Passionate about Pythons 🐍
How can we bring more passion into the workplace?
Have you ever met or encountered someone that was so passionate about something that their passion was contagious? This happened to me recently when I discovered the Python Cowboy. After being introduced to his work via the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, I’ve been binging his YouTube videos. They are fun, engaging, and educational. I’m learning a lot about the threat of invasive species such as pythons and iguanas in the Florida Everglades.
What struck me most about the Python Cowboy (Trapper Mike Kimmel) is his absolute passion and joy. This guy loves what he does and is dedicated to conservation in his state. He gets up early and stays out late, trekking through the heat and humidity, bitten by bugs and snakes, often covered in animal excrement. And he does it all with a positive attitude and commitment to his cause.
There are few people who feel they get to pursue their passion and make a living at it. However, Trapper Mike has turned his passion into a thriving business venture that not only benefits him, but his entire community.
One day I’d like to go on a hunt with Trapper Mike. Not because I love hunting, but because it’s inspiring to be around someone who so genuinely loves what they do and is exceptional at it. Spending time with such passionate people boosts your energy and encourages you to channel your own inner passion.
Next week I’ll be at a conference where I’ll give a presentation on the importance of developing a strong organization culture to attract and retain talent. In preparation for the presentation, I’ve been researching employee engagement statistics.
Sadly, only 32% of employees are engaged at work. That means only a third of employees are emotionally committed to their organization and its goals. This lack of engagement impacts not just company profitability, but the overall mental health of employees.
Can you imagine going to work with a Python Cowboy every day? Someone who is excited to jump out of bed and work because they’re so motivated and committed? How would that transform our workforce and our society?
It’s troubling that too many professionals find “a job” and work for the money, instead of really loving what they do. Even if many workers can’t do what they love for a living, we can help them find things about what they do that inspire them. If we want to increase the conscious leadership in our companies, and create an environment where employees can truly thrive, it requires tapping into the innate passion of each person.
When talking to coaching clients about tapping into their purpose and passion, I often share the story of President John F. Kennedy visiting the NASA Space Center in 1962 after his famous “We Choose to Go to the Moon” speech. During his tour, President Kennedy noticed a janitor carrying a broom. He stopped, walked over to the man, and introduced himself: “Hi, I'm Jack Kennedy, what are you doing?” The janitor replied: “I'm helping put a man on the moon, Mr. President.”
Cleaning floors was probably not this janitor’s passion, but putting a man on the moon and being part of something bigger than himself gave him the motivation to clean NASA’s floors every day. His perspective demonstrated that everyone in our organizations is vital to our mission.
As a conscious leader, how are you helping each and every team member tap into their passion and understand how their role is critical to your organization’s success? How will you bring the passion of the Python Cowboy and the purpose of that NASA janitor to your work every day?
Work happy. Live happy. BE happy.
Meredith
Check out my conscious leadership course on Scribd!
Conscious Leadership: Leading in a Transforming World is available on Scribd with a subscription to the website.
The way we work and build teams is rapidly changing. Leaders often feel unprepared to navigate the transition. As a conscious leadership coach, consultant, and communicator, Meredith helps leaders and their teams create new ways of working and relating so they can prepare for the future by consciously co-creating it.
Contact her to develop your conscious leadership and transform your organization into the workplace of the future.
You can support my work developing more conscious leadership in the world by investing in a paid subscription to this newsletter. Upgrade your subscription today!
Work, Live, BE Happy Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.
Subscribed
Connect with Meredith on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for content related to these topics.