Gratitude can help you use your passions to you advantage

When you do a SWOT (Strengths Weakness Opportunity and Threats)analysis, you can find that one or more of your passions can help you turn what you perceive as a threat into a strength. I have a passion for cooking, but don't often get the chance to indulge my passion. Yet that doesn't mean I don't use this passion to my advantage. Telling someone about a dish you have made, and how to do it can be a great ice breaker. It can also be a way to find something in common with a prospect, or a way to be remembered by a gate keeper that doesn't cost you anything. In this later case, you might see your ability to get to see the right person in an organization as a weakness. This means by finding something as simple as good food in common with a receptionist, can be enough to establish a warm relationship that helps you get to the right person. It can also mean that you establish a bond with colleagues that gets them to work with you, and help you. By being grateful for your passions you can be proud of them and use them to prove you have something of interest to offer others. In light of the success of the Great British Bake Off a passion like this can get a great response quickly. Even more so if you bring in the evidence occasionally.