We can talk about it, think about it and philosophise about it, but to truly gain a sense of whether it is the right job, hobby or business for you, there is nothing like going out and doing it. Experiencing is about taking yourself out of your known environment and trying something different or new.

It could be learning something outside your normal area of interest or expertise. Over the past couple of years I have engaged in very different types of learning experiences for no other reason than to gain a different perspective. I’m fortunate in that I have been able to look inside a Toyota car manufacturing plant in Japan and learn the value of continuous improvement. I’ve attended a photography retreat in New York, where Bob Sacha from National Geographic taught me the value of being curious and looking for what is around the corner. I’ve attended a Buddhist meditation course to realise the value of being still and listening to my intuition.

It is this willingness to engage in different experiences with an open mind and an open heart that I believe helps us to hear those messages that will shape our thinking in the future. The next level of experiencing is taking the time to pursue an interest, to try something new just once.

My eldest daughter wanted to take up archery as a sport. She did her research and organised the date to attend the introduction session. She was excited: ‘I really want to do archery,’ she told me during the days and weeks leading up to it. After that first session she never wanted to do it again. That’s okay. It’s about going out and experiencing it to see if it is right for you.

Over the years that I have run my Passionate People Program I have had numerous conversations with people about what they would love to do during their lifetime. People tell me about their perfect job or business, and you can see their desire to pursue that passion. I often ask, ‘Have you ever worked in that role or business before?’ Eight times out of ten they say no.

My thinking is if you want to be a florist, before you pursue that career or buy into that business, approach your local florist and ask them if you can come in on a Saturday and work for them for free. Go and spend a day working with a franchisee and gain an insider’s view of what they do and how they do it.

Ask if you can be the bag carrier or shadow of the best salesperson or manager in your company, and see what makes them the best. It’s not always obvious why they are the best, but if you hang around them you soon start to see the little things they do that make all the difference.

SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE LEAVE CLUES.

On any number of occasions I have had people say they would love to become a professional speaker and I have invited them to travel with me to a presentation to see what it’s like behind the scenes. You will find that people are happy to help. They will rarely consider you a threat or imagine you are going to steal all their best ideas. Most very successful people are secure and happy to share. They have an abundant mentality because they started out where you are starting.

Now more than ever if you want to study a particular subject or for a particular degree, educational institutions will offer an introductory session, open day, short course or weekend workshop that will help you discover whether it is really what you want to do. You can also gain valuable insights by talking to students who have done or are doing the course.

Another idea is to create your own ‘study tour’ by approaching five businesses you admire and asking for a guided tour. The greatest gift I have been given as a professional speaker, consultant and facilitator is the opportunity to look inside businesses to see how they tick. You can see how businesses have become successful, observe their culture in action and the ideas that give them a competitive edge, and then determine how you can apply these ideas to your own life or role or business.

Over the next six months pick something new you want to experience — a hobby or interest or a new career. Then do your research and test it, even if it is just once. This one activity will be a catalyst that will either fuel your passion or clarify that it is not for you. We become too insular in our lives. Step out of your comfort zone and experience what other businesses, roles and learning environments have to offer.

One of the most extraordinary back stories of the 2012 London Olympics was the tale of Ugandan runner Stephen Kiprotich, who won the gold medal in the men’s marathon. What is fascinating is that he took up marathon running only in 2011, and then only by chance!

He was asked to be a pace runner for the Ugandan marathon runners in training. His job was to run ahead of the group at a fast pace and drop off at the halfway point, where another runner would take over as pace runner. Only Stephen decided to keep on running for fun. He won the marathon and decided to train full time. In the post-race interview Kiprotich, aged 23, who had never been on the podium of a major marathon, said, ‘Now, I am known and I am happy that I am known.’

Until you go and experience different activities, how do you truly know what hidden and unique talent you may have and may even become known for?