It was one of those defining moments. Suddently, it just hits you. That moment when clarity and purpose intersect – and you realize just exactly what you’re supposed to do with your life.
If it had only happened 30 years ago.
For most of my adult life, I’ve subscribed to do what others thought was “right for me.” My mom wanted me to become a doctor. My dad had plans for me to take over the family business. My sister thought I should “follow my passion” and become a professional musician.
Me? I was clueless. I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I knew I needed to earn a living, but there was no clear calling.
One of my problems was that I was an insatiable explorer of new things. In high school I started wroking on cars. Got it – I’ll be a mechanic and do what I love. (to this day cars are a great passion of mine). Once I got to college, computers captured my interest. How they worked, how you could teach them to remove subjectivity form process and make things “just happen.” (My dream was to automate all the things I didn’t want to do – sort of a ‘life automation program” that would pay my bills, send my thank you, birthday and holiday cards, and follow up with my customers.)
I’ve had 6 companies in 30 years, starting in the family camera store. Then came the 1-hour photo business. When people wanted to move their old 8MM movies to VHS I designed and sold film-to-videotape systems for camera stores. Next, when personal computers were the rage, I began assembling IBM PC clones (Michael Dell and I got started about the same time), followed by creating software to connect PC’s, MAC’s and mainframe computers, to delivering voice greetings by telephone (fail), even creating the first web to postal mail solution. I even tried to build an entertainment complex. To this day I love to create, most recently focusing my energies on creating software tools that automate marketing, presenting and selling.
Today I lead a small marketing firm that helps small and medium businesses automate a lot of their prospecting and follow up, so they can sell more, work less, and have fun. We have a great team that produces marketing solutions for business – producing things like websites, social media campaigns, video productions, and marketing automation systems. All solve sales and marketing problems for our clients. And, we’ve done well – nearly doubling each year for 4 years straight. But I still wondered – is this my calling?
I always wondered what my true passion was. With so many interests, it was hard for me to pin just one down. But I think I’ve finally figured it out, and in the process, learned how to know what you’re called to do. (damn the luck, it only took 30 years).
Teaching Sales and Marketing.
I love helping people see the world thru a different lens. I love research. I love synthesizing proven concepts into new ideas. I love sharing relatable stories where the antagonists we know as fear, uncertainty, doubt and confusion are overcome by the protagonists that are knowledge, passion, discipline, and heart.
I truly love the art and science of selling. I’m good at it. I am a big fan of direct response marketing, because it involves many creative arts, mixed with a good dose of science. Writing, psychology, math (analytics), programming, design. All synthesized to make it easier for companies to sell more, work less, and have fun in the process.
Your passion is probably calling you. Are you listening? Here’s an idea – look at all your hobbies, passions and interests, and find the 1 or 2 that you love the most, and ask yourself which one you would enjoy teaching to others the most. My guess is that somewhere in there is your true calling, and that the one you like teaching the most is also the one that you do the best and that makes you happiest.
My advice – Listen to your heart. Then follow it. Life is to short to just earn a living. Live your life. Live with passion. It’s better for you, your loved ones, and the people around you. If you want to see where my passion has taken me, you can check out my company, a St. Louis based marketing firm, here.
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