The story is written Kevin Carroll, a ex-Nike executive, whose job it was to inspire and motivate people throughout the company. In the course of 96 short pages, Carroll tells his story of finding his red rubber ball – a personification of his own personal dream to build his life around sports. But the story is not all about him. Rather it’s an opportunity for him to ask the reader: What is your red rubber ball?

“Your red rubber ball is what grabs you by the soul. It’s what captures your imagination. It’s what you do when no one tells you what to do, when you’re alone in your room, on the playground or in your head. It’s what you daydream, and that dream can become your life’s work…if you let it.” Pretty powerful words – and they struck me to the core.

I’ve never really felt like I had a red rubber ball until now. For me, it’s cooking. Even though I committed myself 100% to my corporate marketing career, it wasn’t what made me happy. It didn’t provide inspiration in my life, wasn’t something I woke up every morning excited for, and didn’t excite me.

I realized that something was missing one cold October day in 2004. I had called in sick. I wasn’t physically sick, but emotionally exhausted. Things were challenging at work, and I was having a hard time working with some people at my company. As I sat on my couch, I wondered, “Is this really worth it?” Wouldn’t I like to do something that was like playing instead? Didn’t I want to be passionate about my job and feel good about the work I was producing? The answers were all yes. I knew it was time to make a change. It was clear that cooking school was now on the agenda.

But which school did I want to attend? There are so many choices ranging from week long courses to three years intensive study. But after I thought about it for a while, I knew Le Cordon Bleu Paris was my first choice. Not only could I take both pastry and cuisine at the same time, but the program length seemed reasonable – nine months to see if I really liked cooking every single day.

And I do. And I know that cooking is my red rubber ball. It’s what I do when I’ve had a stressful day at work and need to relax. I’m a voracious reader when it comes to cooking magazines, books and stories. I love to share my gifts with my friends and family. It is who I am deep down inside.

As I was reading Rules of the Red Rubber Ball and realized I knew what my ball was, I was excited. And then I turned the page. Staring at me where the words, “Finding your red rubber ball is only half the battle.” This is just the thing I’ve been struggling with. Now that I’ve found my passion, what the heck am I going to do with it?

I get this question all the time. “So now that school is almost over, what are you going to do when you get out?” I know my friends and family are asking this because they’re curious. But each time someone poses this question, I feel pressure – like I should already have a plan. And I don’t. I’m not ready to have a plan. That will come when the time is right.

But of course I can’t help but wonder. Why don’t I know yet? It sounds like a strange thing to be challenged by, but right now, I have too many options. In fact, it’s easier to articulate what I don’t want to do. I’m pretty sure I don’t want to work in a restaurant. I like having a balanced work and personal life. If my life revolves around kitchen hours, I don’t feel like I’d have time for the things I enjoy most. But I will get my chance very soon to test this theory when I do an internship in Paris.

In terms of what does look interesting, the list is long: food writer, food editor for a winery, teacher, personal chef, sommelier, author, the next Food TV star, etc. Those options are what I can think of today. Who knows what I’ll think up tomorrow. But I have faith it will come to me. Probably when I least expect it.

If you haven’t found your red rubber ball, perhaps it’s time you did. Finding mine and acting on it is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. If you need some encouragement, pick up a copy of Rules of the Red Rubber Ball. Perhaps it will inspire you the way it did me.

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