At Pueblo Bank & Trust, we continually look for ways to encourage staff development. Along the way, we have read, reviewed, and purchased many books on the subject of the importance of a passionate workplace that fulfills an individual's purpose. One of our more significant findings is the book "Name Your Passion: A User's Guide to Finding Your Personal Purpose," by Paul and Susan Kordis.
I had the privilege of previewing the book prior to its original printing. This preview provided me the opportunity to share the contents and focus with several individuals, and all were very interested to hear more. We were so impressed by the content of this book, we purchased 50 of the original copies of this self-published edition. "Name Your Passion" relates, through a simple yet heart-touching story, how critical it is to be passionate about one's purpose in life to do what you love.
The most significant point (one of many) driven home by the authors is that regardless of how many skill sets you develop, how much training you attain, or how much you further your education, if you are not working with your passion, you will burn out. It's easy to find many individuals in the workplace who are literally working without "the fire." How many people could we ask today, "Do you like your job? Your work?" and get a "Yes" for the answer? The reality is, people are unwilling to change until the pain becomes greater than the pain needed to make the change. How many times have we heard the statement, "The best thing that ever happened to me was getting fired." This statement is an example of how people are forced to make a change they normally would not choose to make.
"Name Your Passion" is a hands-on, interactive story with a pro-active approach to this concept. There are many self-help books available today, but very few, if any, work the way "Name Your Passion" works. "Name Your Passion" actually allows you to work through to a point where you can actively Name Your Passion!
As an employer, we struggle like every other business in these times to find qualified staff. However, we feel it is much more important for us to have employees doing what they passionately want to do and doing it where they want to do it. Believe it or not, they will be more productive and happier employees. "Name Your Passion" allows for self-enlightenment, is loaded with exercises, and is designed to help you arrive at and determine what your passion may be in life.
When we made the first 50 copies available to our employees, we knew we would have some fall-out of staff; and, in fact, we did. The majority of those reading and working through the book felt they were on target, and "Name Your Passion" helped validate their "passion" for their work (only two decided that banking wasn't their passion).
"Name Your Passion" is an excellent story and one in which many individuals can relate. It is my pleasure to pass these thoughts on to you. -- Mike Cafasso, Chief Operating Officer -- Pueblo Bank & Trust
When it comes to purpose, Paul and Susan Kordis get it! They have for a long time. Purpose is becoming fashionable, but not for Paul and Susan. Purpose is their calling. They are compelled as stewards to share this message of purpose because they know firsthand the difference it has made in their lives and, importantly for you, the difference it will make in your life.
When Susan handed me a copy of Name Your Passion I was immediately struck that it was bigger than the phone book for small cities! Dont let that first impression put you off. Youre going to love what you read. In reality, Name Your Passion is two books: one is a story, the other is a workbook. Paul and Susan just call them Part I and Part II.
Part I or Michaels Story is the saga of an early baby boomer coming to terms with life, people, purpose and passion. It may not be set in your era, yet it is illustrative of what we each face regardless of the label on our generation.
Part II or The Explorations is described as a guidebook. It is actually a treasure of ah-has! Cruise the table of contents, and look at the title to each of the listed seven steps. These are the Great Questions of Life. These are intimately personal questions of purpose, vision, mission, values and relationships. This is the fabric of life. Whether you realize it or not, you want answers to these questions. The Explorations is the best collection of resources, exercises, wisdom, models and explanations Ive seen on the topic.
My first exposure to Pauls wonderful work, mind and approach came from his co-authored book, The Strategy of the Dolphin. This book was ahead of its time and may still be. Read it, too. My first personal introduction was through a mutual friend, Jon Prouty. Jon hosted a dinner for the Kordis duo, Deloris (another kindred spirit about purpose) and me one evening in Boulder, CO. Dinner in the restaurant started at 7:00. The staff literally asked us to leave a 1:30 in the morning. We clicked! Since then, we all manage an annual reunion in which we engage our lives in a brief, yet intensely rich manner.
Paul and Susan are real people with real lives, living in a sometimes all too real world. This is to say that Name Your Passion which you will be buying, reading and doing is not a treatise. It is reality based. Name Your Passion is a gift given to Paul and Susan which they are sharing with you. Accept and embrace the wisdom in these pages. Soon, you too will be sharing the gift.
Revisit The Explorations at least once a year. Each time you arrive you will be further along in your understanding of just how God designed you. Youll grow your understanding of who you are, why you are here, where you are headed and who you want with you. In other words, youll be an on-purpose person... in creation, of course.
Be On-Purpose! -- Kevin W. McCarthy, Author -- The On-Purpose Person and The On-Purpose Business
Specialists in the process of profound change and its implications for our workforce, Paul and Susan Kordis advise individuals, corporations, and public sector entities worldwide on the alignment of personal and organizational purpose.
They are the authors of the book "Name Your Passion: A User's Guide to Finding Your Personal Purpose." Paul has co-authored three other books, including "Strategy of the Dolphin: Scoring A Win in a Chaotic World" (now available in eight languages) and "Code of the Monarch: An Insider's Guide to the Real Global Business Revolution."
Together, Paul and Susan have developed and published testing instruments for individuals and organizations, including "Future Fit: Predicting Success for Teams, Leaders, and Organizations" and "FaSTeR: Understanding Your Personal Change Style."
Their company, The Kordis Group, provides training and executive coaching on the alignment of personal and organizational purpose. Prior to founding their own company, Paul served as Manager of Organizational Development for Hewlett-Packard, where Susan was a Research & Development engineer.
A popular keynote speaker, Paul has appeared on national television and radio programs and been featured in trade journals including ASTD's Training and Development Journal, Training magazine and Human Capital. He is a recipient of the esteemed Creative Tribute Award presented by the Creating Thinking Association of America
