I meet a lot of people. Have worked with a lot of people
over the years, too. Some interactions are for only moments, while others are
months, years, even nearly a lifetime. Each connection sparks or doesn’t.
Sometimes slowly; others quickly, like a wildfire. Something gets a
conversation going and soon ideas, comments, feelings tumble together. An ‘aha’
moment or uproarious laughter usually results. Then a calm overtakes the
participants and they wonder what just happened.
I’ve seen it over and over again. In a community meeting of
strangers brought together to consider a problem in need of a solution, or a
group of business people meeting for a community breakfast to consider some new
ideas, the attendees are mostly strangers to each other. Tentative welcomes are
shared, maybe a business card or two, and then an uncomfortable silence until
someone introduces a topic. Usually it is not the weather or the Cubs, or Bears
or White Sox! No, usually it’s – ‘What do you do for your business?’ or, ‘Where
is your business located?’ or ‘What’s your business’ biggest problem today?’
And then they are off. Soon common issues are identified and
the conversation takes off. Hopefully they will have identified a thread of
interest for them to build a relationship on. A relationship that holds mutual
benefits that help each other.
In some meetings I encounter folks wanting to start their
own business, or they have a business already but have hopes to build it bigger
and better. Some ‘businesses’ aren’t typical businesses; they are service
organizations attempting to help others with specific needs that are going
unmet. Whether for profit or not, such organizations operate for a reason.
Helping them identify that reason is often what I spend a lot of time doing.
It boils down to this: in the business world we think of the
purpose of the company as being its value
proposition. In the non-profit arena we think of it as mission. In whatever world you operate it is the purpose
of your organization. Knowing this gives focus and structure to your
efforts. It is very helpful. But it is often not enough.
Meeting new people with ideas to implement in the form of
new businesses and organizations, the quality that separates them the most is
the sparkle in their eyes or the eagerness of their body language. Somehow some
people are more engaged in what they are doing or embarking upon. Others are
more demure and quiet; disengaged is more like it. I wonder why those folks are
even at the meeting. What brought them out to discuss these issues? Why are
they here?
Over the years the engaged ones are those who are excited to
do, to build, to make something happen. And their idea is a pathway to that
eventuality. They have a spark that has ignited interest and energy. They are
in the act of doing. Soon we will
learn what that spark is.
I think on this often and have come to know it has the passion
behind a person’s action. Know this and you will learn what drives the person
in the chosen direction.
That’s it - identifying the passion. Each person has it or
doesn’t. Finding it is the secret to unlocking a person’s energy and focus. It
is the core of why he or she does what he does in the broad sense of things, or
of career, or hobby or pastime. What interests make this person’s life perk up?
Is this passion evident in his/her business dealings? In her
organization of the day’s activities?
If passion is present a powerful automatic pilot most likely
is operating in the life of that person. Drive results. Energy focused on doing
and outcomes happen. This person is on a personal journey of excitement and
accomplishment. That will likely fuel even more energy and passion. And on and
on.
Meeting new entrepreneurs for the first time I find it
necessary to detect their passion. Challenging them to do so is a beginning to
organizing for accomplishment. Uncovering the passion is exciting for them and
for me. It is the force that will ignite their future. And it just keeps on
giving what is needed to make an enterprise a success.
I learned this valuable lesson from years working in
non-profits. They have a reason for being, a purpose that digs deep in a values
appreciation. They believe in what they are doing because the outcome is so
valuable to others, and by extension, to them. They like being a part of
helping another person. That becomes a passion for them.
Later I learned this parallels with business and career success
as well. If we care enough about the value of the product or service our
organization is delivering to the world, then we can get excited about
everything that makes it happen.
Capturing our passion is the secret. It will carry us far,
and on into the future of what is possible.
September 26, 2016
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