Passion-Driven Projects

You don't need to quit your job to find meaning at work. You need to reshape it. For decades, the equation was simple: salary + benefits = a good job. That's not the equation anymore. Workers today are asking different questions: - "Does this role give me autonomy?" - "Am I actually growing?" - "Does this work connect to something I care about outside these walls?" - "Does this align with who I want to be?" And if the answer to any of these is no, they leave. Companies are losing talented people, not because they don't pay enough. They're losing them because the work feels meaningless. So most people think the answer is job hunting. Update the résumé. Interview season. New company. Fresh start. 🚨But there's something most people don't realize: You don't have to leave to find meaning. You can reshape your current role. It's called job crafting. And it's a game-changer. Here's how it works: Instead of waiting for HR to design your "perfect" role, you design it yourself by making strategic choices about what you work on. Volunteer for projects that align with what you actually value—not the safe projects, the meaningful ones. Connect with colleagues who share your goals and passions. Stop working in isolation and build real collaboration around things you care about. Delegate or hand off work that doesn't connect with you to people who might actually enjoy it. 🎯 Here's what job crafting looks like in practice: Option 1: The Project Volunteer You hear about a new initiative that aligns with your values. You raise your hand. You don't wait to be asked. You volunteer because it matters to you. Result: You're doing work that connects to who you are, and your boss thinks you're incredibly motivated. Option 2: The Community Builder You find colleagues who share your passion—whether that's innovation, sustainability, mentoring, diversity—and you build an informal network around it. You start meeting. You collaborate. You create something that doesn't officially exist yet. Result: You've built meaningful relationships around shared purpose, and you have a community within the company. Option 3: The Strategic Delegator There's work you do that someone else would actually enjoy. You have a conversation about trading responsibilities. You hand off the work that drains you to someone it energizes. Result: You're spending more time on what matters to you, and your colleague is actually engaged by the work. The beauty of job crafting: You don't need anyone's permission. What's one way you can reshape your role this week to align it with what actually matters to you? 👇🏼 Join 200,000+ leaders who live an essential life by joining my newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/g9i9J_da

Passion projects are like a cheat code for upskilling. Courses and instructor-led demos are great, but it's tough to get fired up about widgets and SuperStore transactions. When it comes down to it, nothing beats immersing yourself in work that actually MEANS something to you. Here's an example 👇 One of the most transformative moments in my own path came ~10 years ago, when I first learned about Excel's WEBSERVICE and FILTERXML functions. I don't have a CS background, so the idea of pulling real-time data into Excel via APIs was absolutely fascinating to me. Around the same time, MIT and Open Data Nation announced a local hackathon called the "Street Safety Challenge". Using public accident records from the city of Boston, the goal was simple: inspire ideas to make the streets safer for drivers and cyclists. What better way to put my shiny new skills to the test?? My plan was to build a tool that would analyze turn-by-turn directions using Google Maps' API, and assess the level of risk based on historical accident rates and real-time weather conditions. I spent a week or so building a prototype in Excel, pulling all-nighters for the first time since college – adding features, experimenting with new functions, tweaking layouts and visuals – yet barely noticed as the hours passed by. Nothing about it felt like work. Was Excel the best tool for the job? No way. Would it ever become an actual product? Probably not. But it was FUN, and I learned so much more, so much faster than I would studying the same topics in a textbook or course. So get out there and find something that inspires you. ↳ Grab a fun dataset from Kaggle or the Data Playground ↳ Export & analyze your own data (fitness apps, social posts, etc.) ↳ Join public data challenges or hackathons ↳ Reach out to local non-profits or start-ups You'll be amazed at how much your skills will grow when learning doesn't feel like a chore!

What happens when you build something with passion, not credentials? What do you get when you put together: ❓ A video game studio that had never published a game before ❓ A lead writer who had never had any work published ❓ An art director who had never worked on video games ❓ A music composer who was never formally trained You get Clair Obscure: Expedition 33, easily one of the best games I’ve played in the last decade. The Belle Époque setting, the distinctive art direction, the emotionally rich plot, and the haunting soundtrack (which has been looping on my Spotify ever since) all come together to create something truly special. Curious about how a small studio like Sandfall Interactive pulled this off, I did some digging. What I found was a story that resonated deeply with me. 🎮 A Fresh Perspective and a Willingness to Bet on Talent The game director left a major studio to pursue his passion project. Instead of hiring industry veterans, he sought out raw talent who shared his vision. He found his lead writer on Reddit. His art director was recruited after he saw his online portfolio and emailed him to ask him to join. Most serendipitously he found the after listening to his samples posted on an indie music forum. With a tight budget, they used iPhones for motion capture and outsourced animation to part-time animators in South Korea. Despite these constraints, the game’s vision remained crystal clear. It’s a testament to what happens when you trust people’s potential, not just their résumés. 💡 Make What You Want to See in the World The director grew up (like me) loving 90s-era JRPGs like Final Fantasy. He wanted to recreate the magic of those games for a modern audience. And he succeeded. The composer, knowing this might be his only shot, poured his heart and soul into the soundtrack. You can feel it in every note. In a world where so much content feels soulless or algorithmically generated, Expedition 33 is a reminder that human-made creations, driven by passion, still matter. ❤️ Appealing to the Human in All of Us The lead writer drew from her own life experiences to shape the story. That’s why the characters feel real. That’s why the ending has lingered in my mind for weeks. It speaks to something deeper, something human. Great art should invoke strong feelings within the audience, that is something Expedition 33 has done so in spades. As an employment lawyer who believes in a “human first” philosophy, this game struck a chord. It reminded me that when people are given space and agency to create with heart, to break free from the shackles of soulless creation purely for the sake of it, the results can be extraordinary. So if you’re looking for an experience that will stick with you long after the credits roll, I recommend that you play Claire Obscure: Expedition 33, after which go read up on how the game was made. You won’t regret it. Have you experienced a piece of art recently that moved you? Do share it below!

7 Lessons on Sustaining Passion and Purpose at Work 🔥 One of my favorite industries to study passion in is healthcare. Few other fields put human care and impact so visibly at the center of daily work. Healthcare professionals literally see the difference they make every day in their patients’ lives. That direct connection to impact is inspiring—and, honestly, something I often find myself craving in my own work as a researcher. But healthcare is, unfortunately, also one of the clearest examples of the downsides of passion. The same deep sense of purpose that draws so many into the field can, over time, make them vulnerable to burnout, exploitation, and disillusionment. --- Passion, if not sustained wisely, can fade, or even become destructive. --- I’m often asked: What strategies can help people maintain their motivation, passion, and sense of purpose over the long term? Based on my own and others’ research, here are a few key practices worth highlighting: 🌟 1) Anchor to Impact Regularly reflect on the people who benefit from your work. Patient stories or outcomes reinforce why the work matters and help renew motivation. [1] 🤝 2) Rely on the Team Supportive peers, mentors, and healthy team cultures buffer stress and prevent isolation. Passion spreads best in environments where energy is shared, not forced. [2] 📚 3) Keep Growing Continuous learning through new skills, challenges, or projects fuels progress and sustains engagement over time. [3] 🧭 4) Know Your Coping Style When facing setbacks, those who view their work as a calling may channel “hot” pain into renewed passion, while others—who see their work more as a job—recharge best by stepping away and finding distraction outside of work. Knowing which camp you fall into helps you cope more effectively. [ongoing research] ⚖️ 5) Manage Passion’s Costs A surge of passion can feel energizing and effortless, but it often leads to exhaustion the next day. Always remember that passion can make you overconfident. [4] Self-regulation practices help balance the highs and lows. [5] 🔥 6) Moderate Passion Don’t try to maximize passion—try to sustain it. Too much passion can hurt performance and increase burnout risk. The goal is a steady flame, not constant fireworks. [ongoing research] 🌙 7) Detach to Recharge Two decades of research show that psychological detachment from work—“switching off”—is one of the healthiest things you can do after hours. [6] Create rituals that help you mentally leave work behind. Even your commute, often seen as a nuisance, can actually serve this purpose. [7]

"I need to make money" vs "I want to pursue my passion" Yesterday's coaching call flipped my entire approach. A woman came to me with the "problem" every entrepreneur wishes they had: • Retiring from a job she loves • Multiple skills she's mastered • No immediate revenue pressure • Too many ideas competing for attention She was stuck between: → Web design (12 years experience) → Helping others write books → Writing her own books → Traveling with her retired husband Most coaches would say "pick one and focus." But here's what we did instead: We combined everything into one elegant solution. The strategy? Learn in public. She'll document her own book-writing journey on social media. Not as an expert teaching from above. But as a human sharing the messy middle. Every struggle with writer's block. Every breakthrough at 2 AM. Every doubt about "is this good enough?" While she writes, she builds an audience of aspiring authors who see themselves in her journey. By the time she's ready to help others (targeting July next year), she won't need to convince anyone she knows what she's doing. They'll have watched her do it. The timeline we mapped: • Sept-Dec: Start documenting the writing process • Jan-May: Continue writing while traveling Southeast Asia • June: Soft launch mentoring for aspiring authors • July: First paying client • End of 2026: Sustainable business funding humanitarian projects The breakthrough moment? When she realized she didn't have to choose between passion and profit. She could start with passion and let profit follow naturally. Here's what I learned from this call: Not everyone needs to monetize on day one. Sometimes the luxury of time is your biggest strategic advantage. Build in public. Share the journey. Let your audience find you. The best businesses aren't built on immediate revenue needs. They're built on genuine passion documented consistently. What passion project are you putting off because you think you need to monetize it immediately? --- ♻️ Share this with someone navigating a career transition ➕ Follow me (Julia Taylor) for more insights on building businesses that actually matter

Solving a problem you don’t care about is a common pitfall for first-time founders Choosing to work on a problem just because it seems trendy, profitable, or cool can lead to burnout over time. Startups are hard enough when you’re passionate about the problem — imagine how much harder it gets when you’re not deeply connected to the work. Instead of chasing the “next big thing,” ask yourself: is this a problem I truly care about? Is it something I would still want to solve even if it took five or ten years? Motivation matters, and it’s often the difference between sticking it out through the tough times or walking away when things get hard. If you’re building something you don’t care about, don’t panic — plenty of founders have learned to love their product over time. But don’t ignore the risks. A deep connection to the problem is often the best insurance against losing your way.

Do passion projects really land you clients? These are the logos I made as passion projects while exploring and learning the freelancing world and I got enquires based on these projects and the designs I made started relating the potential clients.. So to answer the question, yes! ✅ passion projects can absolutely land you clients, and your experience is a perfect example of this! Here's why passion projects are effective in attracting inquiries and clients: ✅ 1. They Showcase Your Skills • Real-World Examples: Passion projects give you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and creativity in real-world contexts, even if the projects aren't for actual clients. • Portfolio Boost: They become strong additions to your portfolio, showing potential clients what you can deliver. ✅ 2. They Reflect Your Interests and Expertise • Attract Like-Minded Clients: Clients often resonate with the themes and industries you explore in your passion projects, leading them to trust you with similar work. • Show Specialisation: If your passion projects focus on specific niches (e.g., cafes, clothing brands, or bakery), you position yourself as an expert in those areas. ✅ 3. They Demonstrate Proactivity • Self-Motivation: Passion projects show that you are proactive and dedicated to honing your craft, which is an attractive quality for clients. • Innovative Ideas: Since you're designing without restrictions, passion projects often highlight your most innovative and original ideas, which can inspire potential clients. ✅ 4. They Build Your Online Presence • Social Media Magnet: Sharing your passion projects on platforms like Instagram, Behance, or (this one) LinkedIn makes it easier for clients to discover your work. • Word of Mouth: (Personal Favourite) Impressive passion projects can be shared by others, increasing your visibility and reach. ✅ 5. They Offer Flexibility and Freedom • Show Your Style: Without client constraints, you can fully showcase your personal design style and creative approach, which often attracts clients seeking your specific vibe. • Experimentation: Passion projects allow you to try new techniques, tools, or trends, which can inspire fresh designs for paying clients. Your own journey demonstrates that passion projects not only build your portfolio but also generate real inquiries and opportunities. By showcasing projects you’re genuinely excited about, you naturally attract clients who align with your interests and appreciate your work. 🌟 #logodesign #logo #passionprojects #graphicdesign #graphicdesigner #freelancegraphicdesigner #freelancer #logofolio #portfolio

NEVER ignore the value of passion projects. You do the whole process. You find a brand, you build a brief, you produce the project. Many lessons. Things to consider when doing one: 1. Find a gap in your portfolio. Choose a different sector, a new message, or a fresh technique. Show variety, and skills you want to explore more but aren't often seen in your client work. 2. Be considerate of everyone. Passion projects are usually unpaid. You’ve to make sure everyone gets something out of the project. It might be an opportunity for a credit to a higher role, learning a new skill, testing new equipment, building your portfolio or connections. Don’t ask people to do exactly what they do for clients. Find the extra. 3. Fun. We love our work, especially when we do it under our own terms. Don't kill the vibe. 4. Self Expression Don’t see it only as an opportunity to get future work. It's a chance to showcase what makes you unique as a creative. Use your voice, and share perspectives you care about. This is the day you execute yours, not someone else’s, vision. 5. Don’t procrastinate. Without a tight deadline, or pressure from a client, “perfectionism” kicks in. Projects are made to be shared, so ship it once it’s ready. Watch below the latest spec ad we created for LIFEAID Beverage Company, LLC.

How do you find your passion at work? To be frank, this question is the wrong question. Find your passion sounds like your passion is a $10 bill on the floor that you just happened upon as you walk past it. Or even something buried in your backyard that you need to spend time looking for. And that's just simply not true. You don't find your passion. You BUILD your passion. And here's how to do it: 1. Notice what energises you — not just what you're good at You might excel at managing spreadsheets or leading meetings, but what tasks light you up? Pay attention to the moments you feel most engaged or lose track of time. Passion often hides behind energy. 2. Reflect on your values Ask yourself: What truly matters to me? Purpose and passion align when your work reflects your core values — whether it’s creativity, helping others, innovation, or stability. 3. Talk to people doing what interests you Sometimes your passion is sparked through exposure. Have coffee chats with colleagues in other roles or industries. Their stories might help you reconnect with something you've forgotten you love. 4. Experiment through small steps You don’t need to overhaul your career overnight. Volunteer for a cross-functional project, take a course, or shadow a teammate. Exploration, not epiphanies, often leads to clarity. 5. Ask yourself: What problem do I care enough to solve? Instead of chasing a vague idea of “passion,” get specific. What challenges in your company or industry frustrate or excite you? Passion often lives at the intersection of personal meaning and real-world impact. If you need more ideas, PM me "passion" and I'll send you a one-pager on it.

I accidentally turned my passion project into a brand carried at Nordstrom. and it genuinely changed the trajectory of my professional journey. When John called me about joining the founding team @ Leland, he mentioned watching me start MCPMU and the community around it. My consulting job hopefully spoke to a basic competency level, but what made me stand out, was what I built (even though small) and the unique creativity behind it. He saw me in action. I have made a lot of mistakes in the past 10 years of being in corporate America (I've shared many over the past few weeks), but if there is anything I hope to share from this experience... 1. START the passion project - If you have an idea, do it. Even if it starts as a tiny joke ;) (I will share this story later) 2. SHOW don't tell - Prove your value. Don’t just talk about it. A passion project is a living portfolio. 3. Let the project teach you who you are - I didn’t start it knowing what it would become. But the act of building taught me: what I’m good at, what I love, and what kind of work I want to be doing. Because of MCPMU, I realized what I wanted out of my next role (soo so grateful it's Leland!) 4. Your “side thing” can become your edge - That project made me memorable in interviews, stronger in my career, and way more confident in what I bring to the table. 5. You will gain skills that make you better at everything - Starting something forces you to learn branding, storytelling, customer obsession, problem solving, execution, resilience. All transferable. If you’re feeling stuck: Build something on the side that makes you feel alive. You never ever ever know what doors it will open and where it will take you.