Success is not about passion: you need way more than that
The Owl and The Beetle: Thursday Memo
Imagine standing on the shore, gazing at a vast ocean, yearning to reach the horizon. Like a fiery sun, your heart is filled with passion, illuminating your dreams. But can this passion alone propel your boat to the distant shores of success?
The answer, contrary to popular belief, is no.
While an essential element, passion is not the lone sailor on this voyage to success. It needs companions - intensity, perseverance, and preparation - to navigate the tumultuous seas of ambition and reach the desired destination.
The Limitations of Passion
We often hear, "Follow your passion, and success will follow."
This advice, although well-intentioned, is like handing a map of the desert to a sailor. In this context, passion is a broad term as vague and elusive as the shifting sands of a desert.
It's a starting point, a spark that ignites the flame, but it's not the fuel that keeps it burning.
Passion is like the wind in a sailor's sails, it can drive us forward, but without a compass or a rudder - our intensity and perseverance - we might end up adrift, lost in the vast sea of ambition.
The Power of Intensity
Intensity is the first companion of passion on this journey. Imagine it as the flame of a candle. A candle with a small, weak flame provides little light and is quickly extinguished by a slight breeze.
However, a robust, intense candle can illuminate a dark room and withstand stronger winds.
Similarly, intensity in our actions and thoughts can help us overcome obstacles and light our path toward success.
It's the fuel that keeps the flame of passion burning brightly, ensuring that we remain focused and committed to our goals.
The Role of Perseverance
Next, we have perseverance.
Picture yourself trying to crack open a tough nut.
You won't succeed if you give up after the first few tries.
You must keep at it, applying pressure consistently and persistently until the shell breaks. That's what perseverance is all about.
It's the unwavering commitment to keep going, to keep trying, even when the nut seems too hard to crack. The rudder steers our boat, guiding us through rough waters and keeping us on course toward our destination.
The Importance of Preparation
Lastly, there's preparation.
Think of it as the blueprint for your castle.
It outlines the design, the materials needed, and the following steps.
Without preparation, you might have a lopsided tower or a collapsing wall.
Similarly, preparation equips us with the necessary knowledge, skills, and strategies to pursue success. The compass helps us navigate, anticipate potential challenges, and devise ways to overcome them.