We often think of our jobs, or even careers, and our passions as two different things. Very few manage to combine the two, finding fulfillment in their everyday work as they perform tasks they’re passionate about. For the rest of us mere mortals, is left the drudgery of heading to the 9-to-5 we love to hate daily, while dreaming about the kind of work that’d make us want to jump out of bed in the morning. And for the bravest and most entrepreneurial among us, this means living the double life of the entrepreneur, hustling after-hours, surviving on coffee and big dreams…

What if, after all, it weren’t all black-and-white? What if we could pierce through this veil of separation between work we have to do and work we’d love to do? Yes, what if we could all leverage our day jobs to pursue our passions? Ridiculous, unrealistic, or a rearrangement of our mindset and how we view the nature of our work…

Many will tell you following your passions will make you broke, unhappy, and ready to hit the bottle. Others swear by doing what you love, at the risk of wasting your life. In the midst of it all, bills don’t stop coming, your fridge keeps emptying itself at a faster rate than ever, and did you notice how any pair of vintage heels will now cost you your mortgage? Yet there exist a few surefire ways to leverage your time at work, and develop your passion while excelling at your day job:

1. Use your talents! We all have particular talents, abilities and a distinctive work style. As tempting as it may be to fit into a pre-determined box, user your talents to differentiate yourself and build a competitive advantage at work. Great writing skills? Put these into crafting memorable reports and on-point emails. Outstanding presenter? Volunteer for department and company presentations.

2. Share your passions! While many may think sharing passions and personal pursuits outside of work could be detrimental to their careers, there are many more instances when actually opening up about these can give you a boost at work. Why hide the fact that you’re passionate about web marketing if this can open a new niche for you at work? You can also promote your leadership skills at work by mentioning your outside mentoring activities. In any case, be mindful of your environment, and trust your instincts when revealing anything personal.

3. Look for your niche in your current company! Being in a certain role does not mean you cannot evolve to another role that fits you better. Keep your eye open for positions that require your particular strengths and talents!

Are you leveraging your current job to develop your passion?

The Corporate Sis.