S = Strengths: The Verbs That Get Things Done

“Follow your passion!” It’s the career advice we’ve all heard. But here’s what nobody tells you:

most people confuse the glamorous outcomes of a dream job with the unglamorous daily actions that create those outcomes.

But to know if you’ll actually be passionate about being something like a writer, you’ll need to list the daily actions—the “little verbs”—that produce success in that so-called dream job.

For a writer, that means studying every day, maintaining intense concentration, taking meticulous notes, staying organized, writing copy, creating sales funnels, and handling everything that comes with running a business.

You need to ask yourself this about any job:

Do the day-to-day activities align with your unique strengths?

Are they things you would genuinely enjoy doing every day? Do they create flow states for you?

A flow state is that zone where you’re fully immersed, energized, and engaged in what you’re doing. Time disappears. Focus sharpens. Creativity and tenacity take over.

And that’s the real secret to a passion-powered career:

It’s not about chasing a dream job title; it’s about identifying the small daily verbs that consistently put you into a state of flow and add up to an intended result.

Once you master that you can make powerful career choices that align not only with your intentions but with your deeper passions as well.

And this is not something you have to wait for. You can start moving into your passions today because passions are not what you do; they are how you do it.

So in the tactic section below, we’ll have you make a list of all the verbs that put you in a flow state and take you through a drill that will allow you to start deploying them immediately.

T = Topics: The Nouns You’re Interested In

You feel completely absorbed when you get involved in this—whatever it is. It could be a person, a group, a car, a concept, food, music, fabric, furniture, or anything else in God’s creation. The nouns you use reveal these topics.

Topics are the nouns that reveal what captures your attention and keeps you engaged. These are the subjects, causes, or creations that absorb you so completely you lose track of time.

Here’s the truth most people miss: passion doesn’t come from chasing every interest that excites you—it comes from noticing what you can stay fascinated by long enough to build something meaningful with.

Think about what holds your focus even when nobody’s watching. Is it technology? Human behavior? Art? Justice? Design? Music? Nature? Leadership? When you connect your work to topics like these, flow becomes sustainable.

Ask yourself: What subjects energize me so much that I could happily explore, create, or teach about them for years?

There are two types of topics to identify. The first is the kind that ignites passion—the things you can’t stop thinking about. For me, as a writer and coach, it’s human performance and transformation. The second is meaningful impacts—the causes or groups you want to serve. For me, it’s creating legacy and helping driven individuals do the same.

Your real question to answer is: What can I care about deeply, every day, for years to come?

O = Optimal: The Environment You Thrive In

Your optimal environment is the setting that lets you perform at your best and sustain your flow.

Some people thrive under pressure. Others need peace and predictability. Some crave collaboration. Others need solitude.

To identify yours, ask: When and where do I perform at my absolute best? What surroundings and circumstances help me sustain focus and creativity?

For example, my optimal environment for writing is a quiet, 70-degree space with no distractions, a fan humming, and background music. For others, it might be a bustling coffee shop or a tight deadline.

Here’s the truth: you can survive in average conditions—but you’ll only excel in optimal ones.

When you’re competing against the best in your field, details matter. The difference between good and elite isn’t talent—it’s design. Craft your environment as carefully as your strategy. Your ability to perform, adapt, and win depends on it.

R = Relationships: The People That Propel You

This is about the roles you take and the relationships that best support your mission.

It’s easy to romanticize relationships—at work, at home, or even with your dog. But if the people or dynamics around you demand energy you should be investing in your craft, purpose, or growth, that relationship may not serve you—or them.

I’ve seen this play out with people who dream of owning a Belgian Malinois because “SEALs have them.” But these dogs require constant attention, structure, and stimulation. That’s not companionship—it’s a full-time job. The relationship sounds cool but conflicts with the lifestyle they actually want.

The same principle applies to people. The right relationships expand your capacity to stay in flow. The wrong ones drain it.

Different relationships require different versions of you. At work, I’m a strategist and a teacher. At home, I’m a coach and a father. Both roles fulfill me—but only because I understand which environment each belongs in.

The key question: Which relationships and roles amplify your ability to stay engaged in what only you can do?

Y = Yes: The Affirmations That Guide You

“Yes” is the moment your life says this is it. It’s that deep internal confirmation that you’re fulfilling what you were designed to do.

This doesn’t come from applause or success alone—it comes from alignment. When your strengths, topics, environment, and relationships all serve your purposes, everything starts to click.

That “yes” expresses itself in two ways.

FIRST, through the positive affirmations that come from the recognition of having produced something of value for others.

These rewards create feedback loops that train your mind to keep showing up with the right kind of excellence.

SECOND, through sustainability. Power that comes from being of significant value to others in the form of time, energy, creativity, and currency that allows you to keep fulfilling your purpose without burningout.

Many people chase passion while ignoring this point. They forget that passion isn’t just emotional; it’s practical. The greater the passion, the more fuel it burns.

This is where purpose becomes performance. Passion turns into something that sustains you, your family, your team, and your mission.