I am calling “all in.” I realized this weekend there is one trait I admire more than any other in friends, acquaintances, mentors. This is the same trait I hope defines my personality - for better or for worse. Drum roll please - passion.

Passion for something, anything: advancing sustainable energy practices, crafting a new line of clothes, becoming an improv comedian, being the kindest person in the neighborhood, knowing more about dogs than any other vet in the clinic. What that passion is for is less important than the existence of a fire in the belly. PS, I like to think my belly is its current size because it needs a lot of space to hold my fire.

Many of us read in Malcolm Gladwell’s recent book, Outliers, about the 10,000 hour principle - a consensus among researchers that it generally takes about 10,000 hours of performing a task before you are a master at it. As I have learned in playing baseball, competing at debate, performing improv and delving into social media public relations, it takes a deep drive to get through the inherent dips and overcome obstacles.

Besides putting you on a path to success at a job and guru status at a hobby, having that “that person is crazy” passion makes you a more interesting person. That’s why I refuse to answer the question “what do you do?” with the name of my employer. I am a storyteller. I perform improv comedy. I am committed to developing a niche in public relations. My friends and family are at the heart of everything I do. That’s what I do. If you think that’s cheesy or meaningless, you can go back to your desk and log hours for a paycheck. I am going to log my 10,000 hours in my passion.

Photo Credit: Jam Adams

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