Pursuing the Passion That Can Make You Great

By Jenn Mori, Toppel Peer Advisor

So I may love Ted Talks too much, but I’ve found the advice they provide to be the most inspiring and motivating life advice I hear. This one, by Larry Smith, a professor of Economics at the University of Waterloo, is no different; he once told a reporter “Wasted talent is a waste I cannot stand” and that viewpoint can be seen easily in this amusing video, titled “Why you will fail to have a great career.”

It’s kind of a cynical video - the title portrays some of that cynicism. Smith begins by talking about how we all settle for good careers, and settle for working really, really hard to get to a great career. That hard work ethic is something I see all the time - but not just in certain college kids - I see it in some adults I know who have worked overtime their whole life, but are still nearly in the same position in their company that they were 10 years ago. So maybe Smith has a point, and there’s more to making a memorable impact on the world than working hard to get there.

Which brings me to the point of his entire video - we need to find our passion. Not our interest, which there are many of (and I can attest to that), but the one passion that stands out above the rest and that can be the difference between finding a “good” career and a GREAT one. And I feel like as college students, we’re given so many options and clubs and majors and minors to pursue and look at that even knowing the difference between those two words, passion and interest, can be difficult. But Smith does an excellent job at explaining what the difference is, why it matters and why no one should make excuses once they find their one passion - it could bring out a talent in you, you may not have even known existed.

Here’s the video, so check it out!

https://www.ted.com/talks/larry_smith_why_you_will_fail_to_have_a_great_career?language=en

Combine My Passions or Focus on Just One?

By Kristi Brownlee, Toppel Peer Advisor 

See, the trouble with being multi-passionate is that rather than having a blank canvas, and an open and clear mind your canvas is completely filled with every color in the rainbow, numerous colliding illustrations, creating this beautiful mess. But, it’s still a mess! How can one channel all of their creativities and talents into one profession? The honest answer, if you have fourteen specific passions that you want to pursue as a career, you may have to narrow just a tad, but it is possible!

In trying to figure out what you want to be doing within the next 10 years, you need to grab a new canvas and start fresh. I’m pretty sure you have been thinking a lot about all of the different professions you could see yourself fulfilling. I’m also sure, in the midst of all those thoughts have come some confusion and indecisiveness. Now’s the time to stop thinking, and do! “Clarity comes through engagement, not thought.” So, in order to make good decisions you have to tap into each of those passions, and determine whether it’s something that truly suites you. So, take that dance class. Participate in that marketing internship. Join that health care advocacy club.

By engaging in those activities, you will begin to get a glimpse of just how much effort is required to fulfill that passion for a lifetime. And, you’ll see how those passions begin to narrow themselves, naturally.

Once you’ve limited your list of passions from fourteen to about seven, it’s time to prioritize. Rank your passions by asking yourself this question:  “Are my passions going to allow the life I want to live?” Be realistic with yourself, and make that decision based on what outcomes you want to see in the future. If you want to interact with children, but don’t want to be in a high stress environment, then maybe being a pediatrician is not the best avenue. Through research and networking, you will see what professions exist and what avenues will allow you to explore as many of your passions as possible.

Through this process, another important thing to remember is that failure is imminent, but suffering is optional. Embracing your failures is the quickest way to recuperate from a mistake. Knowing that life is fluid and has twist and turns will open your eyes and mind to what life lies ahead. If one thing doesn’t work out, you have so many other options. As long as happiness and comfort is sought after, and you are not pursuing professions for the wrong reasons, you can never truly make a mistake.

The last thing to recognize is that your life doesn’t have to consist of one career, day in and day out. Purpose can change. Passions can grow. New doors can open. And, different stages of life bring different goals. So, maybe after being a public health professional, you want to branch out and start your own bakery. As crazy as it may sound, people go through changes everyday, but the important thing is to adapt and prepare for what comes next.  Essentially, you can do whatever you want.

Living Your Passion Even When You’re Not Sure What It Is

By Brian Reece, Associate Director, Assessment & Communication

When I was younger, I remember being told all sorts of things about what I should be (and who I should be, for that matter) when I “grow up.” Now that I’m all grown up, I still don’t really have a concrete answer to this question. It gives me anxiety from time to time—maybe I’m just in denial--but I’m slowly coming to the realization that I don’t have to be just one thing. It’s okay not to know what I want to be when I grow up. As I move ever closer toward my 30s, I can see how all of this education, regardless of the name of the field of study, the major, or the framework, influences me in countless ways.

I wound up in a job doing assessment and communication for a career center. To many of my colleagues, this is an odd sort of mix. But then again, I’m an odd sort of mix. I have degrees, minors, and certificates in English, Spanish, Music, Higher Education, Nonprofit Management, Prevention Science, and Counseling. In other words, I’m a writer, a translator, a musician, an educator, an organizational manager, a data analyst, and a helper by training, and this is exactly what I now do as my full-time job. Interesting how it works out.

I ended up where I am today not because I chose a straight and narrow path toward a specific career, but instead because I explored a variety of options, developed expertise in multiple areas, and was open to the possibilities, including those that didn’t yet exist or that I didn’t yet understand. Whether you’re an incoming student, a senior getting ready to graduate, or an alum with years of experience, here are some tips for living your passion even if you don’t know what it is yet:

Explore anything and everything. If it excites you, learn about it, practice it, and get good at it. If it scares you, dive right on in anyway. If you think you’ll hate it, find out if you’re right! Your experiences define who you are and your attitude about engaging in new opportunities defines who you’ll become.

Don’t make a decision (yet). It’s okay to be unsure! You may be unsure because you don’t have enough information—so do whatever you can do learn and gain experience. You may be unsure because you have too much information—so take time to reflect and digest it all. You may also be unsure because all the options sound great—so think creatively about ways you can have both/all instead of just one or the other.

Prepare for change. Things don’t always go as we planned. In fact, they rarely go exactly as we planned. Preparing for uncertainty means having contingency plans, but it doesn’t mean you can’t commit wholeheartedly to Plan A. It just means that you’re ready to go with Plan B or C or D if the original plan falls through. Or if you’re really creative and you like Plan B enough, you might find ways to merge the two. Now that’s innovation!

Be open to living your passion outside of work. Each of us lives and operates differently. Some of us want our work to be a calling. Others of us want our work to support our calling. No matter how you live your passion and no matter what your passion is, remember that your work is or will be a huge part of it in one way or another. And be open to having many passions—enjoy life to its fullest!

You’re not alone. At the Toppel Career Center, we offer many different ways to explore your interests, values, skills, abilities—to learn what your passion is. We also have highly trained and motivated staff who can help you as you do. Take advantage of your network: friends, colleagues, mentors, professors, supervisors. And if you want help doing so, Toppel can help with that too!

Am I Special?

By Marian Li, Toppel Peer Advisor

The University of Miami prides itself in its diverse campus, but when it comes to majors, there can only be so many. It’s important to know what makes you special, what makes you stand out and it’s even more important to be able to show it. Ask yourself, “What differentiates me?” or “Why would someone hire me over the next person?” Lots of people have good grades, leadership positions, and good work experiences; those are “table stakes”, you don’t get opportunities without that. So what gets you that higher hand? With all of Toppel’s upcoming events with employers it’ll be imperative to have your pitch ready to stand out among all the other young, fresh suits.

Commitment and Drive – Are you going to do what you say? Employers don’t want to worry about tasks after they’ve been delegated. If a connection is given – hint hint, a business card – they expect a follow up. Be mindful of the timeliness of these emails. Express gratitude and a genuine interest in the company and what they do. Giving evidence of hard tasks done well is a good indicator of your drive and work mentality. Employers will be impressed with things that require sustained, difficult effort. These examples can come in all various shapes and sizes: Eagle Scout or a Peace Corps Volunteer, even a marathon finisher or a founder of a non-profit.

Spark – Is there something about you that is engaging? Do you make the employer want to continue the conversation and learn more about what you have to say? Of the three qualities, this is probably one of the more subjective topics and truly depends of the eyes of the recruiter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare. When talking to employers, be engaging and conversational. Be present in the discussion and practice active listening.

Curiosity – Do you want to know how things work and how you can improve them? There are two types of people in this world: followers who take orders well and emerging leaders who are able to reach their own insights and build upon what is given. What the employers look for is if students have pushed to learn and become an expert. Taking classes outside of your discipline or the nitty-gritty classes such a programming impress potential employers. Plus it builds your skillset so there’s nothing but positives.

Professional Passion – People reveal a lot about themselves when talking about their passions. You yourself may not notice it but it can be a change in your tone or a livelier look in your eyes. Having a passion implies that you can do the work and sustain it because of your genuine interest in seeing it all the way through.

Trying to figure out who you think someone else wants you to be is a fool’s errand. It’d be a better investment of time to look inward to find what makes you the most impressionable candidate on the floor. Happy job hunting!

Creative Careers

By Carsyn Crane, Events and Marketing Intern 

Every student’s wish after graduating college is to get that ideal job. “Make the big bucks”, you may have heard this expression before.  Majoring in marketing, political science, philosophy, or studio art makes you wonder what you actually can do with $50,000 degree. You’ve learned various skills throughout your undergraduate career and still are not sure about your career path.

My undergraduate major was media studies. I know what you are thinking. What does that even mean? My dad continued to ask me this question until the day I graduated. 

I had no idea what I wanted to do once I graduated. I figured I would go into marketing or advertising but I never really explored my options.

I didn’t know how I was going to take my degree and transfer it into career. As a student you may be feeling the same way. The pressure of deciding your career path may be a frightening, but it is good to take a few steps before you make a decision. Some helpful tips when it comes to finding a career:

BE OPEN-MINDED. The first job you get after college may not be your dream job but it could open doors into a direction that works for you.

EXPLORE. Do the research and look for jobs you may not have thought of before.

PASSION: Figure out what you’re passionate about then narrow down your job options based on your desire.

You can always transfer the skills you’ve learned from your past experience and articulate why it would be good fit for that specific new job. The major you may be in might not be the exactly fit for the career you choose and it’s OKAY :)

  

You have skills. Prove it. Make us proud at the Toppel Career Center.

It's All About Passion, Attitude, and Patience

By Eddy Cruz, Director of Career Development

For our recent May graduates, for many, walking across the commencement stage brings with it a sense of jubilation as well as a perceived end point.  However, what many recent graduates fail to realize is that this point is not necessarily the end, rather a new beginning to what is to come.  So now after walking across the stage you begin to mentally prepare yourself for your impending job search, which ultimately leads to the first day within your new role as a professional. You realize the ability to take naps between classes is no more! The transition from college to career begins to set in and now you find yourself asking now what?  Well, it’s your lucky day, I would like to share three tips with you that were shared with me when I made a similar transition - oh, so long ago. So when starting out, keep in mind, it's all about passion, attitude, and patience.

Passion

Passion is key when beginning something new regardless of what it is. If you are not passionate about what you are doing it will show through in all that you do and will impact the outcomes of your work. Without passion, getting up every day for work will be work. This will lead you down a path of an unfavorable experience for both you and the organization. If you find yourself in a situation that is not what you hoped, you have two options, first, move on to a new position or second, find something within your role that you are passionate about and use this to inspire and motivate you. Passion propels you to do better and to be better. Every aspect of a position as you start your career will not always be something you are passionate about, however, it is all in how you approach it.

Attitude
Attitude is your approach to people, tasks, and conflict. Over my career I have had the opportunity to learn by observing and doing. Some of the greatest lessons I learned were from situations that did not directly involve me. I was able to observe from afar and gain some knowledge to use during similar situations in the future. When you find yourself in a new environment, take time to observe how your peers and leadership handle themselves in a variety of situations.  A wise man once said all humans make mistakes, but the wise learn from the mistakes of others. Do not blame others or circumstances for your mistakes. Take accountability and move forward. Another lesson learned is when I choose to have a positive attitude, I produce positive outcomes. You can learn a lot from others; emulate the positive and stay away from the negative behaviors.

Your approach to work is determined by the attitude you come in with. People do not want to be around others who are negative, a gossip, or a know-it-all. Keep focus in your work and maintain a positive attitude in all that you do. Leaders of your organization are always seeking out individuals with the right attitude with the desire to move the organization forward.

Patience

Another valuable lesson learned from a past mentor was the importance of patience. He would always say, "Let the DNA wrap around you!" Meaning, be patient and take the necessary time to learn about the organization. Allow yourself to become a part of the organization's DNA makeup.  By gaining this understanding you begin to understand where the organization is going and begin to live it as well. Additionally, it becomes easier to understand expectations; they make sense and become clearer.

All in all, I hope you are able to take some of these suggestions and learn from my experience. As you begin your career remember these three things as you start your journey. It's all about having passion for what you are doing, having the right attitude, and practicing patience, and you will get going in the right direction for career success!

Work on Vacation Not to Vacation

By Alysha Gomes, Toppel Peer Advisor

The time comes again when many other UM students and I are forced to pick classes to fulfill credits toward our majors. Around this time, I am reminded how stressful it is to pick a career path that I will be inevitably following for the rest of my life. Torn between what my parents wants, what society deems as respectable, what I believe will pay enough to support the life I hope to have, and what I enjoy, the decision is more complicated then most make it out to be. However, the best advice I have been given it to find a happy medium.

There are so many quizzes, questionnaires, and surveys that claim to tell you the best job fit, but the decision is ultimately left up to you. When picking a job there are three major factors (at least for me):

1. What am I good at?

People who stick to this and run often end up in jobs where they only go through the motions. Everyday, they get up, go to work, perform, and go home to the life that their work has made possible, but instead of ruling their own life, they fall victim to routine and hardly ever experience excitement.

2. What makes money?

This is the big debate question. Does my job fit my personality or do I do this because it makes me a ton of money which I can spend after I get off work? People who decide their job based on this question work to pay for the weekends in which they enjoy their life. It is lifestyle they let rule their life. 

3. What do I love doing?

This is the thing that everyone insists should be the deciding factor. We forever hear in our heads, “Do what you what to do, not what people think you should do!” However, this is not the only thing to consider. If you only think about what you love then you forget to consider what you want your life to be like. Yes, many people who give up everything and just roll with their talent do end up on the top of society’s ladder, look at Einstein, but that involves luck and, if you're like me, luck isn’t always on your side.

When picking a career, you should consider not one, but all three of these questions. What are you good at doing that makes enough money to support the life you want that you would love waking up to do? That question will lead you to live a very healthy life in which you do not have to wait till your next vacation to enjoy yourself.

It is estimated that 70% of employees are dissatisfied or disengaged in their careers. So please take some time to reflect on who you actually are. Forget what your parents want, what the top 10 most paying jobs are, and what your rich movie star idol does, and ask yourself what do you want. You don’t have to decide now, but remember that if you don’t pursue your own desires, then your just adding to the 70% who wish they did things different.

Goal : Best put by Dr. Seuss