March 4, 2019
LEADERSHIP, VISION & PASSION
Possess the Passion of Vision is the fourth principle shared by Dr. Munroe as a necessary ingredient for any aspiring leader to fulfill their vision. It is good to be directed by a clear vision, know your potential for fulfilling vision, and to develop a concrete plan for your vision BUT all the aforementioned will be useless if you are devoid of passion.
Passion is defined by the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary as zeal; ardor; intense or vehement desire. The word itself comes from the Latin root word, patior, which means to suffer—hence the passion of Christ. Its present use defines passion as being a force that is irresistible, compelling a person to action.
PASSION FOR THE LONG HAUL
Matthew 11:12 (AMPC) … the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize--a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].
Passion will cause a person to seize the fulfilment of their vision or dream with ardent zeal and intense exertion. Without passion, it might be easy to give up along the way when one is faced with obstacles on the journey to fulfilling vision. Without passion, Jesus would not have been able to endure the cross. Passion has an object. It endures because it has a vision to fulfil. Let us see how Jesus used passion to his advantage. The scriptures read, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). Vision enables us to see the end from the beginning. Jesus could see the end from the beginning. The end or vision was a humanity reconciled to God. He set his mind on this end or vision. On the road to the fulfilment of this vision, he was faced with betrayal, whipping, disgrace and eventually being nailed to a cross. Ordinarily he could have given up but whenever he thought of the joy set before him, he endured all the obstacles on the road to the fulfillment of his vision and even despised the shame.
Thomas Alva Edison was an inventor and businessman, credited with developing electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, motion pictures and the long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. On the road to some of his major inventions, he is said to have failed over a thousand times but because of his passion, he despised the shame and persevered and today we have electric power and light bulbs. His passion changed the world as we know it. Some people give up after the 10th fail or after they have been subject to ridicule and public disgrace. This does not lead to breakthrough inventions or the fulfilment of vision. For vision to manifest, we must be passionate about the vision enough to despise the shame and persevere. Passion is an indispensable element in the fulfilment of vision.
LEADERS’ QUOTES ON PASSION
The following are some instructional leadership quotes on passion from which we can learn quite a bit.
“Purpose is the reason you journey. Passion is the fire that lights the way.” Anonymous
“Passion is born when you catch a glimpse of your true potential.” Anonymous
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Albert Einstein
“Passion is so key in leading and creating excellence that I will hire passion over education and talent every time.” Dave Ramsey
“If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.” T.D. Jakes
“True passion attracts. If you have passion in your business, the right people will be attracted to your team.” Robert T. Kiyosaki
“Passion will move men beyond themselves, beyond their shortcomings, beyond their failures.” Joseph Campbell
“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.” George Hegel
“People with great passion can make the impossible happen.” Anonymous
“Without passion, you don’t have energy, without energy you have nothing.” Donald Trump
“Finding your passion isn’t just about careers and money. it’s about finding your authentic self. The one you’ve buried beneath other people’s needs.” Anonymous
“No alarm clock needed. My passion wakes me.” Eric Thomas
“Chase your passion, not your pension.” Denis Waitley
