Kigali – On average, 80 per cent of your life, someone has told you or you have told someone to "follow their passion” a song that has echoed in our ears as a cure to life problems. How true is it?
Many have tried but back to the drain, it never seems to be right following our passion alone, although passion acts as a fuel needed to push us to launch and start on our new assignments in life.
The biggest challenge that goes unanswered is, can passion alone manifest and sustain our ideas?
The reason you have told somebody, someone has told you to follow your passion is that telling sounds easy just like a motivational, inspirational talk or advice, go find your passion or do what you are passionate about.
These are clichés and very dangerous statements you should avoid because the key drive and fuel for passion is energy, emotions backed by your "why in life” that we sometimes call your reason for-.
Imagine somebody taking up all your responsibilities; you have at hand, what would you do with your remaining time to contribute to this universe? Therefore without a why in life, you will never be focused because it is never the lack of time but direction.
Dr John Demartini once said that no person is ever committed to anything but to the fulfilment of their highest values. To understand ones values, take a look at how they spend their time.
Therefore, passion alone is never enough to guarantee success in your endeavour’s only when coupled with the market demand and competence, your willing to invest.
Many successfully people in different fields such as entrepreneurship, leadership can testify that just having enthusiasm for something or in a certain activity does not guarantee your success in that field.
Matter of fact competence without passion is drudgework same as passion without demand turns out to be a hobby.
Imagine yourself on an interview panel and you are required to make a selection for your next company employee, would you rather prefer a highly skilled, experienced or passionate candidate?
Michael Jordan once asked why he did what he did by some journalists after making the world’s famous dank responded by one word, "dispassionate.”
The opposite of passionate, he believed being in control of circumstances performing and taking an extra mile was key to avoid the trap of being enslaved by passion that many athletes had fallen into.
Whenever you put passion at fore front, it acts a soft sponge that will always get you in trouble no matter what. Shannon Miller said, "Just because your life changed doesn’t mean that your deepest passion have changed.”
Our great fathers knew of the passion trap and its effects (lust obsession anxiety and anger) thereby warned highly about it.
You have been brain washed by stories you have heard about the passion of successful people little do you know that failure has also been their counterpart.
Many people filter information in accordance to their desires and interests eliminating the vital parts. Just like Napoleon, a brimming leader with high enthusiasm and passion ended up miscalculating his invasion of Russia that saw him return home with a half fraction of his men.
He removed the cake from the oven before it was ready.
Life is full of ups and downs easy and hard puzzles to connect, however all your required of is to be skilful patient and understanding to connect the dots. You need clear sense of purpose that is accompanied by clear boundaries to pursue something outside your comfort zone.
This calls for a deliberate realisation of a worthy idea without too much zeal. Aim at getting satisfaction from all you do making the most meaning and contribution to those around you.
Keep in mind you have within you all you ever desired and needed to reach for the stars and change the universe.
The writer is the CEO & Founder Mindlab Inc. He is a Speaker, Leadership, Business and Life strategist
Email: rwakiseta.herbert@gmail.com
Views expressed are of the writer and do not represent those of Business Times.