Expertise

The notion of "finding your passion" has always been a point of contention for me. Early in my career (hopefully still early…), I bought into that ‘find your passion’ snake oil and that finding it will change your life. Spoiler alert: after drinking litres of it, there doesn’t seem to be one.

In following this advice, the search for this grail led me through various fields - from startup work to videography, coffee retailing to marketing, and management consulting. Each pursuit was an attempt to find that elusive "perfect fit" to define my narrative, and be that lighthouse to steady my course when things get rocky.

However, what I've learnt is that regardless of what I ended up doing, I am more able to bring my talents to it when I can emotionally lean into the work. Even if this 'leaning in' didn't always look the same.

I found enjoyment in each of these diverse fields, making finding that singular passion ever more elusive. The startup world excited me, videography sparked my creativity, and marketing and consulting focused my story telling. It was like trying to decide on one cuisine for the rest of your life. Good luck with that commitment.

It however dawned on me that perhaps I had been approaching this the wrong way. Instead of searching for that one industry or job title to specialise in, what if it lay in the process itself?

This realisation led to me examine more deeply everything I've had pursued with energy and enthusiasm. And I noticed a common element: the act of creating. Whether it was helping to build an automation practice at a large consultancy firm, or figuring out how to roast coffee in my retailing pursuits, or writing a blog - all of these shared the process of bringing a spark of potential into reality. Note: Turns out my talent for roasting coffee was only in burning beans and setting off smoke alarms. I do however thoroughly enjoy the process of doing it.

Eighteen months ago, I decided to put this understanding to the test. I leapt from the corporate world to help set up and grow the Australian branch of an Israeli AI company. While we had our own unique challenges and ultimately concluded sooner than planned, it became the foundation of my next pursuit as well as confirming to myself that I do in fact enjoy the act of creation and problem-solving. Whether it's ultimately to prove to myself or meet some unmet need, the bigger the ambition and the more complex the problem underscored my motivation to make it work.

Today, I view my narrative as something that is not constant. Whilst there are many who can easily identify that one thing, there are equally, if not more, those who cannot. And that's okay. It's become less about finding that one perfect fit, and I think it’s more rewarding to recognise the elements that consistently energise you across various roles and industries. For me, for now, it's this propulsion of wanting to build something meaningful and valuable out of complexity.

As I sit now on the precipice of a next chapter of my "building in AI" arc, I reflect on my learnings on what it means to build in this field. Just as rushing to define an answer to where one's journey ends can be counterproductive, I believe the same is true for AI. This technology has the potential to vastly change how we work, live, and play. The challenge is that these changes may take forms and occur in places that we may struggle to vividly imagine today. And even if you can see a clear vision, the journey to realise it is likely long, arduous, and filled with many side quests.

It thus also requires businesses to lean into the potential, understand it's implications, and make hard choices through all the hype. Ones that what would lean into the organisational talents for outlier value today and ones that compound into the future.

Passion, or not, I am excited for the opportunity to walk through it. And I look forward to being able to lean into the aspects where I could bring my small amount of talent to, and work with a trusted and talented team for the areas I'm lacking. Given all the complexity, hype, and confusion in AI, I'll need all the help that I can get.