Using Failure To Find Your Passion

A thought exercise you can use to find your passion

If you'd like to uncover your passion, you could ask yourself the following question: “What would you do, if you knew that you would NOT fail at it?”

And your answer might include the following options: Day Trader, Sales Rainmaker, NBA Playmaker, Swiss Watchmaker, and Upper East Side Matchmaker.

The possibilities are limitless. But which of those are really passions of yours?

A better question is, "What would you do, even if you knew that you would STILL fail at it?"

The first question focuses on the outcome. The second question focuses on the process.

If you have an answer to the second question, ponder it deeply and savor it. It means you have found something you enjoy doing regardless of any eventual outcome. It’s a good sign that you have found a passion.

If you love the process, the journey becomes the reward. And interestingly, a rewarding journey gets you closer to a desired outcome — because you get better every day, attracting others with your enthusiasm, and increasing your surface area of luck.

I hope you this question helps you to uncover your passion and savor the journey.

PS: Here's another thought exercise you can try to identify your passion (hint: “will you suffer for it?”) that has worked well for me.