Find Your Passion!
Posted on August 15, 2011
Condoleezza "Condi" Rice
My husband, Willie, bought and read a book a while back written by Mary Beth Brown that he said I should read. The subject was Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State under the junior Bush administration. The title is Condi: The Life of a Steel Magnolia. Reading into it, I found some things that resonate in me as they relate to writing and life in general.
Regardless of your political affiliation, I think you might find them helpful.
While speaking at the Boston College commencement in 2006, Ms. Rice shared her opinion on education and listed “five important responsibilities of educated people.” I believe these are also responsibilities of those who want to achieve success in writing.
They are as follows:
1. Find Your Passion — you may not even be aware of what it is yet. I know writers often have a passion to write, so that’s why they do what they do. I also believe, though, that there is a passion within the writing that we all have but may have yet to discover it. For instance, I knew I had a passion to write about law, so I found a way to do that. I had a passion to write books, but never came up with a subject on which I was comfortable writing. An acquaintance knew I wrote for a living and asked me to write a book with him. After I started helping him, he referred me to a co-worker who has a great human story to tell and I jumped on the offer to write it for her. I realized my gateway to writing books on a broader scale may come from helping these two people write their stories.
2. Use Your Reason — I always tell my followers and those who will listen to use your head and your heart — reason AND passion. I believe there are God-given desires each of us have placed in our hearts that we need to fulfill. Exercise reason WITH passion and it will have a tendency to keep you balanced in life. Our emotions or passion may draw us one direction. When we reason it out, though, we may realize a totally new, more-balanced direction. Sometimes, however, our reasoning negates our passion, but don’t let it be THE overpowering force. I liken reason to the rudder that controls our passion. We may have a whole lotta passion, but that small rudder guides us to safety and our next destination, where our passion will be a little more satisfied.
3. Cultivate Humility — Reject false pride. No one is perfect and no one has arrived at success without a variety of mitigating factors. Don’t think that because you are successful that you have anything more to offer or are any more special than anyone else in the writing world. As Condi says, “Never assume that your own sense of entitlement has gotten you what you have or that it will get you what you want.” Be grateful for your status or success (regardless of what it is) and cultivate humility.
4. Be Optimistic — Always. Are you struggling in your writing? Maybe you’re having difficulty finding good writing jobs or people tell you that your talent needs honing. I’ve been there, done that, got the t-shirt and been there again. If you’re meant to write, it always turns around (exercise reason with that passion) — if you hang in there long enough, work hard enough and are meant to continue writing.
5. Serve Others. I find this to be one of the most fulfilling exercises in life. I serve my husband and children in any way I can. I serve my church, community, friends, several non-profit groups and my writing community in every way possible. This has a tendency to take the focus off of yourself and your own problems and help be part of the solution for others. I love that!
These five responsibilities resonate in me and I practice them every opportunity I get. What responsibilities do you exercise that fulfill you?
Writing 4 Effect 
claudiajustsaying
August 16, 2011
Writing is my new passion, discovered by chance in retirement. Condoleezza’s comments about not being aware of it, are true for me…just saying.
Writing4Effect
August 16, 2011
That is so cool to hear, Claudia. I agree. We don’t always know what our passion is, but I believe it’s inside of us and eventually makes its way out … sometimes in our retirement. How cool is that, though?! I think writing is great for a variety of things, along with making money. Sometimes writing is therapeutic. You can express yourself through writing when you can’t any other way. I journal, because it helps me see where I was, where I am going and when I arrive to new places in life. Writing is a great tool for a lot of things. Glad to hear you found your passion doing it! 🙂
Penelope J.
August 17, 2011
While I don’t agree with her political choices, I am a big Condoleeza Rice fan. She is an excellent role model and someone to look up to and seek to emulate.
You covered some important points. My passion was always writing ever since I wrote my first full-length book (240 double spaced typed pages) at 12. However, I have discovered that in order to do a good job, whatever it is, I have to be passionate about it as well. My biggest fault has often been not reasoning enough and letting my passion overwhelm my rationale side.Humility is hard to come by especially when successful but it helps win and keep friends.
Optimism or a positive attitude is always essential. In my catering/cooking days, food tasted better and cakes rose when spirits were high. A negative attitude can be contagious.
Serving others is the hardest to define and to do. All I can say is that anyone who has or is caring for/about others is in some way serving them. You, through this blog, are serving us, your readers. Many thanks, Sherry, for all your help.
Writing4Effect
August 17, 2011
That is one of the things I love about the followers of this blog, Pennie. It’s obvious we have a really good mix of broad beliefs and political preferences, but we all come together over a common purpose, a common goal … writing. I, too, am a big Condi fan — not because of her political affiliation, but because of her character, intelligence, temperament and the fact that she’s so all-American.
You wrote a 240-page book at 12?! That is awesome. Most kids that age can’t write a few pages, let alone 240! I agree with you, that passion is critical to whatever we do in life and I can relate to the difficulty of having it overwhelm your rationale. Some of the most creative people in history were people of great passion and some of the most famous ones never even learned to tame it. I think if we can learn how to harness it, there isn’t anywhere we can’t go. How much more can you go now if you started writing at 12?!
I am thrilled that you feel that I help with this blog. Nothing makes me happier than to hear that someone took away something helpful or valuable — especially someone like you. I’ve highly admired you and your work every since I “discovered” you. I use that word, because that’s what it’s like to find fellow writers like you– it’s like finding a treasure!
cspeno
August 19, 2011
I think the first point hits the nail on the head. Find your passion and write about it.
When I was editor of a small monthly community paper a few years back, many of my writers would come to me and say, “if I wrote about this….., will you print it in the next issue?” My answer would always be, “if you’re passionate about it, write about it because more than likely it will be your best writing, Write about what interests you, and you’ll see that it will lead to success at some point.”
I also advised them not to worry about whether it would get picked up in the next edition. My advice: write, keep it and a need for that piece of writing will always surface. Plus, it gives you a variety of pieces to keep in a portfolio when you are applying for writing jobs and trying to demonstrate your skills. We all want to be published, but sometimes it just takes patience. Hmmm, I think I’ve hit on another on of Rice’s points: perseverance – be optimistic!!
This has worked for me in the past, and I am confident that it will continue to work for me and others today and into the future.
As always, just my two cents, Sherry!!
Writing4Effect
August 19, 2011
As always, Christine, love your two cents that always translate into wise advice. I whole-heartedly agree. In regards to writing on your passion:
— I believe I enjoy reading blogs posts, in particular, that resonate with the passion of the blog writer.
–I bet the most successful blogs reflect the passion of the blog writer(s).
When I first started writing, I created sample articles on which I was passionate to submit to writing ads for which I applied. Even though I wasn’t immediately hired by many of the companies, I then had a broad range of writing samples that related to my expertise and passion. I included the ones relative to the job in future writing job submissions and was hired for many of them.
The cruel reality is that our passion doesn’t always sell in the professional arena. One financial company hired me to write articles on the financial lending industry. They paid quite well, so I accepted the position ($40 or $50 per 300- to 500-word article — can’t remember the exact pay). With my finger on the pulse of the finance funding arena, I initially submitted a list of 20 article titles I knew were hot topics for those providing and seeking funding. I was passionate about the topics, because I knew they would provide compelling copy for their readers. Historically, I’ve always been right when I was knowledgeable of the industry.
Unfortunately, I went several rounds with the editor who discounted the bulk of the articles and continued to ask for more detail as to the purpose of each title and who the audience would be. After three rounds, three weeks later, only one title approved for completion the next week (two others were if-y), I gave up and quit the writing job. I figured if these experts, who hired me based on my experience, didn’t trust my recommendations for these time-sensitive topics, then I wouldn’t have the ability to effectively work for them. It wouldn’t be of benefit for them or me — I had already spent several hours researching topics and exchanging information with them. It was ending up to be a huge waste of my time.
On the other hand, I continue to work for some companies that allow me latitude as to the topics on which I write. Those are my favorite companies for which to work, because I know the hot topics in specific arenas (and can even generate interest on topics not so well-known) and am allowed the privilege of writing on them. I’ve worked for them for years and they trust me to just write the articles. Those are the type of companies you want to work for, because they will let you write on topics in which you are most passionate AND knowledgeable!
My mantra aligns with yours: Don’t lose focus of your passion. If those articles don’t “sell” in the professional arena, post ’em on a blog. They’ll generate an audience and affirm what you already knew … that others are just as passionate about the topic as you. And it could actually generate a passion in others, so you would be serving your passion and creating it for others. What do I say to that? Boo-yah!
Samantha Bangayan
August 22, 2011
Sherry, as always, you set the perfect example for me. I had never thought about how there needs to be a passion *within* my passion for writing. Like you, I really want to put a book together but a solid idea hasn’t formulated yet. Maybe things will fall into place in the future as they have with you. =)
I also really like how Christine says that we just need to write what we’re passionate about and be a little less concerned about whether it will get published or not. That lessons means a lot to me as I’ve done the opposite since I’ve started freelancing. I’ve mostly written because I *know* it’ll be published, which has limited me to certain topics. But there’s so much more in me.
Thanks so much for these lessons and for the discussion, Sherry!
Writing4Effect
August 24, 2011
You are just too sweet! Yes, I do believe things will fall into place for you in the very near future to write that book. I love Christine’s passion about her passion — [laughing] ’cause I wasn’t sure how else to say that! She’s energetic, an eternal optimistic and just downright fun to have around. So glad you found some useful lessons — makes writing these posts worthwhile — 😉
Penelope J.
August 23, 2011
Sherry,
Thanks for the wonderful compliment. I will, in effect, treasure it. As for passion in writing, I was very passionate from 12 until 22 (three other books), but then life, love, career, kids, etc. caught up with me. When I returned, after a 28 year hiatus, my passion for writing overcame reason and was mainly why I lost/sold most of my belongings, took dead-end jobs rather than reviving my career, moved countries, put up with major health problems, and avoided romantic relationships and social situations. When I finally woke up and started a new career, I had to make certain sacrifices which definitely have affected my productivity – though I still managed to write another book. My dream is to be able to just write and write with no restrictions or distractions, but that may be more of a dream than a reality. Unfortunately. However, you never know.
Writing4Effect
August 23, 2011
So glad I created a treasure you can keep! Don’t give up, Pennie. Don’t let your age, past situations (successes or failures), lost loves/dreams or time constraints define who you are or whether you will write. It’s obvious that you’re a gifted writer and you have a passion for it. I believe what you did during that time you felt was lost could, in reality, become a wealth of resources from which to draw in your future endeavors. You never know what’s percolating under the surface with pursuits off the “beaten path.” Hang in there, P, we’re rooting for you!! ❤
Penelope J.
August 23, 2011
Thanks, Sherry, for cheering me on! And I hate to sound repetitive, but I feel the same way about you.
Erica
August 29, 2011
I loved this post. May make it the basis of a post I’m thinking of writing for a work at home blog I write for. If I do I’ll certainly post a link to it here… great information!
Writing4Effect
August 29, 2011
Glad you enjoyed the post, Erica. Please feel free to use it as a resource, and thank you for the visit — 😉
Erica
September 12, 2011
Thanks, I did. Check out the guest post I wrote… http://www.wahadventures.com/2011/09/find-your-passion.html