“Great things never come from staying in comfort zones.”

I admire passionate people who work hard to get what they want out of life, much more those who work hard to make others’ lives better.

As part of a non-profit organization that advocates for women, rural communities, and the environment, this passion fuels our goal to launch projects that create a sustainable impact on the recipient communities. Here are only some of the things we’ve done:

• Social Media Training for the Department of Agriculture’s Information Officers
• Coastal Cleanup and Mangrove Planting in Aboitiz Cleanergy Park
• One for Marawi: Call for Donations Drive
• E-Storyahanay, A Talk on SDG 13 – Climate Action

For us, creating a lasting impact is more important than gaining recognition or winning awards. And I’ve found that this attitude to work hard and smart for something greater than a tangible benefit to the self is also very important in the work setting.

As Operations Director of a company, I know how challenging it is to hire the right people for your team. It’s not just a matter of choosing who’s the most qualified or who has a glittering resume, but also choosing the people who have the right attitude towards work. To us, it makes a huge difference in performance.

At Coffeebot, we value people who are motivated by:

• A greater cause
• Passion for the field
• Fulfillment of a dream
• Self-development / Skills development
• Career development
• Loved ones

Why? Because we want people who are hungry for challenges and people who always want to grow. People who want to build their career or develop themselves do not see work as tedious labor. Rather, they see it as an opportunity to learn and become better at what they do. They are engaged with their work and are the most resilient when caught in stressful situations.

People who work ONLY for the money tend to be less reliable as they are prone to stagnating when they feel comfortable with the amount of money that they are making. They tend to produce mediocre results and work for the sake of working. They don’t have the incentive to challenge themselves and this is dangerous in a business climate that’s rapidly changing. Companies opt for people who are motivated and share the same values they have.

While not everyone has the privilege to be in a job they’re passionate about, or even know what their passion is, you can do something about it. You can change your perspective about work.

There is a learning opportunity out of everything, even in the job that you may not be crazy about at the moment. See it as a way to develop some work skills that may become valuable once you finally find the job you love. It doesn’t have to be a technical skill—it can be a general skill such as time management, or looking for efficiencies, or leadership.

Look for great mentors, or a company that is interested in your growth as well. Immerse yourself in opportunities while going through the “lost” phase that most millennials experience.

It’s okay to be lost. But it’s not okay to not do anything about it. After all, you can only find yourself or your passion when you’re looking for it.