Passion

What fuels you ?

What is it within you that helps you get up everyday and make it to work, knowing you will do the best that you possibly can. Perhaps you're not in one of those situations where the sun rises and sets according to how your group of people (company, organization, church, charity, whatever) does with whatever task sits before them. If that's the case, I'm sorry, as it's a great feeling.

It's passion of course for what it is that we do, and it allows us to run on empty for long periods, it motivates us, and helps us push ourselves to achieve greatness when everyone else gives up. It's hugely potent, and almost impossible to artificially replicate. It's also difficult to sustain for long periods alone - unless you are in an environment that stimulates it. Passion is a renewable resource I'd argue, but one that depends upon others passion, as it is contagious.

If your organization has passion, you'll be able to move mountains. If you're company has it, you're truly fortunate, as there's little you won't be able to achieve. If its not there, well then, that's an issue that deserves the highest attention possible, as it's more important to the team than money, and it's more critical to the company's overall belief in it's own divine right for success than new products, services or the nicest offices.

My own experiences with passion have been fleeting in recent years, but the one that I vividly recall actually began from a speech that took place at a conference I didn't attend in 2002. I read this talk given at this conference by a guy named Rich Barton who ran Expedia at the time. It excited me, and I knew I wanted to be part of that organization. In that speech, He said "Passion is primal. Passion is discovery and the opportunity to change the world... Bureaucracy tends to fade away and great ideas and leaders from all levels tend to surface." I made a tremendous effort, and ended up spending a few years at Expedia. It was indeed a very special place, and an experience I treasure as the shared sense of purpose and invincibility was tangible. Mr Barton who now runs Zillow.com was asked to speak about what made Expedia a success, and had been expected to deliver yet another dry overview of how the internet was changing the world lecture. Instead he spoke about the intangible, the magic or secret sauce and it hit the nail on the head exactly.

I've tried to bring passion to where I working ever since - with admittedly varying degrees of success. Passion to those not experiencing it is perceived as over-bearing, controlling and drive towards an uncertain end point. There's a wonderful little story about an older guy who spends years moving large rocks around an open field, and into piles. It's arduous and back-breaking work, and when asked why he did this, he offered simply that he was building a cathedral, and others just couldn't see it yet. You see passion fuels us to envision a future state, or end result, and when it's shared it is truly remarkable.

I'd challenge you to find the passion in your life and embrace it. The personal fulfillment is quite profound, and those around you will be touched by your energy and enthusiasm. After just a little while, it starts to spread...and pretty soon you're at the ground level of the next big thing.