Every Good Endeavor: What's Your Passion?

Do you feel you have a job or a calling? All of us have something we are passionate about, and for me personally, I have been convicted over the years to passionately pursue work that fits my temperament and skills and lines up with my personal goals as well as my professional goals. In that vein, I read a book that really brought all of that to light, “Every Good Endeavor” by Tim Keller.

With deep conviction and often surprising advice, Keller shows readers wisdom that is immensely relevant to our questions about work today. In fact, his view of work—that we work to serve others, not ourselves—can provide the foundation of a thriving professional and balanced personal life. Keller shows how excellence, integrity, discipline, creativity, and passion in the workplace can help others. How can this be done in an increasingly competitive, insecure, and ever more demanding work environment of modern America? Keller asks these fundamental questions:

• What is the purpose of work?
• How can I find meaning and serve customers in a cutthroat, bottom-line-oriented workplace?
• How can I use my skills in a vocation that has meaning and purpose?
• Can I stay true to my values and still advance in my field?
• How do I make the difficult choices that must be made in the course of a successful career?

The book challenged me to also think about how we can all support the causes we are passionate about. Over the past twenty years that I’ve worked in benefits and business consulting, I have partnered with many nonprofits. I have seen how the passion that drives people in management and working at nonprofits is based on how they are helping others and using their gifts to help those who can’t help themselves or bring awareness to worthy causes. Over the years, I personally have become a board member with nonprofit organizations including Life Science Cares Philadelphia , Habitat Lehigh Valley , PSPS: Philadelphia Society of People & Strategy , and Neurodiversity Employment Network .

What the leaders of all of those great organizations request is that their supporters and workers hold on to the passion that brought them to work at, volunteer with or financially support the organization and recognize that they are all ambassadors of their organization’s brand. With causes you support specifically in mind, know that some supporters have lost their fervor while others are growing more attached to the causes they support. For example, the ALS “ice bucket challenge” was a resounding success, and other organizations like PBS have been in existence since 1970 and some people may take them for granted.

I was challenged by the book to think beyond myself and reflect on what I am passionate about. Supporting worthwhile causes isn’t just keeping it to ourselves; it’s also about keeping our eyes on the prize to finish the race of life that we are all running. Looking at injustice and needs in the world you can’t help but be moved to act. Whatever cause you support be passionate about it and speak into the cause consistently. Ask yourself if you’re losing sight of your passion. Don’t give up on worthy causes; they are not fads. Every day you can make a difference. What is your passion?