Many years ago, the South African playwright Pieter-Dirk Uys wrote a satirical comedy called Adapt or Die. While his play humorously addressed the political climate of the time, the title couldn’t be more relevant to life and work today.
You see when things don’t go as planned, we all face a choice: adapt and find a solution, or resist change and slowly fade. And by “die,” I don’t mean physically, I mean an emotional and creative death.
Burnout vs Passion
With over 30 years in the music industry, I’ve seen this firsthand. Whenever I’ve been involved in work that excites me, it’s had a ripple effect and positively influenced every area of my life. But it hasn’t always been like that.
As a session musician, there were plenty of gigs that didn’t inspire me. This is because as a “sideman,” I often didn’t take work because it fueled my passion, but because it paid the bills. The truth is the uncertainty of freelance work means you rarely say no, even when the job leaves you feeling flat. So over time, this took a toll on me.
What Happens When You Lose the Spark?
It’s not just a music industry problem; it’s a human one. When you’re unhappy at work your focus slips and you stop giving your best, and passion fades. You start going through the motions. Eventually, you lose ground to your competitors whether you’re in arts, tech or construction.
George Burns said: “Fall in love with what you’re going to do for a living.” That’s more than a feel good quote, it’s a survival strategy.
My Journey: From Session Player to Passion-Driven Leader
Everything I do today from mentoring to speaking, writing to leading a band, stems from my original passion for music. That thread of purpose keeps me grounded, energised, and authentic. Some people have called that luck, but I call it intentional adaptation.
So when things felt off-track, I reflected, refocused and made changes. I adapted and in doing so, stayed true to who I am. This can work for you as well.
Here’s a Simple Framework I Suggest to Reignite Your Passion
If your work has become a grind, try this:
- Identify the problem
Write down what’s draining your energy and enthusiasm. Don’t hold back. Be honest with yourself. - Brainstorm solutions
List all possible ways you might improve the situation, big or small. - Refine your options
Narrow these down to what feels achievable and aligned with your goals. - Make a choice.
Decide where you going to start from and then… - Take action.
Don’t wait for the “perfect” time. Get going then and there.
Life’s Too Short to Accept Second Best.
Reigniting your passion is possible at any age, in any field. All it takes is awareness, creativity and the courage to adapt.
Lastly, keep this closely in mind: adapt or die isn’t a threat, it’s a reminder to adapt, reignite your passion and get back on track.
Adapted from the book ‘Rock Your Performance’ (formerly Creating Performance Excellence) by Georg Voros.
Georg Voros is a Performance Consultant with 45+ years of top-level experience and author of two books on performance. He delivers high-impact workshops on productivity and flow, and offers tailored mentoring packages to support personal growth and achievement. Learn more at www.vorosperformance.co.uk
