Why would I recommend a book written back in 2009 for the new year 2015? Needless to say, a good advice is always timeless. What do Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons, and Gillian Lynne, the co-creator of Phantom of the Opera and Cats have in common? They were able to overcome the limitations imposed by others who did not see or misinterpreted what they would become, they didn’t listen to parents and teachers—however well intentioned they were—who wanted them to pursue “a real career.” “Each of them found high levels of achievement and personal satisfaction upon discovering the thing that they naturally do well and that also ignite their passions.” The author strongly believes that if we can find our Element—the place where the things you love to do and the things you are good at come together— we have the potential for much higher achievement and fulfillment, not necessarily to become the next big cartoonist or dancer, and that potential lives in the distinctive talents and passions we all have that can inspire us to achieve far more that we may imagine. We should start by going beyond our limited notion of our natural capacities, and try and understand them, and see how they relate to each other holistically in our unlimited potential for growth and change.

The Element : how finding your passion changes everything. Ken Robinson, Lou Aronica. New York: Penguin Books, 2009.