Do You have Passion for Your Job?

I’m going to go off of public relations and associations for this blog post – and get a little personal. You can read it and take from it, or you can ignore it.

In hard economic times and hearing about how many people hate their jobs, are losing their jobs, etc – I have to ask – Are you really doing a job that you would do for the next 5 years, for free? Do you feel that passion everyday for your work? Are you always standing up for what you believe in, or do you hide who you are for fear of what others might think? (ie. you type out a Twitter update and wonder if its too much.)

Here’s my thing. I have a very difficult time talking about my grandfather sometimes, except with those close to me. He was my hero – the one who taught me to always live life with passion, grace and do what I believe in and love – even if it isn’t the most popular choice or I’ll be ridiculed for being me.

See, my grandfather was a Cuban revolutionary. Not just one who touted that he hated socialism, but he planned to do something about it. He was an officer in the military, and in a history book I found his story with his fellow officers was told. A few military officers and my grandfather hatched a plan to kidnap two top Cuban officials and hold them in the US until Bastista stepped down. They were ratted out by a “friend” and my grandfather was thrown into jail with his comrades. My great-grandfather sold everything my family had to get him and one of his friends out – then my grandparents and my dad fled the country. He was the most brilliant man I knew- he attended Stevens Institute on a military scholarship majoring in engineering, not knowing English that well. He re-built my family from the ground up and raised my dad to always provide for his family and do what he loves. And that lesson, in toll, was placed on me.

Money has never mattered to me, and it never will. Do I need it to live? Yes. Have I ever had a problem finding a job? No. The economy sucks right now, and I can’t say that it is easy at all to find a job. 

But do you have passion for what you do? Does that passion show up in interviews and in your workplace everyday? Would you quit, even if it wasn’t the most popular choice? Would you risk it all to find something you love? Courage and passion go hand in hand – have courage to have passion for the job you love and the profession you are in. I’ve been there – and I got out of a job I didn’t like. I realize that sometimes you can’t quit, and that makes sense. But try to have that passion if you need to stay. A job is not just a paycheck. 

Everyday I go into my job, I’m excited. I’m excited for what lays ahead and how I can make my organization better. I have that passion. So, to the man who raised me to always believe in what was right for me and to have passion – I miss you and love you always. Te amo abuelito.

*Image is of my grandfather.