We’re back with another episode of Tower After Hours, Season 1 Episode 3. It’s hard to believe we are already halfway through the season! The past two episodes have featured some pretty incredible Lancaster community members.
In this episode, we stayed close to home and sat down with one of Tower’s very own SEM specialists, Alex Davis. We dive into how to find your passion, ways to alleviate burnout, and shift your mentality to be more positive in both your professional and personal life.
Getting Motivated to Tackle Your Daily To-Dos
{2:02} We got right down to business and asked Alex how he consistently has such high energy levels and is motivated to tackle anything that’s thrown at him during the day. If you’re a strategic, tangible steps person, you’re not going to like his answer.
His mentality of going above and beyond grew from his desire to be the best he can be and do the best work he can. But, he does say without passion, there’s no motivation. So if you’re going through your day and you’re not excited about what you’re doing, it may be time to think about what you’re truly passionate about.
If you’ve worked in marketing, or are working in a field with long-term projects, you know it can be challenging to find instant gratification. The work we do day in and day out is for the long haul. So this is a reminder that you’re doing good work, and it will pay off when the time is right.
Finding Your Passion Isn’t About Knowing Everything
It can be daunting starting something new and stepping into a role where you don’t feel confident in your knowledge. Just because you don’t know everything, does not mean you’re not on the right path.
{8:18} We asked Alex D. if he was skeptical about stepping into a new SEO role where he had very little knowledge about what SEO entailed. But he says when you start with little knowledge, there’s a huge opportunity for you to explore and learn what you love.
In short, classes and workshops are great. But what’s going to propel your passions is your experience, so don’t be afraid to take the jump and change paths to find what’s best for you.
Your Passion Can Exist Outside of Work
{11:45} We can’t all be as lucky as Alex D. and consider the work we do day in and day out our true passion, and that’s okay! Outside of work, Alex creates music, has his own podcast, and dabbles in video production.
Having passion projects on the side can also help with burnout from work. We’ve all felt burnout at some point in our life and a way we can overcome these periods is by finding something that fills our cup.
Tests to Help You Find Your Passions
{12: 53} As we’ve mentioned in a previous podcast episode with Brianna Campbell, our certified StrengthsFinder Coach, these tests can help you determine what you’re passionate about both professionally and personally.
Here are some other tests available that can help you get a clear picture of your likes, dislikes, and passions.
“You’re giving what you have and you cannot give what you don’t have.”
{17:13} When we asked Alex about how he balances all of these passions and projects without burnout, he said, quite frankly, that he doesn’t. You’re inevitably going to be burnt out at some point. And he says “You’re giving what you have and you cannot give what you don’t have” which means there is great value in filling your cup in order to do great things for others and yourself.
To help prevent burnout, Alex is very reflective and self-aware. When there are moments of stress or anxiety, he takes a step back and thinks about why he’s feeling a certain way and then is able to redirect or change perspectives.
Find Your Passion By Getting to the Core of the Work
{26:05} On the surface, your job title may not accurately reflect what your passion is. Although Alex D., Lily, and Alex S. are all passionate about marketing, it’s the core of the work they find rewarding. We find value in helping people, creating something new, and supporting local businesses.
So our recommendation is to put your skills to the side. You can learn skills, the tendencies of a company, or the mechanics of a project. However, it’s much harder to learn how to like something. Ask yourself, what do I feel when I’m doing this activity? What gets me excited and eager to learn? These questions can help you decipher what’s at the core of your passions.