have an idea of something I’m passionate about bringing to life, it gets put on that list.
And every year, I review the list and consider which ideas are being placed on my track this year.
It sounds so simple. It sounds so obvious. And it is. That’s why it works.
There are no complications. I get to place everything I am passionate about on my list. I get to decide what I want to bring to life each year, or each month. Whatever the time frame is, it’s your decision.
The reason this works is, you have your current goal posts in front of you, and when a new exciting passion comes along, you get to make space for it. Instead of feeling like you need to drop everything and run with the new idea, you stay on track with your current plan, and know the goals are being reviewed soon. Your passions are considered. They have a place to live.
I’ve built this out into a simple and easy to use spreadsheet, with the help of my Excel whiz kid fiancé , which I look forward to reading. I get excited by this document. It’s my life work. It’s my passions in a document. It is my motivation and enthusiasm in the days I’m not feeling it.
Let me know if you make one too. Always happy to talk through how I specifically built mine out if you’re curious.
You know where to find me.
Sending love,
Jade xx
