Stop searching for your passion -- Create it instead (Fly Female Founders Feb 2020)

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Create it instead.
Stop searching for
your passion.
Fly Female Founders Breakfast | Fe...

A few years ago, I
delivered a TEDx
talk.
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All rights reserved.TerriSentMe.com

Copyright © 2019 Terri Trespicio All rights reserved.
“Stop Searching for Your Passion”
~ 5MM views
Copyright © 2020 Terri...

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I wanted to be a writer. I had no idea how.
I always
loved
words.
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All rights reserved.Ter...

I wanted to
be a writer.

But I was
riddled with
self doubt.
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All rights...

I assumed
there was
one “right”
way to do it.
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio...

I’ve spent my career crafting
ideas in and for media.

Today, I change the way people
think about, talk about &
communicate what they do.
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All ri...

Passion is a tricky
topic.

The idea of a singular
stand-out passion is a
myth. A cultural myth.
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All rights reserved....

It’s not even a  
pre-requisite.

Barbara Corcoran is the
biggest name in the
brokerage business.
She does not, and never
has, had a passion for real
estate...

Passion is not a goal or the
trophy; it’s the energy you
bring to the needs you meet.
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All...

Photo by Ben Hershey on Unsplash
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I’d never caught a
football in my life. 
Mainly because no
one had ever
thrown me one.
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio Al...

Passion has a twin sister: Inspiration.

They will haunt your dreams.

“What inspires you?”
You won’t like my answer. 
Because I often don’t feel like
doing anything.
Copyright © 2020 Terri Tre...

You can be inspired by
the work, even if you
aren’t inspired to do it.
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All rights reserve...

We think it works like this.

Inspiration flips on.
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Float on fairy wings.
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Nope.
You just end up
waiting. Wondering.
And doubting.
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• We get precious
• We get myopic
• Fear of risk
• Fear of making a mistake
• We compare and resist
How a fixed idea about...

Meaning
Value
Connection
Enjoyment
Fulfillment
What do we want?
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All rights reserved.Terri...

What we want is a
life that matters.

What’s the one thing people say when
I ask them what they want to do?
Help people.
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All ri...

• The “need” for more information
• The “need” for better credentials
• Not ready
• Not my job
• No one asked
• Being busy...

The search for passion is
just another way of hiding.
I’ll just wait here until what I’m
supposed to do is abundantly clea...

“If you persist in hiding,
you will be unable to do
the generous work you
want to do.”
—Seth Godin
Copyright © 2020 Terri ...

Your work isn’t
responsible for your
passion. You are.

“You are not your
resume. You are
your work.”
–Seth Godin
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All rights reserved.TerriSentMe...

Don’t worry
about taking
notes!

Want the
slides + a
reading and
resource list?
Text
“TerriT”
to
44222
TODAY!
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All rights r...

territ
1. Text “territ” to 44222 
 
2. Reply to text with
email 
3. Check your email
and confirm.
44222
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Why does this
matter now?

the connection
economy
We’re living in

“The value we create is directly
related to how much valuable
information we can produce, how
much trust we can earn, and
...

Creativity is not:
A rare gift
A static trait
Someone else’s job
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All rights reserved.Terr...

“The ability to transcend traditional
ideas, rules, patterns, relationships,
or the like, and to create meaningful
new ide...

Creativity is:
Inherent
A skill
A habit
The only path to individual
contribution
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All righ...

—Brene Brown
“There’s no such thing as creative
people and non-creative people.  
There are only people who use their
crea...

Art is your job.

There’s a dangerous
myth about creativity.
And it’s that it happens
alone.
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All rights res...

Art is not the work of a
lone genius. And it doesn’t
happen in a vacuum.
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All rights reser...

Instead of genius,
“scenius.”
(Brian Eno’s word)

“Great ideas are often birthed by
a group of creative individuals…
an ‘ecology of talent.’ ”
scenius
—Austin Kleon, “Show ...

It’s not about “scary talent.”
It’s about how you contribute.
scenius
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All rights reserved...

What’s keeping you from
creating & sharing 
your best stuff?
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•Come up with ideas
•Meet and discuss
•Offer feedback
How we do it now
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All rights reserve...

Photo by Headway on Unsplash

Typical feedback
goes something
like this…

BUT
“This is ok…
“It would be better if…”
SO
“Please fix it thank you bye.”
Copyright © 2020 Terri Trespicio All rights re...

This is a shit
sandwich.

Our traditional
approach to
feedback is flawed.
Fact:

Instead of “what is the best
way to give feedback?”
“What is the right way,
the best way, to help
people thrive and
excel?...

“Getting attention to our
strengths from others catalyzes
learning, whereas attention to
our weaknesses smothers it.”
Buck...

There are a few
challenges.

You’ve been
taught to
believe
criticism is
“good” for you.

Criticism
shuts down
your
creativity.
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more powerful than negative
attention in creating high
performance on a team. “
“Positive attention is
Buckingham & Goodal...

“Sure, Bob, I’d love to hear
your feedback.”

“Each person’s version of it
is uniquely shaped and is
Buckingham & Goodall, “The Feedback Fallacy”
an expression of that
...

So how do we get
there?

There is a time and place for
productive criticism.
But it’s not when
you’re in creation
mode or cultivating
excellence.
C...

Picture it:

THE RULES FOR FEEDBACK
• Focus on the work
• Respond to what’s working
• Be specific
• Do not judge, fix, or criticize
• N...

Join me for
THE INTENSIVE
April 30 - May 3
Austin, TX
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