This is part one of a two-part series.

Some time ago I wrote about how successful blogs shared a common thread which drove them to get things done and how this further motivated a person to go above and beyond to reach their dreams. That common thread is passion.

Passion for what you are doing is what drives one to success. It’s never work when you love what you are doing, right?

When you think about it, if it’s something that you really want badly in life, you will bust your buns to make it happen. There will be no hesitation, procrastination or excuse making, you’ll be all about getting things done.

That new car that you have fallen in love with brings a tremendous amount of passion to your life and you are driven by this, it’s a tremendous motivator. As a result, you will work extra hard and long to position yourself to obtain that car.

Conversely, when we are not passionate about something it becomes a chore or tasks that we may find ourselves trying to avoid because the fire is just not there. Worst yet, we may even procrastinate about it, pushing it off into the future.

I listen to some of my friends at times, continually complaining about the jobs they have and how miserable they are in those positions. You’ve likely heard some of this from your crowd as well. But how many of them actually do anything about it?

To do anything means that you have to undergo some sort of change, leave that comfort zone and put forth more effort. Initially it’s seen as hard work but this hard work will only be temporary if you can tap into your passion and find something that really motivates.

Staying on a job that you are unhappy with is not going to suddenly make you happy. Now I’m not advocating that anyone just up and leave with no alternative game plan, but in a situation like this, a game plan is exactly what is required.

Just imagine being in a position where you were highly motivated to go to the office because you completely love what you are doing. This is the ultimate.

What are your passions in life and how can you make one of them your life’s work?

Maybe it’s piano playing, photography or whatever it is that makes you say “I love doing this”. Identify that element and figure out a way to do it for a living. When this happens, you’ll never work another day in your life.

My passion is computers and technology and I am using them to build an online lifestyle while helping others reach their goals as well. This is what drives me to work 12 to 15 hours some days, without feeling unhappy about it. I love this stuff!

You have to find your passion as well. Seriously, give this some thought and develop a plan to transition from where you are to where you really want to be in life.

No, it won’t happen overnight but the sooner you identify that passion, develop your plan and begin taking the necessary steps to get to where you want to be, the better you will feel about life and what the future holds for you.

The decision process may take some time; it’s not always an easy thing to decide upon.

When I started blogging it was one of my major challenges, selecting a topic. I didn’t really want to blog about blogging, although I did for a period of time. I wanted something different but was undecided about just what that was.

The common thread among all of my passions is helping others to reach their goals. It’s one of the greatest rewards available, at least for me.

You will have to carefully consider your choices because it will mean a lifestyle change and a lifetime commitment. While thinking and trying to decide your passion, ask yourself if what you are considering is something you can do for the rest of your life.

While considering all the things you love to do make a list of them. Some things on that list may cause you to question the potential for growth and scalability but think about it, people have made a living doing everything under the sun.

I was down at the beach once where this guy was making these absolutely breathtaking sand sculptures. This stuff was 3 dimensional and all he had were a few buckets of water and a couple of masonry tools.

Long story short; he’s hired by the hotels to go up and down the beach and express himself through his artwork, which draws a crowd. A percentage of the crowd will visit the hotel restaurants, gift shops and casinos with the little discount freebies he hands out. He’s bringing in customers. The real beauty is this; the waves at high tide will eventually wash away his strategically placed creations and he gets to come back the next day and create more.

My point is this, if you can think of it, someone has likely made a living doing it already. So don’t be too quick to rule things out. Everyone is good at something and you need only be better than most others.

So get busy on making that list of things you are both good at and passionate about. Ask yourself if you can do any of those to create a different lifestyle for yourself.

Stay Productive!

Part Two