Monday, October 11, 2010

All Great Things Are Accomplished with Passion

If you’re in charge of people, if you have a challenging project and if you want them to do the hard things that are needed for success, will they follow your lead? If you don’t show real passion for the project, chances are they won’t either.

The most worthwhile things in life are the hardest to achieve. That means they involve major challenges. Only a highly committed individual will endure the hard work, delays and discouragements until the goal is finally achieved.

Most people are interested in something—but is it a passionate interest? Many people never experience that. If you don’t feel boundless enthusiasm and obsessive motivation to achieve something, your interest may not carry you far. Even if you do have that kind of intensity, it may be hard to sustain it.

If you listen to your heart, you’ll find out what matters to you most. You may have to listen for a while, but eventually you’ll encounter something in your life that you care about very much. Then you can do the things that most people never do—commit to getting heavily involved in what you’re passionately interested in.

What some of the great minds of the ages have said about passion...

“The minute you choose to do what you really want to do, it's a different kind of life.” - Buckminster Fuller, American architect (1895-1983)

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American philosopher (1803-1882)

“It sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only its own opportunities, but its own talents.” - Eric Hoffer, American philosopher (1902-1983)

“Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat.” - Napoleon Hill, American author (1883-1970)

“A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm.” - Charles M. Schwab, American business leader (1862-1939)

“No matter how carefully you plan your goals, they will never be more than pipe dreams unless you pursue them with gusto.” - W. Clement Stone, American businessman (1902-2002)

“Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things.” - Denis Diderot, French philosopher (1713-1784)

“Do every act of your life as if it were your last.” - Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor (121-180)

“You have to have your heart in the business and the business in your heart.” - Thomas J. Watson, Sr., American business leader (1874-1956)

“Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.” - Confucius, Chinese philosopher (B.C. 551-479)

“Your enthusiasm will be infectious, stimulating and attractive to others. They will love you for it. They will go for you and with you.” - Norman Vincent Peale, American author (1898-1993)

Post by Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D., Copyright 2010. Building Personal Strength . (Permission to use photo purchased from istockphoto.com)

4 comments:

Kathleen Scott said...

I believe that passion is the difference between living and existing.

Sarcastic Bastard said...

Kathleen is so right.

Great quotes, Denny. Thank you.

Unknown said...

Excellent article! I know what it feels like but never heard it in words this well. Thank You

Gentle Soul said...

Its amazing to have power over some people but all ฃ need is there maximum cooperation and ฃ nee to be considerate.