Finding Your Passion: How Knowing Yourself Fuels Authentic Leadership

Many years ago, someone called me a “typical sanguine” and I had no idea about what that meant but it caused me to study the temperaments. I learned about their strengths and weaknesses and learned that no temperament is perfect! I discovered I was a sanguine and that by nature I am a happy person.

I went on a quest that year to learn about me. What do I love? What makes me happy, sad, cry, and laugh? What makes my heart soar? How do I become motivational and not manipulative? How do people see me? Am I genuine? Am I a Lizard or a Chameleon? (Lizards do not change with their environment, but Chameleons change colors to blend in).

I started looking for my true passion. What motivates me the most? I believe that passion is not situational but born out of what fulfills you. I love people and want to help them to thrive so I wanted to put my passion and skills into a mission I could get behind. When you believe in something it’s not so easy to walk away when there is a challenge, instead you want to help fix it! Passion gives you the energy that moves you to action. I found passion and a mission to believe in when I went to work for the Maxwell organization over 25 years ago. It is not about one thing or one person; but about the vision and mission and how I see myself adding value to it. I want to make a difference, and you can do that when you play to your strengths; but you need to know what they are! Over the years there have been different roles and different divisions, but they have all been people focused; thereby allowing my passion for the mission to be realized.

So, do you know what fuels your passion? Sometimes it takes some evaluation; but whatever you do don’t get stuck being a “typical” anything! Be you!