“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.”
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
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Passion is frequently characterized as a formidable force that motivates individuals to attain excellence. I would like to recount the tale of General Billy Mitchell, an American career army officer who was assigned to an aviation section in 1916 to illustrate it.
Upon learning to fly, it became the driving passion of his life. Although aircraft had a limited role in World War I, Mitchell recognized the military potential of aerial power. Following the war, he initiated a campaign to persuade the military to establish an air force. He conducted numerous demonstrations showcasing the capabilities of airplanes, yet he faced significant opposition.
In his frustration, he compelled the army to court-martial him in 1925. A year later, he resigned from his position. It was only after World War II that Mitchell was exonerated and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. He was prepared to pay any cost to uphold what he believed was right.
“The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire,” said Field Marshal Ferdinand Foch. And that’s what passion is all about. “Passion is universal humanity,” observed Honore de Balzac. “Without it, religion, history, romance and art would be useless.”
“Passion is the element in which we live; without it, we hardly vegetate,” said English romantic poet and satirist Lord Byron. To which Alfred Lord Tennyson added, “The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.”
“All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion and desire,” pointed out Greek philosopher Aristotle. Of these seven, passion is the first step in achieving success in life.
Think of great leaders and you will be struck by their passion: Gandhi for human rights, Winston Churchill for freedom, Martin Luther King Jr. for equality, and Bill Gates for technology.
“There is no greatness without a passion to be great, whether it’s the aspiration of an athlete or an artist, a scientist, a parent, or a businessperson,” Anthony Robbins once said.
“One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested,” said E.M. Forster. American President Donald Trump reminds, “Without passion you don’t have energy, without energy you have nothing.”
“Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion,” said George Wilhelm in an interview with O Magazine in 2003. Denis Waitley advises, “Chase your passion, not your pension.” Inspirational author Dale Carnegie reminds, “You never achieve success unless you like what you are doing.”
If you already know what your life’s passion is, do something. Just don’t sit there and wait for some miracles to happen. God helps those who help themselves, remember?
Bruno Cote was a contemporary Canadian painter best known for his expressive depictions of forested and mountainous landscapes. At one point, a journalist came to his studio to carry out an exclusive interview. “The first aspect that strikes you upon entering his studio is its cleanliness and absence of clutter,” the journalist noted in his article.
The artist’s studio was divided into two levels, one being an afterthought of the other. The lower section housed the workstation and easel. Positioned in the middle of the easel and rising behind it was a vividly painted board displaying the enigmatic letters EMTD.
When the journalist inquired about the meaning of those four letters, the painter explained that it stands for “Enthusiasm Makes the Difference.” In fact, it was derived from a book authored by Norman Vincent Peale, which he used to read during his teenage years.
“It transformed my life,” Cote remarked, emphasizing that EMTD is not merely his motto; it serves as his fundamental driving force and approach to life. When the journalist asked him how he cultivates enthusiasm when he is not feeling it.
“It builds up,” he continued. “If you don’t work for a while, then you need to and you do it. I come in here and go for it. I work myself up. I work very, very fast and get a lot done for every blast. If you’re not enthusiastic, it’s no good.”
What Cote actually was doing is passion at work. And that was what Filipino millionaire John Gokongwei did too when he decided to start an airline in 1996. “At the time, the dominant airline in the country was Philippine Air Lines,” he told the participants of the Ad Congress some years back.
If Filipinos want to travel cheaply, they travel either by sea or by land. “However, my son Lance and I had a vision for Cebu Pacific: We wanted every Filipino to fly,” he said. “Inspired by the low-cost carrier models in the United States, we believed that an airline based on the no-frills concept would work here. No hot meals, no newspaper, mono-class seating, and operating with a single aircraft type. Faster turnaround time.”
It all worked, thus enabling Cebu Pacific to pass on savings to the consumer. How did they do this? By sticking to their philosophy, which is “low cost, great value.” “We stick to that philosophy to this day,” Gokongwei added.
By the way, if you have found your life’s passion, don’t be afraid to fail. As American television host Oprah Winfrey said, “Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.”
