It happens to the best of us. We lose our passion for our job. The reasons can be many but what is important is learning how to restore the passion ^[2], the excitement, the intensity, and the newness to our occupation.

Why do we lose our passion for a job we once loved?

The reasons can range from outgrowing a position with no advancement opportunities to an overbearing boss to just plain old boredom. You may have taken a job because of the money only to later discover that your personality characteristics aren’t what the company wants or needs. You may have been promised raises or promotions only to see them disappear or you could have jumped into a position without learning anything about it first ^[3].

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Why work to restore your passion for your job?

Working in a job where your soul is sucked right out of you isn’t how I want to spend my life, and I’ll bet you feel the same. I’d much rather be engaged in my work, to feel that what I did was important, not just to the company, but to ME.

Working in a job where you’re just going through the motions isn’t fun. It isn’t satisfying. And it isn’t your only option. You CAN restore your original passion ^[2] for your work.

How to restore your passion for your job

First, insure your personality characteristics line up well with your job.

If you’re a “people person,” you won’t be happy in a two person office where one is the boss and you’re the other one. If you love crunching numbers, you probably won’t be happy working the sales floor at a department store in the mall. If you enjoy being creative and in control, you will not be happy working on an assembly line. The thing to remember is that every one of these positions exactly matches up with someone else’s personality traits. The key is to find out what you enjoy and then find a position that aligns with your personality. To find out more about yourself, read Personality Plus: How to Understand Others by Understanding Yourself ^[5].

Second, realize how important your job actually is.

I’m not going to fall for the “I’m just a cashier ^[6]” line either. As a cashier, you come in contact with dozens, perhaps hundreds of people every day. YOU are usually the last contact a customer has with the company before heading out the door. That is an important position. Many times you can either make someone’s day or ruin it.

Think you’re “just a middle manager?” Listen ^[7], you are the bridge between the engine of the company (field/line employees) and the people driving it (staff and corporate employees). You may not like where they steer the company, but you can still voice your opinion, give feedback from the field, and relay information that can help the company improve. You probably wanted to do that when you originally took the position.

Third, remember how badly you wanted this job in the first place

Go back in your mind and recall the excitement you had when you called your significant other and told them about your job offer. After all, you wanted this job and YOU applied for it. No one MADE you take it and chances are good that you were once thankful to have it. Rekindle those emotions and turn on your thankfulness.

If you can’t restore passion for your job

If your personality doesn’t line up well with your job, if you cannot uncover anything remotely important about your work, if you never really wanted the job in the first place … do something about it.

Remember, you don’t HAVE to work there. You aren’t being held captive and you aren’t trapped. Even in a poor economy ^[8] there are still thousands of jobs available as well as thousands of entrepreneurial opportunities.

Don’t fall into the mindset of “poor old me.” Get up off the sofa and make something happen for yourself and your family. No one wants you to be happier with your work than you and your family. Your boss wants you to be happy too. Happy employees usually create happy customers.

The important thing is, no matter what you do, do it well and do it with gusto.

About the author

Ron has written 1082 articles on The Wisdom Journal.

The founder and editor of The Wisdom Journal ^[9] in 2007, Ron has worked in banking, distribution, retail, and upper management for companies ranging in size from small startups to multi-billion dollar corporations. He graduated Suma Cum Laude from a top MBA program and currently is a partner in a national building materials company.

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