Is your Passion on Pause, Press Play?

Play is a funny word if you think in terms of VCR’s and DVD players versus the act of playing.  It is even funnier when you pair it up with a concept like Passion.

I think a lot of people suffer from a misdiagnosed passion problem.

Most people as they get older lose touch with their passion and believe their passion has become a lost cause.

I am suggesting possibly their passion is merely on pause.

Being my day job is in the audio visual production industry this metaphor should be a slam dunk for me.

Were talking about Passion being like the media in your CD player or DVD Player.  It is the music or the movie you play for enjoyment.

What happens when you press pause.  It holds the music or enjoyment at a certain spot.  That is right where you left off.  To get it started again you just press play.  Nothing fancy, nothing overly technical.  Just press the stinking play button.

I am suggesting you merely need to Press Play to get your passion and enjoyment started again.

So back to the word “play,” and one more metaphor, isn’t play something you do for enjoyment.  You play with your toys.  You play with your friends.  You play with Passion.

That is right.  Play is the answer to your Passion problems.  Press Play.

If you need some help finding your Passion Play button checkout The Personal Passion Project.

http://budurl.com/PassionProject

Last week I had the honor to interview my dear old Dad about his path and his views on passion.  Being the smart “arse” that he is he won’t mind the “old” jab, but kidding aside, my Dad had some great insights when it comes to passion.

I have referenced my Dad – Mike Monahan in numerous posts but for my new readers, my father has been teaching Personal Growth Seminars for over 15 years.  His path is an unlikely one with a poor upbringing, limited education and a career on the opposite end of the personal growth spectrum.  He transitioned from Pipefitter (construction trade), to Executive Director for Life Success Seminars and later their Basic seminar facilitator.

I have done a little career research and I have found no documentation on bridging the gap between Pipefitting and Personal Growth Guru.

I can say that is probably the case for most great success stories.  There is not documentation out there to bridge the gap between your reality and your dreams.

I have learned that Passion often can serve as that bridge.

I must be honest last week when I was interviewing my Dad, I was not expecting to learn anything new during the teleconference.  I was pretty focused on sharing a little information for my upcoming Personal Passion Project teleclass series and hoping to inspire those who joined the call with my Dad’s story.

I hadn’t even considered theremight be something for me to learn during the interview.

My final question for my Dad (excuse my Dad instead of Father reference Dad feels more loving and personal); “What have your learned about Passion, teaching at Life Success Seminars over the last 15 years?”

His answer heavily paraphrased, “most people want to start out with the “Big Show”, and skip the “Little Show” available today.”  Meaning often times people skip over the daily opportunities to engage in their passion and dreams and the “Big Show” never arrives.  Passion is not somewhere to arrive but something to engage and integrate.

Over the next few months I am going to be digging deeper into the topic of Passion.  I hope you can join my class starting on August 4th.  Event Details Click Here

If you are not interested in the class just put your blinders on and ignore my promotion and enjoy the content and insights I am gathering about Passion.

If you are interested in listening to the full Introduction to the Personal Passion Project and Interview with Mike Monahan you can visit http://tinyurl.com/pppintro

Image Credit – Link to Kay82

It’s almost Momentum Monday and I have been doing the BeachBody.com Insanity DVD workout and diet for 1 week.

I think a “WAHOO!” is in order.

My wife and I were chatting on the way to dinner with my parents tonight about what I was going to eat. We were going to one of Cincinnati’s classic pizza joints, “Larosa’s.” Larosa’s has great food but lets get real pizza is the only reason to go to Larosa’s.

I had a dilemma, “pizza or a grilled chicken hoagie,” I asked my wife.  She said; “Today is your cheat day, right.” I had an out, even though I chose for Saturday to be my cheat day, I had decided to eat healthy on Saturday any way and my wife was giving me an out to cheat on Sunday. Let’s get honest, “I HAVE BEEN FAT FOR TOO LONG!!”,

I DON”T need a cheat day, and oh, by the way, I am not sure there is even such a thing listed for this workout and diet plan.

I hope to inspire you to amp it up in the pursuit of some goal you are chasing.

Jim Quinn a mentor from my past always said, “99% commitment is a bitch, 100% commitment is a cinch!”

The “Insanity” workout plan I have committed to is over a 9 week period but I am realizing it is really just one day, one hour and one choice at a time.

I choose thin and healthy!

I choose thin and healthy again!

I choose thin and healthy again and again!

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Register for the Free Introduction to the Personal Passion Project Today - Click Here for Details!

or visit http://www.personalpassionproject.com

Nearly 2 years in the making “The Personal Passion Project” is about to launch.

Back in the summer of 2008 I had an epiphany of sorts.  My wife was around 6 months pregnant and I was experiencing something familiar or maybe unfamiliar.

I was experiencing excitement.  It reminded me of when I was about to graduate high school or right before Megan and I were married.  I had something bigger than myself to share with the world.  It was what some people call “Mojo.”

As I get older I have noticed my life has gotten stale from time to time and these moments of excitement are more spread out.  As children we have the excitement of each summer or school year to look forward to.  In high school we have sports activities and graduation to look forward to.  In college we have independence and exploration to fuel our spirit.

Life is one right of passage after another but life tends to settle in and the excitement starts to dwindle.

This is when most people enter what I call the “Work, Work, Work,” phase of life.  My buddy Jeff and I even have a made a joke about it.  We used to chuckle about running into an old friends and asking them about their life, and all they have to say is “Oh, just work, really busy with work.”  We haven’t seen you since high school and all that you have to share with us is “Work, Work, Work.”?

Back to the story about having a baby.  Leading up to Ella’s birth I realized how much easier it was to connect with people when they asked me about my life.  I had something exciting to share.  I was having a baby, correction, my wife was having a baby.  What could be more exciting than having a baby?

As I mentioned I had an epiphany.  I realized I had become “the butt” of my own joke.  Life had become all about “Work, Work, Work,” and I realized wanted a different experience moving forward.  I wanted to be just as excited as I was about having a baby all the time.  I took some time to think back about some other times in my life where I was excited.  I remembered training and running the New York City Marathon in 1997.  In 2001 I launched my personal coaching business.  In 2007 I produced a single event with a budget of which was equal to a years worth of business for me typically.

All of these situations were exciting projects and I was engaged (in the projects) and wanted to share them with the world.  I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t it be great if everyone had a Personal Passion Project to share?”  I was so excited about the idea I bought the Domain Name PersonalPassionProject.com .

So here is the deal:

I have reserved 6 hours for “YOU” to get engaged in your very own “Personal Passion Project.”  Something that is going to excite you.

A Personal Passion Project can be just about anything.  It might be starting a new business or learning a new hobby like painting or guitar.  It could be something to benefit the world like launching a non profit or charity.  Maybe you just want to improve your health or even better you don’t know what you are passionate about.  Whatever your passion is (or to be discovered passion) I have 6 hours on standby to get you started and to prime your PASSION pumps.

Who should sign up for the Personal Passion Project?

• Someone who has a clear idea about a passion they want to explore and bring to life.
• Someone who is confused and wants to clarify what their passion might be.
• Someone who’s life has gone stale and is looking to spice it up.
• Someone who has their “Mojo” rising and wants to channel it.
• Someone who is looking to inspire the world through by being engaged in their passion.
• Someone who has become disconnected from their passion and wants to rekindle their spirit.
• Someone who is a risk taker and just wants to try something new.
• A reader of Expert in the Rough who would like to connect with other EITR readers.

What can you expect from the Personal Passion Project:

• A new excitement for life.
• A technique to explore and engage in new passions throughout your life.
• A network of people on the same journey.
• Increased momentum in the DIRECTION of your passion.
• SPACE for your passion to grow.  (Think of the PPP as a greenhouse garden for your Passion)

The Details:

The Personal Passion Project is 6 weeks over a 3 month period including a bonus “Introduction to Passion” an Interview with Mike Monahan, CEO of  Life Success Seminars.  The class is via Teleclass format which you can call in to from any phone.

Dates:

Intro to Passion – Learn about the PPP at no charge Register for Intro

Wednesday July 14th, 2010 8pm-9pm EST

No Charge – “Introduction to Passion” interview with Mike Monahan

Teleclass #1

Wednesday August 4th, 2010 8pm-9pm EST

Teleclass #2

Wednesday August 11th, 2010 8pm-9pm EST

Teleclass #3

Wednesday August 18th, 2010 8pm-9pm EST

Teleclass #4

Wednesday September 8th, 2010 8pm-9pm EST

Teleclass #5

Wednesday September 15th, 2010 8pm-9pm EST

Teleclass #6

Wednesday October 6th, 2010 8pm-9pm EST

*EITR reserves the rights to change class times at its discretion.

Tuition:

$147.00

Bonuses:

• 2) 15 Minute Live Coaching Sessions with Brian Monahan (Time Slots will be posted each month)
• Free Intro to Passion Interview with Mike Monahan. (You can register for this night without registering for the class) Listen to Recorded Audio

• Archive recordings of all teleclasses for 90 days after the live class is completed.
• Weekly email updates for the duration of the class.
• “Passion Catcher” Moleskin notebook to document your very own “Epiphanies” —–Snail Mailed before the first class, late registrations may delay delivery.
• Personal Passion Project – Founding Member Status (You can use on your websites, blogs or t-shirts).
• 1) Free Registration for future or updated Personal Passion Project Class (for registrant only)

Guarantee:

If you are not completely satisfied EITR will refund your registration in full, no questions asked.   There are 2 options for requesting a refund.

• After completing at least 4 of 6 classes you may request a full refund until 7 days after the completion of the class.
• You can request a full refund within 48 hours of the completion of the first class.

Like the infomercials, the “Passion Catcher” is yours to keep.

Registration Info:

Note: PayPal is optional, you DO NOT need PayPal— follow instructions for using a Credit Card on the Pay Now Landing Page.

NEW PAYMENT OPTION AVAILABLE NOW! – CLICK HERE

Register for Introduction Teleclass Only Listen to Recorded Audio

Links:

PersonalPassionProject.com (In Development)

Most of you have probably heard of the “Take Your Daughter or Son to Work Days,” it is a noble program aimed at introducing our next generation to the workplace.   There are numerous benefits to both the parents and their children around participating in this program but I wanted to share another concept.

I am calling it “Take Yourself to Work Day.”  You are probably thinking that sounds a little stupid.  “How can you not take yourself to work?”, you say and that is exactly the question I have for you.

How can you not take yourself to work?

I can only say I see it every day.  Wonderful people leaving their spirit at the door, scared and frightened to show up with all their glory in the workplace.

This is a cunning concept.  You might raise issues of keeping your personal and professional life separate or that you are different than your coworkers.  Maybe they just wouldn’t understand.  I think this is one of the biggest tragedies of our time but their has been a shift.  Facebook and Twitter have opened up a can of worms and “Our Worlds are Colliding.”

Our personal and professional lives have become blurred and that is a great thing.

I have a question for you.  Is there really any place you can go that is not personal?  If you are a person then everywhere you go it is personal.  I am not saying that work does not have its customs and rules but checking your spirit at the door is doing no one any good.

A few years ago I came to the conclusion that there was no guarantee in life that I would be able to create a personal utopia with the perfect job with the perfect people.  A place where I would be able to be myself and live out my unique calling in life.  What is interesting is when I came to this realization it actually opened up the floodgates of this becoming a reality.

Because I realized their was never going to be a magical day to start being myself and sharing my unique gifts I decided I better start right away.  When I came to this conclusion I decided to completely integrate my spirit, dreams and talents at work and in all circles of my life.

You might be thinking you could never share your true passions with co-workers but I am telling you there is “Gold in Them There Fields.”  There is a treasure for those who decide to share themselves fully.  You will be surprised should you decide to “Take Yourself to Work” that others have the same dreams, goals and passions as you do.  Everyone is looking for that one hero who might inspire them to live their dreams.  You can be that person.

A big mantra in todays society is being transparent.  I think transparency is a great concept but being transparent is only part of the equation of “Taking Yourself to Work,”  connecting and engaging is where you start to gain energy.  Notice, I said “Gain Energy,” most people would think the opposite might happen or a loss of energy.  Sharing yourself is like kindling for your dreams.  It is a spark.  When others become aware of your true desires they become a resource or “source” for new energy.  They provide encouragement and ideas and referrals.

I started this journey for myself by joining a Toastmasters group to develop my public speaking skills.  A number of co-workers were aware of my new hobby since I was not able to join them for lunch periodically when I had Toastmasters meetings.  I shared with them I was developing my speaking skills in pursuit of my dream of being a keynote speaker.  Within a month of sharing this dream with my coworker he approached me with an opportunity to present to an industry group in another city.

I must say I was a bit frightened my dream was showing up so fast.  I spoke to 50 people in another city and I was on my way.

Other opportunities started to show up as well.  Our company was growing fast and the frequency of company meetings grew.  The owner of my company was aware of my public speaking goals and often came to me to develop the agenda and run our company meetings.  Another opportunity to live out my dream.  I have numerous other examples of public speaking opportunities that have arisen as well as other areas of interest but they all have a common thread of taking the risk of being myself.

Some ideas for how you can “Take Yourself to Work.”

• Host a book club related to one of your passions.
• Ask a coworker to lunch and get to know them.
• Display examples of your passion in your office or cubicle.
• Express your opinion on a controversial subject.
• Host a happy hour or potluck lunch.
• Create a company social media community on Facebook (if your employer permits).
• Create an employee newsletter highlighting personal interests.
• Be yourself.
• Remember everything you do is Personal (no separation o state when it comes to you)

I look forward to meeting “You” at work someday!

I must be approaching my mid-life crisis as I have decided a convertible is in my future.  I had been considering a motorcycle but a good friend reminded me that until my daughter is 18 a motorcycle is not an option.  I had to agree and I am sure Ella will too.

I have been researching various convertible options over the last few months from MGB’s to Miata’s and have settled in on a Mini Cooper.  Being financially responsible I have decided to put it on the back burner until I have my current cars payed off in early 2012.

I must admit I am having fun looking up Mini Coopers on the Internet and seeing them on the streets.  I must admit I haven’t purchased too many toys in my life but I am finding this really fun putting off something fun until a future date.

In the mean time I purchased a die cast replica version of a Mini Cooper to further engage in the anticipation of when I get to pick out my answer to my mid-life crisis.

After I bought the “Mini” Mini Cooper it reminded me of a technique I used when I was competing for meritorious promotion in the Marine Corps.  After I was nominated for the meritorious promotion I decided I would go out and purchase all of the chevrons I needed for my next rank in the Marine Corps.  Chevrons are the insignias that represent your rank and are worn on the collars or sleeves of the various uniforms of Marines.

For those unfamiliar with the Marines they tend to instill just a bit of “confidence” I mean “arrogance” into their persona.  With this being said when I displayed my Corporal Chevrons on the shelf at my work bench I kind of stirred things up a bit.  My seargeant informed me that very rarely do you get promoted on your first “meritorious promotion” competition.  I told him, “I was OK with that, I was just taking a visualization technique I had learned a step further.”

I thought it would be a good to have a symbol

or reminder to help me prepare for the competition.  “Corporal Monahan” knew what he was talking about getting promoted at his first meritorious promotion competition.  The symbol worked beautifully.

Over the years I have used numerous “Mini Place Holders” for other goals and dreams.

What dreams or goals do you have that could use a “place holder” or symbol until it becomes a reality?

I am proud to share a keynote speech my father delivered at The Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, 2010 Small Business Excellence Awards.

I am lucky to have such a great resource, role model and father.

Great Job Dad!

Learn More About Mike Monahan & Life Success Seminars - Click Here

Recently I was in for my annual review with my employer.  They asked me to rate myself in a number of areas.  It was the typical elements of an employee review.  Rate myself on organization, creative problem solving, effectiveness, ability to lead, ability to work with others and timeliness.

I must admit (brag), I was doing good in all areas but one.  The last one, timeliness.  I have noticed I have been arriving at work late more often than in the past.  I must qualify this comment since the Internet is forever these days but I more than cover my hours every week so it’s not a matter of not enough, just when and where.

As I pondered this “deficit” I asked myself what was different in my life and why was I now arriving late.

OH!  I remember I have a 18 month old daughter now and life has been truly turned on end.

No longer is my life just work, I have a family to engage.

As I continued to ponder this dilemma being the “Company Man” that I am, what should I do about this deficit.  I cannot move forward being delinquent in my duties.  If I am supposed to be at a work at a certain time, then I should be there, “RIGHT?”

My answer arrived in moment of joy.  My family and I have created a bit of morning tradition.  We sit on pillows in the kitchen and eat breakfast and then we dance to the boom box.  Then I go to work.  I have a running joke when it comes to my daughter.  If she enjoys something you better not start since there is not end game.  She can dance or eat Popsicles until the cows come home.

So one particular morning when Ella had no interest in ending our morning party, I declared I was going to have “Family Overtime.”  What a novel concept.  Overtime for something I enjoy.

To carry out the little metaphor think of overtime for the things you enjoy as paying time and a half or double time making it a greater incentive.

So, back to the review and dilemma of being out of integrity with my employer.  I decided to take another chance.  During my review, I went ahead and was honest.  I shared that right now my family life is very important and from time to time I might be engaging in “Family Overtime.”  We didn’t really discuss it in detail but they didn’t dispute the idea.

So be it: “Family Overtime!”

What areas of your life do you need to go into “Overtime?!”

As a project manager in the audio visual production industry I am often faced with hundreds of decisions on each and every project.

Often times I am faced with nuanced decisions.  A decision that might have both positive and negative consequences.  Some examples include;  A larger screen is better for viewing but might reduce the available space for seating.  A smaller crew might lower the budget but jeopardize the timeliness of the set up.  I might need to rent a certain piece of equipment versus utilizing my inventory costing me money.  After completing a set up I might realize the delay speakers are now an obstruction for the last row of seating requiring a late night revision and overtime labor.

Using the basketball analogy a Slam Dunk is when you stuff the ball into the basketball rim with near 100% accuracy.  Wouldn’t be great if you could find a way to have nearly 100% accuracy for your decisions?

Over the years I have learned to use a technique I call the “Slam Dunk” when faced with a nuanced decision.  I take a step back and ask myself what decision is going to be a “Slam Dunk” win for everyone.  The funny thing is when I ask myself this question I usually find I already know the answer.  Usually there is a best decision but I am afraid to make it.  I am afraid to justify my decision.  I am afraid to break the bad news.  I am afraid to face reality.

Luckily over the years I have learned to overcome the fear of making decisions using the Slam Dunk approach.  Funny thing is every time I have ever used this approach all has turned out well.

What decision are you afraid to make?  What is the Slam Dunk solution you have for it (that you fear to make)?

Happy Dunks!

There are so few; yet so many things that truly affect me spiritually on any given day.  Hugh MacLeod the artist behind the GapingVoid cartoons truly inspires me.

Just in case you have not heard of him I wanted you to experience his work.

This is todays cartoon.

Thanks to Hugh for being generous in his Creative Commons Licensing.  I am also thankful I have not found a way to monetize this blog which has allowed EITR to maintain its non-commercial status and share his work, however, this is might be a commercial for Hugh.  Be sure you check out his work for yourself at GapingVoidGallery.com and buy yourself a print.