1. Give passion to get
passion.
Think about how you respond
to others. Are your responses filled with enthusiasm or are they flat and
lifeless? The level of your energy will be reflected back to you--it's your
boomerang to the world.
2. Value your values.
Just as important as what you
do is how you do it. Living and working in alignment with your values reflects
your passion as a person. Living your values also engenders the respect and
commitment of others, who will see you as a leader of integrity.
3. Communicate with
your community.
The word
"communication" comes from the Latin root meaning
"community." The best leaders surround themselves with others who
share their motivation. Stay connected with your community to find support, to
learn, to teach and to remain energized to stick with it.
4. Listen to
Yoda.
In the words of the Star
Wars Jedi Master Yoda, "Do or do not. There is no try." If you are
nervous that your plan won't work, you might find yourself saying, "Okay,
I'll try to do it." You are laying the foundation for being unsuccessful
from the beginning by giving yourself a way out. Yoda's adage is a passionate
reminder that life rewards those who let their actions rise above their
excuses.
5. Be still.
Start each day in quiet
meditation or prayer. Refresh your mind and refocus your heart on what you are
passionate about. Concentrate on one new thing you can do that day to deepen
your passion and make progress toward your goal ... even if it's something you
don't like to do. Your passion helps you endure those daily disciplines
that build the foundation of your success.
6. Enjoy the journey.
If it's only about achieving
the goal, you are likely to lose steam along the way. Take time to be a human
being, not just a human doing. Although high-achieving leaders have a laser-like
focus, they also relish being in the moment. My favorite poem says it best:
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift ... that's
why we call it the Present."
7. Imagine the
future.
Visualize the things you will
be able to do once you have achieved your goal. Does it feel freeing? What will
you be able to do with your precious resources of time, money and energy? This
exercise is particularly helpful when you feel the flame of your passion barely
flickering.
8. Serve others.
Use your passion to inspire
others. After all, great leadership is about others, not about you. Be ready to
turn your passion into an example to encourage those around you to pursue their
own goals. A true passion, like love, is limitless ... so share it.
Find more strategies for
igniting passion in Stick with It: Mastering the Art of
Adherence. Download free book chapters here.
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