This idea came to me a few years ago. I was going some consulting on a small start up business focused on children. The business was the creation of a married couple, and the wife declared herself and her role as sales & marketing. Truth be told, she was neither good at sales or marketing, but for a season she was allowed free rein in her attempt to drive and increase sales.
It wasn’t until a meeting wherein the obvious was brought to the attention of all, that while she was currently filling the role of sales & marketing, the reality was there were much more competent and experienced people who should have been filling that role. When I raised this fact with the team, her immediate was response was to get defensive, and then explain how passionate she was about sales & marketing.
Passion. Its turned into such a toss up word, it is used by everyone everywhere. A few weeks ago I had an associate tell me how passionate they thought I was in my coaching, I actually stopped them and told them how much I hated that word.
Here’s the thing. It is my opinion that if you need to tell others what you are passionate about, you probably aren’t that passionate to begin with. If others don’t see that drive and intention about the thing it is you think you are passionate about, do you really have passion?
When a person eat, sleeps and drinks a particular thing, others take notice and realize that a true passion exists - and they don’t need you to tell them about your passion.
I am unapologetic about this topic, and yes, I would expect some push back about the subject - perhaps I’m tainted by people I’ve been around who have cheapened the word - but in the end I’ll stand by my opinion and be ready to defend it.
Alternatively I offer the following. If you are so deliberate and intentional about a skill or talent or field of work or charity, be so intentional and deliberate that others around you can’t help but know where your passion lies. Let others identify the passion you hold and allow them to identify it in you.
There are many things in life I enjoy, but few I am truly passionate about. But if my passion matches or exceeds any verbal expression, I won’t have to say a word because my actions will scream it so loudly everyone else will see it and recognize it.
So go and have passion, no need to tell anyone - I promise you they will see it in you.
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