I’m amazed at the skills, hobbies, and interests that Q2 Leaders have! While Q2 Leaders invest time in Quadrant II – where the important but not urgent things happen, we shouldn’t neglect Q3 and Q4 where less important things happen. When we carve out time to pursue a hobby or interest, research a topic outside of work, learn a craft or sport, we’re often creating joy for ourselves as well as building our creativity and commitment muscles.

What are some of the interests Q2 Leaders have? In our last Q2 Leader Connect Event I learned that we have a new hand embroiderer in the mix, along with a couple of people who know how to sew and crochet (let go of stereotypes, you’d never guess that one man sews up patches for his judo pants).

Fishing. Camping. Martial Arts. Drawing. Running, swimming, bicycling. Cooking. Flower arranging. Studying philosophy, personal finances, and interior design. Board games, role-playing games, ping-pong. Home repair (ok, maybe this is a necessity) and landscaping. Weaving, reading, and bird-watching. Paper crafts and watercraft.

Just because we share a degree or work for the same company does not mean we all have the same interests outside of work. And that is fantastic because it means that we bring a unique perspective to problem-solving. And if we’re any good at our hobby or interest we know that we can commit to something and learn (or even master) it when we put our minds to it.

And above all, these things are fun! Ask someone about their hobby and they light up. Learning and/or creating something new brings a sense of satisfaction and joy.

engineer your life

Is there a hobby or interest you’ve been wanting to try or learn more about? With all of the online learning that is available today, it’s likely you can find a teacher or resource to help you along. Set aside some time to research or just give it a try!