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It’s not uncommon to make your career your passion, to want to work on something you feel inspired by and that gets you excited to go to work each day. However, even if you’re in your “dream job,” it’s possible to sometimes feel like you’ve lost that passion. Whether it’s a series of failures that have you questioning your abilities or a combination of long hours and too many tasks piling up making you desperate for rest, there are a number of factors that can leave you wondering if you’ve lost your passion forever.
As business leaders and entrepreneurs, the members of Rolling Stone Culture Council have also felt the fatigue and self-doubt of lost passion. Here, they share their best advice for how to regain the passion for your career and discuss how losing their own passion has helped to shape their careers today.
Seek Guidance From a Coach or Mentor
After endless 16-hour days without pay, I was left burned out and disheartened. However, guidance from a mentor and coach was pivotal. They taught me the value of working smarter and more strategically (getting more rest, sleep, exercise). This renewed focus and perspective were transformative for my business and me, igniting the company’s growth and making me a better, more focused and more resilient leader. – Rhett Power, Accountability Inc.
View Every Step as an Opportunity to Learn
Careers are a journey, and we learn more about ourselves and what we love at each step. I try to think of every step as an experiment to learn more about what I love and where I can add the most value, and iteratively move toward those strengths. Being a founder is love; being a CEO is not. I learned this at my last role, which led me to running a venture studio. Keep learning! – John Tabis, M13
Draw Inspiration From Those Around You
I draw inspiration from those around me, surrounding myself with like-minded individuals who share a passion for their work. Additionally, I actively search for opportunities to attend conferences, workshops and networking events where I can connect with other industry leaders. Having conversations with other professionals often rekindles my drive. – Kristin Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
Embrace Challenges Like Levels in a Game
Marketing has always been like play to me — challenging play, indeed, but that’s what makes it exhilarating. I rekindled my passion by embracing each challenge as a new level in this game. Today, this perspective not only keeps my enthusiasm alive, but it also drives innovative strategies that set my organization apart. – Tim Haldorsson, Lunar Strategy
The Rolling Stone Culture Council is an invitation-only community for Influencers, Innovators and Creatives. Do I qualify?
Find the Kind of Culture That Speaks to You
After decades of global marketing and advertising, I got fed up with the traditional Mad Men culture: the risk averse corporate BS and innovation-killing “we have been doing it like this for 20 years” speech. I regained my energy, passion and drive. I can tell you that your vibe attracts your tribe, and I’m so grateful for that move. I remixed purpose and passion, and I smile again! – Igor Beuker, Igor Beuker
Start a Fresh Passion Project
I moved countries and started my own entirely unrelated passion-project business in a second language. It was incredibly challenging and invigorating, but it got me excited again about what I knew — and didn’t. Learning a new industry while transferring existing skills to propel growth made me a dramatically better, more well-rounded entrepreneur. If feasible, I highly recommend it. – Cate Rubenstein
Step Away From Your Routine
There was a time when my internal spark faded, drowned by the monotony of daily tasks. Determined to reignite it, I took a sabbatical. Immersing myself in new experiences and stepping outside my comfort zone, I stumbled upon fresh perspectives. Today, I champion the idea of periodic retreats from routine. It’s incredible how stepping back can propel you forward with renewed vigor. – Arvin Khamseh, SOLDOUT NFTs
Delegate Tasks That Distract You From Your Passion
Functioning as a technician in my business drained my passion and distracted me from our vision. I realized I needed to recruit those more capable of driving our day-to-day operations, processes and mission so I could remain an “intrapreneur,” innovating the company from within. Don’t be afraid to pass the torch to others who are better suited for certain tasks. This revived my entrepreneurial spirit! – Anthony Coppers, GRADIENT
Wipe Your Slate Clean
Anytime I feel like I’m bored or not challenged in my career, I like to get organized, clean my slate, clear out my inbox, update my finances, get rid of all my old tasks and start fresh by setting new goals and finding interesting problems to challenge myself with. I find that when I challenge myself to learn something new, I tend to have major breakthroughs in all aspects of my life. – Adam Ayers, Number 5
Take a Journey of Exploration
I’ve faced moments of lost passion. To reignite that passion, I explored new challenges, learned continuously and sought inspiration from peers. This journey enriched my perspective, making me more adaptable and resilient in my career. – Sheila Dedenbach, Heavenly Sweet
