In my last blog I talked about the positive or negative energy that people bring into a coaching session. There’s tremendous power in a “can-do” attitude, but a “can’t do” mindset is just as strong. Lots of people absolutely believe they can—and will—be successful, and, as a result of that and hard work, their performance soars; others only see reasons they can’t succeed, and this is a formidable barrier to success.
But is a winner always a winner and a loser always a loser? Do some people have “it” while others just don’t? I used to think it was this clear-cut. I used to believe that the desire and capability for success was hardwired in some people and simply lacking in others.
I don’t think that anymore, and here’s why:
I have dealt with underperforming managers or executives who seem to enjoy telling me the dozen (or more!) reasons why they can’t be successful. They appear to have done a ton of research on why they can’t achieve success in their fields. They almost always believe their underachievement is due to circumstances that are beyond their control.
But when I look at these individuals, I’ll see someone who is incredibly successful and self-motivated in another area of life. For example, someone might be underperforming as a manager at work, but this same person is overachieving as the commissioner of their child’s baseball league. They spend hours working at this non-paid position because they find it highly rewarding. They lead the league’s executive committee with poise and the precision of a drill sergeant; they organize tournaments with ease; they train coaches, they placate upset parents, resolve team conflicts, raise money, etc. You name it. No matter how challenging or time-consuming the task, they are on it!
And yet as a manager at their actual job, they are apathetic. They rarely engage in conversation with their staff. Their door is closed a lot. And when there is a problem that needs management’s attention, they hesitate to take action, if they act at all.
So what’s up with that? How can that person be so successful at leadership out of the office and so bad at leading in the office?
It comes down to passion.
People are good at the things they are passionate about, and most people have something that they’re passionate about in their lives. For some, it’s work, and so they naturally perform well. For others it’s something else entirely, and their work might suffer.
I’ve noticed that when people can’t perform at a high level at their jobs it’s because they just don’t have the motivation, the willpower, the energy or the passion to face the day-to-day challenges—never mind the long-term vision—for their work.
The secret is to find the type of work that ignites your passion.
Some people will tell me they’re unable to monetize whatever that passion is. I say they are back to making excuses about why they “can’t do” something.
Mark Twain said it best, “The secret to success is making your vocation your vacation.”
Here’s my advice to you: Find your passion professionally, and you’ll do what you do better.
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