The part of the job you love

Do you remember why you started doing what you do? Aside from those that absolutely do what they do because of the money, chances are good that you at least started doing what you do because there was something about it that you loved. So here comes the second important question: when's the last time you did the part that you loved?

I hope it hasn't been too long.

My job is in entertainment -- I turned towards this full-time after graduating college and haven't looked back. What I love is being at the events, working with fans directly, getting into the middle of things, so I do. Interestingly, people other than my team members notice -- I recently had a conversation with a concert tour security guy that told me he knew our company had to be good because I was out on the ground with our staff . . . this was before the event even started and we hadn't worked with him before.

Some people find it weird: "How come you're out here doing this?" is a question that I frequently receive. I do it because I love doing it; if I stop loving it, I will likely stop doing it. That simple, that clean, that easy.

I worry a lot about people that don't like their jobs, the people that complain about "cases on the Moooondays", about reaching the hump day, those that watch the clock every day until it swings around to shift end, those that feel like they've been released from jail every Friday. There was a reason (usually other than money) that enticed you into the job to begin with, the part of it that you loved -- I would challenge you to go find that again and start spending your time doing that instead of focusing on all the stuff you don't love . . . or I challenge you to leave and go do what you love.

Is what you're doing worth doing? Is what you're doing what you love?

If it's not, how hard would it be for you to stop?

PS -- if you don't want to just believe me, Seth Godin's got a post with similar ideas.

PPS -- for those of you that find it hard to believe that anyone can actually pull off working and doing what they love, I submit to you this video from just a few weeks ago where you can find me in the barricade just stage left of center. You can also find me dead center of the camera in this video.