Passion - The Driving Force Behind Success

Passion – an underrated word with so much meaning. Most people attribute this word to romance and relationships, but it is so much more and so important.

Passion is the driving force behind every endeavor. Whether you are a collector, a rock climber, or surfer; whether you are a baker, chef, or interior designer; whether you are a fitness instructor, yoga instructor, or pilates coach; whether you own a business, are a writer, or make/create music – each instance is inspired by passion.

Passion is what ignites your pilot light thus igniting your life. Passion is where the heat and the fire begin.

So what’s the secret behind passion?

I believe it’s different for everyone.

Maybe you’re overweight and are tired of being uncomfortable. I have a friend, V, who lost 80lbs because she saw a pic of herself one day and was fed up with how she looked and felt all the time.

Maybe you are tired of working for someone and one day at work was “the last straw.” I have a friend, Chris, who was let go of his job during Covid after 13 years of leading his team, he started his own business with his wife and is doing very well.

Maybe you’ve been told you were great at something and decided that it’s time to find out just how true it is.

There are a variety of possibilities. I really can’t tell you one thing that can build or create that passion.

Whatever it is, it has to be so intense that you will not waste another day wondering, thinking, contemplating, pining, or questioning your next efforts.

You become drawn to your change. Your want and will become so inflamed, that your pilot light gets sparked. It’s now all you can think about.

This is where passion is born. Passion is very powerful and can lead to amazing results. It is also a very complicated process that encompasses many different forms of action. You’ve heard of people using the term “in the zone,” when someone is so focused they are hitting on all cylinders?

Passion has a very similar effect. The great thing about becoming passionate is that it is not momentary. It has long-term, long-lasting effects. When you hear “they’ve found their niche; they’re in their element; this was meant for them,” they’ve discovered their passion.

It could be about turning a love or interest you have into a hobby or business. It could be about losing weight and making physical changes. It could be about writing stories and becoming an author. It could be about giving your time to a cause you love and decided to be part of or start your own.

Passion is all-encompassing…it drives the mere existence of our lives. It’s what makes us want to get up in the morning and tackle the world. It’s what makes us excited to get to sleep so we can start the next day. The best thing about passion – no matter what you are passionate about, even though some days are harder than others and some days are better than others, you won’t stop doing it because you feel that strongly because you can’t, because you love it too much.

With that being said, I believe there are 5 main factors that begin and then propel passion. Yes, there are many, many things, but these 5 factors contribute largely to passion. They are:

DESIRE. This is where passion begins. You know something must change. Something must happen to guide you to hit your goal. Your wheels begin spinning, so-to-speak, and you are getting ready to ignite your pilot light.

DRIVE. Now that you have discovered your desire(s), you become driven to seek out a path and make it happen. This is the goal-setting process and the planning/preparation that’ll get you there, which leads to…

DETERMINATION. Determination is when you are revving your engine with your car in neutral waiting to put it into drive. You have your plan, you have prepared to implement your plan and now you are going to get there. It’s on your mind day and night and you have set your mentality to succeed and are now shifting your focus to do exactly what is necessary to get results.

DISCIPLINE. You needed to change. You are driven to implement the change. You are determined to see it through. Now you will do whatever is necessary to get results. If that means getting up an hour earlier and going to bed an hour later, you’ll do it. If that means readjusting your schedule to see it through, you’ll do it. If that means changing old habits to develop new habits, that is what you’ll do to see it through. If that means cutting corners and costs to save, then you’ll do it. Discipline becomes your best friend and now that the engine is revved, you put your car into drive and you are off and running.

DEDICATION. You are now dedicating a big part of your life to conquering your fears and reaching your goals. You are on the road, on cruise control and nothing is going to stop you from hitting your goals and seeing those results.

Your passion is now in full swing!

It’s a process. But it’s a process that happens almost as naturally and as quickly as inhaling and exhaling. The results may take time to reach. That’s fine. It’s expected. Nothing happens overnight…well, not normally anyway. Things take time. Change takes time. BUT you are on your way.

Passion is exactly what you need. If you are not passionate, you may or may not be successful in reaching the final results. You may or may not have a plan.

The difference: passion will make sure you get there. It will guarantee your success. It will guarantee you get results.

Why is that so, you ask?

Because the driving force behind any great venture begins with a passion for that particular endeavor. I’m going to use Tom Brady as an example. Love him or hate him (now I love him because I’m a Tampa Bay fan…lol), the man is passionate about the sport of football. He has seven Super Bowl rings, has tons of money, and is in his mid-40s. But he continues to play the sport, very competitively. For years he adjusted his salary to make sure the Patriots secured the best players around him so they could win Super Bowls. He eats well, he exercises regularly. He could have quit a long time ago. But he didn’t because he loves what he is doing. The same could be said for Roger Federer (40 years old) and Serena Williams (39…will be 40 later this year). They are both super athletes and have made a ton of money. But they are competitive and want to continue to play the sport because it is their passion.

I’m going to share a remarkable story of passion that’ll shock you and remind you that anything is possible – if you’re passionate about it:

Bella Weems was 14 years old. She told her parents she wanted a car when she turned 16 years old. Her parents, sadly, had to tell her that they were unable to afford a car for her and that if she wanted a car, she had to work to earn it.

At 14 years old, there wasn’t much available to her. So her father suggested she start a business and told her to go online and research. While tugging at her charm bracelet and fiddling with her locket, an idea struck her – what about a see-through locket that holds charms to indicate the person’s interests. With $350 she saved from babysitting and $350 her parents matched her, she started her own business, and thus, Origami Owl was created.

In her first year, she generated $280,000. In her second year, $24 million. And by year three, her company amassed a whopping $250 million in sales.

Her passion led her to create a company to make money so she could afford to buy a car when she turned 16…at FOURTEEN YEARS OLD!

Find your passion. Allow it to work for you. And get out there and get your results.

Your best self is waiting to be discovered. You have one amazing life so make it the best life possible.

It’s time to ignite!