It's true, I have returned from a far away place called Orientation Land. While many school years gear up in September and die down in June, in the land of New Student Orientation, we gear up and stay up from May to September, leaving me in a land far, far away for a while. While I love this magical land I am always happy once mid-July rolls around because its like I emerge and the world is new again.
Professionally, I'm lucky. I am one of the fortunate few who's talents, passion, and job are all the same thing. And this summer I'm even luckier. For two years, I've been building a new program for orientation, including a fabulous leadership position for students, and this summer I ran it- with probably my best student staff ever. (So I have to add this in-- there are some of you reading this from my most favorite staff ever or you are one of my most favorite students ever. This is different than being on my best staff ever. Favorites are irreplaceable.)
How lucky am I? This got me thinking... how many people are working in areas they consider to be their passion or calling in life? This has come up as a leadership topic in a seminar I am participating in this year. I am interested to see, how many people know their passion for life? And how many people are brave enough to follow it?
One of my favorite questions to ask my students is "If you could get paid a million dollars, what would you do?" There answers usually give me a slight peek into their passion for life. I am working on writing more this summer and one thing I would like to do is hear more from the people reading this...
So I ask you, If you could get paid a million dollars to do something, what would you do?
Jon Acuff just published a book that touches on this subject called Quitter.
ReplyDeletePersonally, student affairs is my passion professionally. I think it takes a few different turns though- it's the mentoring and living life with people that gets me going, not the petty wars between departments or administrative stuff.
However.... I'm slowly hitting the point where my passion is diverting into teaching my children.... I'm not totally there yet, but I see a spot where I may actually be totally fulfilled seeing my kids grow.
If I had a million dollars I would pack my Kelty and buy a plane ticket. I'd backpack through the world, eat food I didn't recognize and walk the streets of Aristotle, Ptolemy, and The great Viking, Eric... I'd sleep as much as I wanted and learn to do less of the obligation and more of the passion.