George's mother noted his inherent ambition towards education from a young age. This drive propelled him to excel academically, leading to two bachelor's degrees from Texas A&M and two master's degrees from Harvard. He felt a pull towards educational achievement similar to his daughter's intrinsic desire to get top marks.
Paul Sechting, George's high school German teacher, encouraged him to study abroad in Germany at 16, sparking a lifelong love for travel. J. Wayne Stark, Director Emeritus at Texas A&M's Memorial Student Center, advised George to broaden his education beyond accounting by taking courses in humanities, leading him to a second degree in political science.
George emphasizes the importance of letting facts and logic lead to conclusions, rather than starting with a conclusion and cherry-picking supporting evidence. He considers this skill, honed during his time at these firms, to be invaluable in both business and life.
George always had a desire to align his work with his passion. He strategically pursued a corporate career to build financial security and capabilities, setting a personal deadline of his 40th birthday to transition to a passion-driven career. This led him to explore purchasing the Texas Renaissance Festival, which sparked his entrepreneurial journey.
Beyond the entertainment and artisan crafts, managing logistics like parking, restroom facilities, and beer lines is crucial. Other key elements include hiring performers, managing artisans, investing in infrastructure, and strategically allocating marketing spend based on ROI analysis.
He recommends assessing your need for financial security and testing your readiness for your passion. If financial needs are high, keep the stable job but orient it towards building skills that support the passion. If needs are low and readiness is high, pursue the passion commercially.
Intentionality allows individuals to consciously own their choices, leading to greater fulfillment even if the chosen path isn't passion-driven. George's intentional approach shaped his career, from aiming for partnership at McKinsey to transitioning to his passion project. He believes choosing your path, even if it deviates from societal expectations, brings more peace than defaulting into a career.
While luck played a role in discovering his cousin's mead recipe, George's business acumen and strategic thinking were key to its success. He recognized the potential of mead as a festival drink and leveraged his existing infrastructure to internalize margins and expand into other ventures like a Celtic music festival and a medieval summer camp.
The MetaPaths define the relationship between work and passion: 1. **Passion Path:** Work and passion are the same. 2. **Independent Path:** Work and passion are unrelated. 3. **Experiment Path:** Trying different things to discover passion. 4. **Money Path:** Prioritizing wealth accumulation over passion. 5. **Balance Path:** Pursuing a traditional career to build security before transitioning to a passion-driven career.
William Marshall exemplified the importance of action, stating, "Idleness shames a young man." His unwavering loyalty and commitment to his word built a reputation so strong that he influenced the selection of King Henry III. This demonstrates the power of integrity and consistent action in building influence and achieving great things.
Appling emphasizes the importance of an "owner mindset" where individuals control their reactions to external events and actively work towards a better life, contrasting it with a "victim mindset" that focuses on external limitations. Viktor Frankl's work with Holocaust survivors highlighted the power of purpose in generating the willpower to survive, reinforcing the importance of agency and choice even in dire circumstances.
Appling criticizes Galloway for excluding "what you love" from his Ikigai model. He argues that passion should be a core component of one's reason for being and that many successful individuals, particularly in the arts, follow their passion immediately, demonstrating its viability under the right circumstances.
In this insightful episode, John sits down with George Appling, author of Don't Settle) and a self-proclaimed "passionpreneur," to explore how to make intentional career choices that align with your passions and goals. George shares his unique approach to career pathfinding, offering actionable steps to help you identify your ideal life and the work that supports it.
Drawing on his expansive experiences across government, nonprofits, arts, and entrepreneurship, George discusses how to balance income with passion, avoid settling for the default path, and embrace deliberate choices. He introduces five proven approaches to align your career with your personal vision and explains how to actively shape the relationship between your work and what lights you up.
Link to the full show notes: https://passionstruck.com/george-appling-make-intentional-career-choices/)
Call to Action: Through relatable stories, practical exercises, and opportunities for reflection, George provides listeners with the tools they need to own their career decisions and create a fulfilling, purpose-driven life. Whether you're starting a new career, navigating a midlife change, or simply seeking clarity, this episode will inspire you to take control of your journey and act with intention.
Sponsors:
In this episode, you will learn:
Connect with George Appling: https://www.georgeappling.com/)
For more information on advertisers and promo codes, visit Passion Struck Deals).
Join the Passion Struck Community! Sign up for the Live Intentionally newsletter, where I share exclusive content, actionable advice, and insights to help you ignite your purpose and live your most intentional life. Get access to practical exercises, inspiring stories, and tools designed to help you grow. Learn more and sign up here.)
Speaking Engagements & Workshops Are you looking to inspire your team, organization, or audience to take intentional action in their lives and careers? I’m available for keynote speaking, workshops, and leadership training on topics such as intentional living, resilience, leadership, and personal growth. Let’s work together to create transformational change. Learn more at johnrmiles.com/speaking).
Episode Starter Packs With over 500 episodes, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. We’ve curated Episode Starter Packs based on key themes like leadership, mental health, and personal growth, making it easier for you to dive into the topics you care about. Check them out at passionstruck.com/starterpacks).
Catch More of Passion Struck:
If you liked the show, please leave us a review—it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don’t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.
How to Connect with John:
Connect with John on Twitter at @John_RMiles and on Instagram at @John_R_Miles. Subscribe to our main YouTube Channel here) and to our YouTube Clips Channel here). For more insights and resources, visit John’s website).
Want to explore where you stand on the path to becoming Passion Struck? Take our 20-question quiz on Passionstruck.com) and find out today!