When Personal Fulfillment FUELS Professional Passion

When it comes to members, volunteers, or association staff, most people are not maximizing their professional potential because they are NOT “personally fulfilled” and living the quality of life they really desire. Hear me on this. If people are not personally fulfilled, their professional life suffers.

There are many reasons for this, but the driver is having no set goals, connected to a personal life plan, that enhances 4 key quality of life elements:

• Connected Relationships

• Fulfilling Career

• Financial Freedom

• Energized Health

The numbers tell the story.  Studies show the following:

97% of people have no life goals with a written plan to achieve them.

The 3% who have written goals are 90% more likely to succeed and achieve the quality of life they want.

Bottom line, when people are living the quality of life they want personally, every area professionally flourishes with passion, including membership involvement, volunteering, and work.

My favorite quote I have ever heard on life development is, “Quit trying to plan for a future you can’t predict and create the future you WANT.”

The challenge in today’s society is there is so much uncertainty and negative mojo thrown at us every day.  So how to you navigate the craziness around your life to create the life you want?  I’m glad you asked.

Success is a journey, not a destination. Along this path, three key forces—inspiration, motivation, and action steps—work together to transform dreams into reality. Understanding how these elements are connected can help individuals stay on track and achieve their goals more effectively, and achieve the four life drivers I mentioned before.  Let’s take a look..

1. Inspiration: The Spark That Ignites the Fire

Inspiration is the initial spark that ignites a vision for success. It often comes from external sources such as influential people, books, experiences, or personal aspirations. Inspiration fuels the imagination and creates a sense of possibility, helping individuals see what they can achieve.

How Inspiration Fuels Success:

• Expands Vision – It opens the mind to new possibilities.

• Ignites Passion – It creates excitement and a desire to pursue something meaningful.

• Provides Purpose – It aligns efforts with deeper values and goals.

  
  

However, inspiration alone is not enough. It must be followed by motivation to sustain the journey.

2. Motivation: The Fuel That Keeps You Going

Motivation is the driving force that turns inspiration into a sustained effort. It helps individuals push forward, even when challenges arise. Motivation can be intrinsic (coming from within, such as personal satisfaction) or extrinsic (driven by external rewards like money, recognition, or competition).

How Motivation Sustains Progress:

• Creates Commitment – Keeps individuals focused on their goals.

• Builds Resilience – Helps overcome setbacks and challenges.

• Drives Consistency – Encourages daily effort toward long-term success.

Yet, motivation alone is not enough either. Without action steps, even the most motivated person may struggle to make real progress.

3. Action Steps: Turning Dreams into Reality

Action steps are the practical efforts that translate inspiration and motivation into results. Success is built on daily, consistent actions that move a person closer to their goals.  This is where the 97% stop.  Everyone gets inspired.  Some are motivated.  Only a few turn those into action.

How Action Steps Lead to Success:

• Provide Focus & Clarity – Breaks down big goals into smaller, achievable tasks.

• Measure Progress – Allows tracking of improvements and adjustments.

• Build Momentum – Creates a cycle of achievement that boosts further motivation.

The Connection of All Three is a Life Plan Around Goals

Think of inspiration as the vision, motivation as the fuel, and action steps as the vehicle that moves toward success. Each one relies on the other:

1. Inspiration sparks motivation. When a person is inspired, they feel motivated to take action.

2. Motivation fuels action. A strong desire leads to consistent effort.

3. Action creates results, which reinforce inspiration. Achievements fuel further motivation and inspiration, creating a success cycle.

Creating the quality of life you want is not a random event—it is a result of having a written plan with goals in 4 key areas of life that harness your inspiration and motivation, into disciplined action steps. When these three elements align, they create unstoppable momentum. Anyone seeking an amazing quality of life should take the time to create a personal life develop plan.

The super big challenge is most people don’t know where to start.  I have the answer with my Personal GDP framework, that gives anyone an easy-to-use process to create a life plan, that takes your personal fulfillment to new levels, where engaging in your association and volunteering feels awesome.

If you would like your members and staff to feel the energy, joy, and fulfillment they have been longing for, I would love to hear from you about speaking at your next conference on my keynote, "Just Imagine…The POWER of CHOICE".  

Let’s connect and change lives together. CLICK HERE to complete my Speaker RFP form for your next event.