Finding Your Sweet Spot
“When I grow up I want to be a…” How did you answer that question as a kid? Growing up in ranch country, of course I wanted to be a cowboy. I actually had a chance to live that dream for a few years, working on big ranches in New Mexico. (That might not surprise you given the theme of our company) It didn’t take long though, until I realized I liked the idea of being a cowboy more than the actual brutal reality of it.
At Second Rodeo, we guide successful people to create the next meaningful chapter of their story. Our process, what we call Investigative Life Planning, is about exploring the intersection of three areas: Passion, Skills, and Need. Two out of three won’t get you where you want to go.
Think of the young man who is six-foot ten and exceptionally gifted athletically. (Skills) His high school coach tells him there are about 4500 Division 1 college basketball players in any given year and he has a better than average chance of getting a scholarship. (Need) Unfortunately for his coach and fans everywhere, the kid is bored with playing ball and wants to be a computer programmer. (Passion)
Yet when those three areas intersect, something significant can happen. I remember a guy who had taken a trip to a developing country and came home with a real and lasting conviction (Passion) to do something about the major health challenges that plague people in much of the world. We’d agree there’s certainly plenty of need out there for someone who wants to make a difference. Where he had to dig deep was investigating whether he had the skills needed to support his passion and the world’s need.
At first glance, he couldn’t see a fit. He wasn’t a doctor or any other kind of medical professional. He couldn’t see going to med school at almost 50. He wasn’t a hospital administrator. In his first career, he’d been in B2B sales, and was quite good at it.
It took a while, but he eventually found the perfect fit. He joined an organization that gets U.S. medical facilities to donate used medical equipment (operating suites, dental chairs, dialysis machines, etc.) whenever they update to the latest technologies. That organization then builds partnerships with NGOs in developing countries where the need is greatest. Eventually all that perfectly good equipment gets a second life where it’s needed most. He is making a huge impact and feels tremendous satisfaction in his Second Rodeo.
That’s what we’re all about–helping people find greater meaning and purpose while investing their lives in something that makes a difference. You can start your own exploration with any of the three. Here’s another example:
Passion: I love books. Books are my thing.
Skills: I’m not a writer. I’m not interested in learning the skills to become an agent or publisher. But I do know business.
Potential Need: Can my community sustain a brick and mortar books store? Hmm. Maybe, but the trends are going in the opposite direction. This person would, using her business skills, conduct research and use her findings to make a go/no go decision.
Play around with this diagram. Dream a little. You’ll find yourself asking all the right questions. If you can answer some of them, you’ll be on your way! If you get stuck, we’re here to help.
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