Listen. That is the best business advice I’ve heard and heeded in my lifetime. Listen to the spark that lights inside of you. Follow that spark and nurture it. Listen to your market, whether your market is clients, people you mentor, those you serve through volunteer work or members of your community. Your market will tell you what works and what doesn’t. Your spark, you will find, aligns with what your market tells you. Effectively serving your market will fan that spark, which makes you more effective and more powerful, which only feels amazing. It’s a feedback loop that is one part tactical, one part magical.
I often meet people who are stuck, unsure how to find a job or hobby or service project that really lights their spark. Here is my advice to them and you:
Act.
Don’t take time off to think about your life path, or stay put until lightning strikes. Get out there. Try new things. Be active. Meet and spend time with new people. Travel. Explore. Work—work really hard. As famed chef Julia Child said, “You must have discipline to have fun.”
Serve.
All of the science is with me on this: Humans are happiest when they serve others. At every juncture of your passion-finding, ask: How are my time, energy, focus, skills and talents best used for a greater good?
Have fun.
Never feel guilty for spending time on something that gives you joy.
