What sparked your passion?

Jump in the way-back machine and tell your passion origin story. Everything has a beginning, middle and end. It is worthwhile to review to see how we have arrived at today. Influences, coincidences, divine appointments or twists of fate brought you to the point of finding this cause where you seek to achieve change to you and the world.

I wanted to bring something unique to the world following a reawakening over the past 18 months. My response is taking the form of curiosity, inquiry and writing. With the constant barrage of talking heads giving all the answers, I thought it was time to ask different questions. These inquiries are intended to prompt discovery and self-awareness for those that choose to engage. Most will not spend the time to answer nor dwell with the question. My journey had taken years before I was willing to look for deeper questions and prepared to respond with something other than memes. I haven't arrived, but this was my spark.

Your turn.

Going Further: Who inspired your passion? What frustrated you about the status quo? What gave you the courage to step forward? Who has come alongside to support you? What does success look like as you invest in your passion? What question was missed?

YouTube Video: What sparked your passion?

How have you displayed grit in pursuit of your passion?

The Merriam-Webster definition of grit is the "firmness of mind or spirit: unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger." Not the definition of a friend used to describe his dissatisfaction of a contemporary as "the grit in the gears of progress." Your personal definition has probably matured over the years as you think beyond cramming for a school final.

We don't run from bears and saber-toothed tigers, so our biggest challenges are self-imposed. We claim to do hard things by skipping a meal and at the first temptation the donut gets dropped into the face trap. Skipping a meal is a daily occurrence for much of the world, and it is hard to justify this as grit. The second element is thriving in these conditions for a sustained period. It is clear that long-suffering is a component of grit and runs counter-culture to our give-it-to-me-now, always-on society.

The perseverance to stick it through to the end is critical when the project is necessary. Each minute of your life is invaluable, and your passions demand your time and effort to make the dream a reality. Pursuing your first muscle-up, achieving a deadlift personal record or helping struggling kids, over years, place well on college entrance exams, require grit to submit the final product and await a verdict. Pushing through the brain fog to produce good work, despite the long nights and little sleep produce grit.

What is your history with grit? How does this inquiry challenge you and encourage you? What challenge did made you appreciate grit? Who is your real-life example of grit?

YouTube: How have you displayed grit in pursuit of your passion?

What data are you ignoring?

The truth can hurt and reading the data can sting, but as writer Joseph Campbell stated, if you are falling....dive. I recently heard this quote and loved the perspective and truth. The passions we pursue are worthy of getting right and rarely will we nail it the first time. We need to look at the data and adjust. Everything is continually changing; either growing or decaying. We must embrace the change, fight decay and foster growth.

My tendency is to charge ahead with what I believe is the right answer, based on feelings and because I want it to be so. Data is an emotionless friend that presents the facts, sits back with a blank stare, and awaits a response. The trick is to ensure you are gathering the right metrics, so this friend reveals the good data points. Spend time noodling through the results to ensure the analytics are understood. Then decisions can be made and action taken.

The passions scream, keep pressing forward, look at all I have invested in getting this far. The brother has been convinced from the start that you are crazy. The emotions get tossed back and forth based on the ebb and flow of likes or followers. The fans applaud the silver lining of the trials. The data quietly sits by waiting to be asked, then states, either pivot or continue the dive. The data is the calm voice among the noise, and there is no need to fear this loyal friend. 

It may be time to run a query on the database with just the right questions then take your friend out for a coffee. Read what the data says. For some, the evidence says it is time to move on to the next dream on the list; this one is heading nowhere. For others, the data says there is more for you to learn and grow through this passionate pursuit, now is the time for you to double-down and run hard. You can't tell your friend what to say; you can only listen then make a decision. 

Going Further: What data points are you tracking? What data points do you dislike? How do emotions rule your decision-making process? What data point is it time to heed?

What challenges must you overcome?

The only people that don't have challenges are dead. That doesn't apply since you are reading this post. Therefore, the tribe expects you to make the most of your passion for a positive impact. The combination of demons and temptations we face are as diverse as humanity; however, we can all relate. I could struggle with alcoholism and drugs, yours is perfectionism; mine is laziness, yours is a workaholic or some crazy mash-up. In all cases, the damage we can do to ourselves and those around us will leave a scar. Leaving good works left undone and our passion taken to the grave.

We need to push back against our natural tendency to roll back under the covers and say it is too hard to fight today. Give yourself a moment to recognize the internal talk or acknowledge the bodies weariness, then begin to fight back. When those we support are feeling off their game, we rally to their side and encourage them on, reminding them of previous victories. We sit on the edge of our seats with the adrenalin coursing through our veins holding our breath, waiting for just the right moment to yell "Rocky, get up!" Then we go ballistic as Rocky climbs from the bloody mat to eventually pummel his opponent; blow after blow, until it is done.

Trying to change the world is not an easy task, even for a good cause. The entrepreneur lifestyle has recently been glorified due to some notable successes coupled with the Silicon Valley payout of some start-ups. It will always be easier to push the play button on Netflix, but it doesn't mean this is how you must spend your time. We have the ability to reach around the globe, meet like-minded people and find the community that is looking for the same change we are pursuing.

We know the hard days are coming and will require reinforcements to bolster our strength with tactics and encouragement. Knowing opposition will come from the outside, will give the courage to address the other internal or environmental challenges that rise during the pursuit of your vision.

Invest in your community, be generous, be authentic and find those that will be in your corner to help you in the fight that looms ahead. If your passion, vision and desire are strong enough, then make it happen. The world is always changing, muscle your way in to paint it in your colors.

How do you energize those you are passionate about?

You don't have to be loud to encourage the crowd, but it helps. The political pundits talk about using strategies to rally the base for their particular candidate. Whether it is advertisements, rallies or fundraisers, there is a process for getting people fired up about a cause.

What is your strategy for getting your supporters, co-workers or customers excited about the passions you share? The tribe looks to the leader for vision and direction to keep the momentum going. Your enthusiasm for the product and the people will have a contagious impact on those around you.

What insights do you have about the idiosyncrasies of your community that allow you to know them better than they know themselves? This understanding supports knowing when the masses will bob and weave and let you be the DJ. 

What do you respect the most about your community? Since you chose these people as your own, part of the deal is to work like crazy to ensure success is achieved. Your appreciation and respect for the group you serve can inspire action and devotion as you share your pursuit of the mission.

Where do you see the tribe waning in their passion? Derek Sivers (@sivers on Twitter) gave a TED Talk about "how to start a movement" and describes the transformation of one crazy guy into a dancing movement all within 3 minutes. Leading is hard and requires massive effort to maintain the momentum necessary to accomplish anything great. How can you reinvigorate the community?

This is our opportunity to drive change, create something bigger than ourselves and inspire those around us. You must pursue your passions, and they matter; the tribe is waiting.

YouTube Link: How do you energize those you are passionate about?

What are your passions?

Family, the environment or merely world domination, the passions we pursue are what define our lives. Those with a life long vision can focus their attention on making the vision a reality over the long run. Others shift priorities and passions on a regular basis to experience the broad spectrum of what life offers. The remaining dare not to define their  passions or they have lost hope.

Abraham Lincoln met with extreme adversity and multiple defeats before achieving the U.S. Presidency. As providence would have it, he was just the right man to see us through the Civil War and end slavery. Those top our list of inspiring people all have many qualities and passion must be one of them. 

The key is the ability to identify your current passions clearly and recognize when they have changed. The world around us says, either follow you passion at all cost or choose the popular passions that are acceptable, but not too radical. Regardless of the category of your passion, own it, love it and pursue it. The world needs leaders that have a diversity of interests and are willing to invest their lives to ensure the future is even better than today.

Going Further: What is your 30-second elevator pitch about your passion? What inspired your passion? Are you giving your all to your passions and do any changes need to be made?

YouTube Link: What are your passions?