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How did you relate your more abstract passions, ideals, and yourself to the path that you wanted to follow throughout the universe?
I am a Coloradoan who loves to ski, rock climb, and am simply wondering how others have related their desires and passions to their careers or projects later in life.
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4 answers
Updated
Melissa’s Answer
Continue with your passion an outlet and space for enjoyment. Not everything has to be business minded. Separation is powerful and a choice. Entertaining clients comes it different forms, it could be a skiing teammate building event. Another option is to go all in on the business of your passion, ski related business to improve upon the experience or solve a problem. Ask yourself if you were to go this route would you still love skiing or would it feel like work? No wrong answer!
Thanks for the help.
Angelo
Updated
Francesco’s Answer
Hi Angelo,
I love skiing too, and really enjoy any sport that gets me outside. Being in nature always gives me energy. Whether I'm skiing down a mountain or hiking in the woods, I feel truly connected to what's important.
This connection influenced my career path. While studying civil engineering, I got more interested in sustainability. I started looking into green building, eco-friendly materials, and ways to build with less impact on the environment. I realized traditional engineering wasn't enough; we needed new ways to think about how our work affects the planet.
After I graduated, I chose jobs focused on environmental protection and sustainability instead of regular civil engineering roles. It wasn't the easiest choice, but I wanted work that matched my values and love for nature.
Now, a few years later, I'm a manager on a sustainability team. We track carbon emissions, find ways to reduce them, and create strategies to make our business more eco-friendly. We use data, come up with new ideas, and measure our progress toward environmental goals.
It's so rewarding to combine my love for the outdoors with my job. Every day, I work to protect the places where I find the most happiness and inspiration.
I love skiing too, and really enjoy any sport that gets me outside. Being in nature always gives me energy. Whether I'm skiing down a mountain or hiking in the woods, I feel truly connected to what's important.
This connection influenced my career path. While studying civil engineering, I got more interested in sustainability. I started looking into green building, eco-friendly materials, and ways to build with less impact on the environment. I realized traditional engineering wasn't enough; we needed new ways to think about how our work affects the planet.
After I graduated, I chose jobs focused on environmental protection and sustainability instead of regular civil engineering roles. It wasn't the easiest choice, but I wanted work that matched my values and love for nature.
Now, a few years later, I'm a manager on a sustainability team. We track carbon emissions, find ways to reduce them, and create strategies to make our business more eco-friendly. We use data, come up with new ideas, and measure our progress toward environmental goals.
It's so rewarding to combine my love for the outdoors with my job. Every day, I work to protect the places where I find the most happiness and inspiration.
Thanks for the advice I have been part of a great many environmental sustainability projects myself which I feel could benefit the climate around skiing and my other passions so thanks!
Angelo
Updated
Fred’s Answer
It's great that you're thinking about your future early. Many people use the Ikigai framework to find the overlap between what they love, what they're good at, what the world needs, and what they can get paid for. Your interests in skiing and rock climbing are good starting points.
To get started, think about the fields or roles you're considering. Even a rough idea can help you figure out what the world needs and what you can earn from.
In my experience, I combined my interest in education and coaching with skills in digital product development. This led me to a career in ed-tech product management. It wasn't obvious at first, but I followed where my interests and skills overlapped.
For you, the outdoors might lead to:
- Jobs directly related to outdoor activities, like gear, apparel, content, or adventure travel.
- Roles in related areas, such as conservation, climate tech, or wellness brands.
- A career that supports your outdoor lifestyle, like a flexible job, a team that shares your interests, or a location that lets you ski or climb often.
There's no single right way to connect your passion and career. Sometimes they match perfectly, and other times your job supports the life you want outside work. What paths are you considering now?
Take the Ikigai test: https://ikigaitest.com/
To get started, think about the fields or roles you're considering. Even a rough idea can help you figure out what the world needs and what you can earn from.
In my experience, I combined my interest in education and coaching with skills in digital product development. This led me to a career in ed-tech product management. It wasn't obvious at first, but I followed where my interests and skills overlapped.
For you, the outdoors might lead to:
- Jobs directly related to outdoor activities, like gear, apparel, content, or adventure travel.
- Roles in related areas, such as conservation, climate tech, or wellness brands.
- A career that supports your outdoor lifestyle, like a flexible job, a team that shares your interests, or a location that lets you ski or climb often.
There's no single right way to connect your passion and career. Sometimes they match perfectly, and other times your job supports the life you want outside work. What paths are you considering now?
Fred recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Siva’s Answer
Hi Angelo,
First of all — I really admire that you’re thinking about how to combine your passions with your career. Most people separate “work” and “life,” and then wonder why they feel torn between the two. You’re already ahead by questioning that early.
Here’s what I’ve learned after 25 years in tech and mentoring hundreds of people:
Your strengths and passions aren’t separate from your career. They are the raw materials of the career you’re meant to build.
How I personally integrated mine
For me, I’ve always loved technology, coaching, teaching, and mentoring. Those were my natural strengths.
I also love staying active and pushing myself to grow personally. I only started rock climbing at 47 — and that led me to create a channel called @climbingafter47, where I share my journey to motivate others to move, grow, and stay healthy.
Meanwhile, I run tech startups as my full-time career.
On paper, these seem unrelated… But together, they form a meaningful life that blends:
- my professional experience
- my personal growth journey
- my passion for helping people
That’s where happiness comes from — not from choosing one part of yourself, but from choosing all of yourself.
You can do the same
You mentioned skiing and rock climbing — two activities that shape your identity, community, mindset, and confidence. Your goal isn’t to force your passions directly into a job. Your goal is to combine your strengths + passions + values into something that creates value for others.
That’s where opportunities open up.
For example, your passions could influence:
- the type of people or communities you want to work with
- the problems you feel motivated to solve
- the environment you want to live in
- the projects you choose to pursue
- the stories you share
There are countless ways to blend the life you want with the work you do. Here’s a simple exercise to explore your direction
Open an AI tool like ChatGPT or Copilot and feed in:
- your strengths
- your passions (skiing, climbing, outdoors)
- your long-term goals
- your values
- the lifestyle you want
Then ask it to generate:
- career paths
- project ideas
- ways to integrate your passions into your professional identity
- steps to take now
This won’t give you the final answer — but it will expand your thinking and help you see possibilities you may not have considered.
Finally, Your success and happiness come from the same place. Putting your strengths and passions to work in a way that creates value for others. If you stay true to that, your career will naturally align with who you are — whether that’s in tech, outdoors, startups, or something uniquely yours.
Good luck, Angelo. You’re asking the right questions.
— Siva
First of all — I really admire that you’re thinking about how to combine your passions with your career. Most people separate “work” and “life,” and then wonder why they feel torn between the two. You’re already ahead by questioning that early.
Here’s what I’ve learned after 25 years in tech and mentoring hundreds of people:
Your strengths and passions aren’t separate from your career. They are the raw materials of the career you’re meant to build.
How I personally integrated mine
For me, I’ve always loved technology, coaching, teaching, and mentoring. Those were my natural strengths.
I also love staying active and pushing myself to grow personally. I only started rock climbing at 47 — and that led me to create a channel called @climbingafter47, where I share my journey to motivate others to move, grow, and stay healthy.
Meanwhile, I run tech startups as my full-time career.
On paper, these seem unrelated… But together, they form a meaningful life that blends:
- my professional experience
- my personal growth journey
- my passion for helping people
That’s where happiness comes from — not from choosing one part of yourself, but from choosing all of yourself.
You can do the same
You mentioned skiing and rock climbing — two activities that shape your identity, community, mindset, and confidence. Your goal isn’t to force your passions directly into a job. Your goal is to combine your strengths + passions + values into something that creates value for others.
That’s where opportunities open up.
For example, your passions could influence:
- the type of people or communities you want to work with
- the problems you feel motivated to solve
- the environment you want to live in
- the projects you choose to pursue
- the stories you share
There are countless ways to blend the life you want with the work you do. Here’s a simple exercise to explore your direction
Open an AI tool like ChatGPT or Copilot and feed in:
- your strengths
- your passions (skiing, climbing, outdoors)
- your long-term goals
- your values
- the lifestyle you want
Then ask it to generate:
- career paths
- project ideas
- ways to integrate your passions into your professional identity
- steps to take now
This won’t give you the final answer — but it will expand your thinking and help you see possibilities you may not have considered.
Finally, Your success and happiness come from the same place. Putting your strengths and passions to work in a way that creates value for others. If you stay true to that, your career will naturally align with who you are — whether that’s in tech, outdoors, startups, or something uniquely yours.
Good luck, Angelo. You’re asking the right questions.
— Siva