French Fries (Photo credit: fritish)
People are throwing around the word passion like it’s salt on French fries. It’s becoming a very popular word to describe spirited energy and excitement about something — whether it’s business, facing the day, or doing PR, for example.
I consider myself a passionate person in a number of ways — I have an incredible passion for blogging; I write with a voice that is WSYWIG — people are surprised to Skype for the first time and see that I am how I write.
I am passionate about public relations. It angers me when my peers get short shrift in our profession because others don’t understand how or what we do.
Having a passion for various aspects of life are also part of the total package. Does that mean people with passion are born with it, or can it be taught? Does passion come with maturity and a few years under the belt? Is it all about experiences others don’t have?
Marketers try to tap the passion about their products when writing copy or with storytelling. I get that…people need to tap inner emotion to bring out the pocketbook and build loyalty and evangelism.
What I hope doesn’t happen, though, is that the word passion becomes boring. People with instinctual passion for their approach to life bring a zeal others strive for.
If passion becomes mundane, then we who have that inner light naturally will need to use another word to describe our zest for life.
What’s your definition of passion? Do you think it can be taught? Is it something innate or does it ripen with time and seasoned expertise? Do you think passion is being thrown around like salt on French fries?
This is one of those blog posts where I’m just thinking and don’t have the answer; maybe you do.
For me, being truly passionate is someone who just gets on and does the thing they love, without needing to tell the whole world they’re passionate about doing the thing they love. If you’re truly passionate, that will shine through in whatever it is you’re doing.
Now, what’s the next sound bite? 😉
@Danny Brown Laughing…indeed, Friend, indeed!
@Danny Brown You’re spot on here Danny. Definitely. It’s a bit like “engagement” really. There’s a lot of talk about the “e” word and like passion, it’s not something you can fake until you make it.
Passion also needs time to be rekindled.
@jonbuscall Exactly, mate. And often the ones talking the most about “engagement” are the ones doing the least of it…
Hi Jayme, I don’t think passion can be taught, it’s something that originates from within an individual.
Genuine passion can be instinctually picked up by others because it’s not made up or forced. It’s natural.
I think people mistake passion for enthusiasm or zest, which is quite different, in my mind at least. It’s something that can be conjured up and can change with the seasons.
Passions stick with you for a lifetime because they are part of your DNA.
Burning passion is quiet and still and is expressed in many different forms through the individual who possess it.
That’s my two cents anyhow : )
@Mark_Harai What I am going to do is find all your deep comments on this blog and repurpose them into Mark Harai, The Romantic. It’s going to be an e book. #That.Is.All.
@Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing Yikes! Your plate is full, full, full… but nice to know you enjoy my thoughts. They may not resonate with some folks, but they are straight from the heart.
Cheers, miss! : )
Hi Jayme,
Fun topic! I admit to wondering too if I have “enough” of this thing called passion! To me it’s a big word and I’m not sure exactly how it is defined. It’s a little bit of a challenge, I think, to be very passionate all the time – akin to being very happy all the time. Is it possible?
Words become devalued over time and we need fresh new words to replace them and clarify the meaning. I’m with you; like salt on French fries.
Lori
@Lori I don’t think we should try too hard; those of us who have it in doses somewhere know it. Others seeking it are troubled by its lack.
But, I am thinking on what you said, passion akin to being happy. I think those are two completely different emotions! Maybe I need to write on that. Better yet, how about a Guest Post for The Happy Friday Series? I’d love your take on does passion=happy.
@Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing Hi Jayme, To clarify; I didn’t mean to equate happiness with passion. I meant to compare the desire for both and the unrealistic hope we seem to have of maintaining a steady high level of either. We are up and down, maybe not very low and sometimes very high but we aren’t always extremely passionate. And we aren’t always extremely happy. Those are illusions the Internet world permits us to create and I think that is a dangerous thing because it causes us to feel bad when we can’t live up to it.
I’ll have to think about the Happy Friday Series. I’ve got so much going on lately in my life that doesn’t qualify me as happy. Not sure it’s the right time for me to do this but I appreciate the offer.
@Lori Very interesting thoughts, Lori…I agree…the illusion of perfectness is what social media has created. Perfect temperament, loads of success and always smiling. Look under the covers…
Whenever you feel the urge to share thoughts, although I know you do very often in your own house, the offer stands. No pressure at all.
Hi Jayme,
“Passion goes beyond simply being dramatic, powerful and emotional; it is more accurately characterised as an unfailing dedication to an ideal. Thus intensity and duration often demonstrate passion.”
This is the definition of passion that I use. It comes from the book Practicing Servant Leadership.
Passion is what keeps me moving forward even in those moments where I feel like I’ve been running in place and getting no where and wondering why I don’t just throw in the towel and teach English as a second language in some nice warm spot in the world. When I’ve thought about walking away from my business, in the end, it’s my passion for my work that keeps me focused and moving forward.
It’s also the real passion demonstrated by thoughtful people like you that keeps me moving forward and focused.
Cheers,
Sharon
@Sharon Gilmour Glover Hi, Sharon! So nice to have you over…we should Skype sometime, I think it would be nice, but you’d have to wait for the flu to abate in this household. Day 5 for me and kidlet running a temp and asleep. Sigh.
Intensity, duration and unfailing dedication to an ideal…powerful words and they ignite the flame in a driven entrepreneur, don’t they?
I bet you have your hands full of such folks within your company’s clientele, as well. You know that type.
As you mentioned “running in place going nowhere,” it rang a bell close to home. I feel as if I’m learning every single aspect of marketing from scratch, alone in this solopreneur setting with no time to do it well and focused. The baby steps I’m making will come together when I’m 80 and living off passive income from these efforts. (That’s the only thing I can think of!)
Thanks for your final comment; I appreciate that acknowledgment.
@Soulati | B2B Social Media Marketing Skyping sounds delightful so let me know when you and kidlet are flu free. Oh you poor thing. It seems the viruses are getting nastier. I hope you feel better soon.
I think one of the most challenging aspects of being a solopreneur is the isolation. I’ve always been lucky enough to have a partner and we have an fantastic team. It makes a huge difference. That’s why social media is so powerful. It enables a community development and can help to minimise isolation.
I laughed my head off re your comment about 80 and passive income. May I join you? I’ll bring the wine!
Feel better and I look forward to Skyping,
Sharon
@Sharon Gilmour Glover We’re all going to be in a geriatric commune blogging, Sharon! OMgosh…what a visual. Yes, please join me. Thank you.
So glad I’m catching up – apparently I haven’t lurked as well as I thought. Ahem. To answer your question, hell yes – way, way overdone – and yes, losing its meaning. It’s one of those ‘like porn, you know it when you see it things’ but it’s also a ‘mileage may vary’ thing.
It’s personal – some think a passion is 110.34% white hot burning all the time, that it’s all consuming, all driving, all eternity. I don’t, or don’t think it has to be. I have had interests that were once very passionate but have since waned; think of some of your big TV followings, how we once cared so much to dissect LOST and now, meh. I also have loves that grow and ebb then strengthen again, last a lifetime. One thing I’ve notice though – when I’m discussing something I’m ‘passionate’ about – I get very excited, animate and ready to work. If it’s something design, I jump in both feet; are we talking travel or Disney, I could go on for hours. Maybe that’s it – something you can get lost in, not have it feel like work?
And before I forget, Thank You – this reminded me of an Onion post I’d read, meant to tweet. Brilliant satire on passion and so, so very me. https://onion.com/YGeLE0 Enjoy. 🙂 FWIW.
3HatsComm gosh, girl, I have really missed your spark around these parts…truly. Thanks for catching up; I really appreciate you coming by! I am heading over to the Onion!
Agree on the stuff that drives passion or inspiration. I love writing blog posts as a result of inspiration; they happen in like 10 minutes and are the best work.