Siouxland Magazine - Volume 3 Issue 1

Siouxland Magazine | Passion / 10
Erik
AJ
Passionate About Conversation
Here at Siouxland Magazine, we are passionate
about conversation, action, and inspiration. Each
issue, we strive to bring you stories that elevate
you, prompt you to talk to others, act, and make an
impact on the world around us. This year, we begin
having a regular “Inspire Conversation” centered around
the issue’s theme. The conversation will include responses
from two Siouxlanders. If you or someone you know would
like to be part of the conversation, reach out to us!
This month, our conversation involves AJ Delfs and Erik
Marto. AJ is Market Center Administrator for KW Siouxland
and Erik is the owner of Marto Brewing. Both agreed to
share their thoughts on passion.
Siouxland Magazine (SM): In your opinion, is there a
difference between doing something as a hobby, having
skill in a task, and having a passion for something? Why or
why not?
AJ Delfs (AJ): I think there is certainly a difference
between these things. For example, it may turn out that
I’m skilled at, let’s say, hanging wallpaper, but if I don’t like
doing it and have no desire to do it then that skill serves
me no purpose. In this scenario I would probably also
keep that skill to myself for fear that if other people knew
about it, they’d ask me to do it - then I’m stuck between
feeling bad for declining to help and agreeing to help but
resenting it. In terms of hobby vs. passion, I think the two
can coexist but aren’t necessarily exclusive. Hobbies are
often associated with things that people do for fun, to fill
time, or to create some extra income on the side, whereas
passion I think infers an inner drive that compels a person
to do something.
Erick Marto (EM): For me, they all played together. I
started out doing something as a hobby, it turned into a
passion and eventually evolved into a skill as I keep working
on it and improving as much as I could. I saw the potential
of learning more and wanting to be the best at it. Literally
every second I had available, I was listening to podcasts
and audiobooks to learn more. I would be mowing the
lawn learning about brewing. It had evolved from a hobby
to something I wanted to build a skill in doing because I
was passionate about it.
SM: How have you discovered what you are passionate
about?
EM: It just started with doing some home brewing for
family and friends. Then I got interested in learning about
different growing techniques, different recipes, and sharing
that product with friends. It evolved as I started to enter
competitions and eventually, I wrote a business plan, and it
has become the center of my life.
AJ: I think finding what you are passionate about is
something that happens naturally over the course of your
life. I try to experience new things that pique my interest,
and the ones that I find joy or satisfaction in usually stick
around while the others fall to the side. In my case, I have
found, through trial and error, that I enjoy creating things
- whether it be cooking, arts and crafts, furniture building,
sewing, etc. However, over time I’ve realized my passion
isn’t so much about the activity itself but the sense of
satisfaction I get from creating something beautiful and the
pride I get when I share it with others and it brings them joy.
SM: Describe how it feels to be engaged in your passion?
AJ: In a broad sense I feel my passion is making other
people happy. So, while I enjoy the process of sewing -
creating a beautiful 3D garment from flat raw materials - it
is the act of sharing it with others that drives me to do it. If I