In the movie, Serendipity, we hear an inspiring and memorable quote: “You know the Greeks didn’t write obituaries. They only asked one question after a man died: ‘Did he have passion?’” While there is little evidence to confirm the validity that the Greeks actually asked that question, its words are powerful in the value they attribute to the value of passion in the lives of great leaders. Passion lights fires, kindles hope and burns brightly in the eyes of dreamers. Its magic creates an exuberance and excitement about life’s infinite possibilities and undiscovered joys.
Nelson Mandela captures the essence of this question saying: “There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” Choose to be on fire all the days of your life, never settling to be less than you ever dreamed you could be, so that at end of days when they ask that question of your life, the hills will resound with the echoes of a magnificent “Yes, she had passion!” Remember also on journey John Wesley’s playful and joyful words: “When you set yourself on fire, people love to come and see you burn.” Burn brightly and light the world that others, too, may see their awesome richness and the possibilities that life holds. Don’t settle for anything less. Life is too precious.
Have a beautiful day and a magnificent week!!!
Passion is fundamental to leadership. It exists when we not only possess ideas but those ideas possess us. Passion fuels emotional resolve, nourishes the courage to take bold action, and generates the physical stamina to preserve when things get tough. It is also what makes a leader contagious.
Either that or everyone thinks you’re crazy.
Passion is something that drives you to extremes, that drives you crazy. The contemporary greek writer, Nikos Kazantzakis, writes: ‘the ultimate foolishness, the essence of life’.