Put Passion into Your Work Don’t make the mistake of assuming that any work activity that touches on your passion will automatically gratify you. “Even if you’re interested in golf, it’s unlikely you’ll stay interested in working in a golf store and selling equipment,” says Julie Jansen, author of I Don’t Know What I Want, But I Know It’s Not This.

Suppose you’ve got the talent and decide you want to be a golf pro. For a successful candidacy, you need to lay out a plan that will help you put all the pieces together. “You’ve got to get some substantial stuff on your resume—fill in the blanks, repackage yourself, get training,” says Jansen. A reality check with professionals in your target occupation is key.

Inject Passion into Your Job Opportunistically Of course, many of us don’t have the time and money to undertake a total career change. Big changes typically come with big expenses. But some professionals develop creative ways to infuse their careers with a passion that has been a long-term avocation.

“A client of mine, an account executive at a global ad agency, is passionate about health,” says William Arruda, a consultant with Reach Communications Consulting. “So she came up with several ways to inject her passion into the daily grind.” The account executive worked with the on-site cafeteria to design healthful menus, led after-work yoga and kickboxing courses and gained a healthcare company as a client.

That’s one way to serve up a career with a side of passion.

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