Suspiciously Passionate

A respected colleague referred to me as “suspiciously passionate” yesterday. I’m not sure if it was a compliment, an inside joke or something else. I chose to take it as a compliment.

I’m proud of the passion I bring to my work, especially when others notice. While presenting to a group of people from our new Digital Transformation Office yesterday, one person started her question by stating, “You’re very passionate about this project.” I even got a tweet about it from one of my favorite corporate leaders last night:

Thank you for the passion and hard work, great stuff!

— Jan Kittoe (@jankittoe) February 6, 2018

Or how about these recent tweets from some of my favorite people at American Family?

I've loved seeing your passion over the past few months. Keep it up!

— Stuart Rogers (@stuartdrogers) January 26, 2018

It was our pure pleasure to spend time with you IGNITERS? today. Your passion was palpable! Thank you for all you guys are doing to help transform our beloved Amfam!!!! Let’s GO!

— Candy Embray (@CandyEmbray) January 11, 2018

It was awesome ? to see your passion and energy and that of all the Ignite? Accelerator teams ? Thanks for leading the way!

— James Madden (@AmFamJames) January 11, 2018

Amazing energy at the ?#ignite ?Zoo Day! Great to see the ideas from our accelerators. Loving the passion, especially from @CollinKromke. #leanstartup pic.twitter.com/LYCrDAbtGK

— Jason Waller (@JasonMWaller) November 17, 2017

Keep doing what your doing. ❤️ your passion. keep honing your innovation ( empathy, experimentation, coaching) skills. Doors will open.

— Eric Steege ? (@EricSteege) October 26, 2017

Passion is my Brand

Personal branding is a popular topic. When I started actively improving my life, I decided to make passion my brand at work. Is there really any other choice? The day I’m not passionate about what I’m doing is the day I’ll know it’s time to move on to something else.

We spend almost half our waking hours at work. I believe we should make that time matter or find something else that’s a better match. Life is too short to slave away at something that leaves you feeling apathetic and indifferent at the end of the day.

Now, about that colleague who described me as suspiciously passionate. At first, I wondered why my passion made him suspicious. But then I realized it’s a good thing. I want everyone to be suspicious about my passion. I want them to wonder how I do it. Why I do it? What drives me?

The brave ones will ask me. That’s just the opportunity I need to pass some of it along, because…

Passion is Contagious

Spread it.