Tom Forslund's passion, starting in the fourth grade, was politics. "I loved politics. I loved watching elections. I got involved in youth politics during my school years. And I wanted to do something with politics. But I didn't know how to make a living with it. But I wanted to be involved in something associated with politics." Forslund completed an undergraduate degree and went to work in the private sector, but found it was not rewarding at all for him. "So I went back to graduate school, went into public administration and ultimately got into local government and have been deep into politics ever since. It's a different way, not the classical way. But I figured out a way to make a living chasing my passion."
"I have always advised my kids to chase their passion. If each person is passionate about a few things in their life and if you chase that passion - follow it throughout your life - you'll be able to figure out how to make a living doing that. You'll be much happier in what you do and, ultimately, you will enjoy a more rewarding life as a result.
A person who goes to school simply to get a job and doesn't have the passion for the work, I think, are people who are not as happy at the end of their careers and might have more regrets.
So, chase your passion. Don't worry about a career choice or going to school to do this or that. Go to school and get your education in an area that you love. When you figure out a way to make a living, you will have much more joy in your life. And you will be able to look back in the years to come to say, 'I feel good about what I have accomplished; I feel good about my life and I don't have a lot of regrets.' Passion creates joy."
Posted in Words_of_wisdom on Thursday, August 20, 2009 12:00 am Updated: 8:06 am. | Tags: Tom, Forslund, Words, Wisdom, January, 14, 2009
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