Pillars of Leadership

by Kimberlie Barrett

“Those who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, DO.” — Steve Jobs

Motivation Is Fueled By Passion

The first pillar of leadership is “passion”. According to Merriam-Webster, passion is an “intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction”. Once you recognize, accept, and embrace your passion, it can motivate you personally, professionally, socially, and morally to the highest degree. We all need increased motivation in our lives, but most of us have never known how to attain it. We weren’t introduced to the word “passion” growing up in elementary school, the university or the workplace. How did such a powerful God-given tool escape academia and the most brilliant minds who could have shared it with others less fortunate. What would it mean to you, your career, family and community if you truly discovered your passion? Simon Sinek, author of “Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action,” introduces us to what he calls the “Golden Circle” and the philosophy, it’s not what we do or how we do it, but rather why we do it. The “why” is what I believe to be each individual’s unique passion.

Perhaps the word “passion”, like a rare treasure, was buried and hidden thousands of years ago as a means to conceal it from disingenuous rulers who might use it to harm others, or maybe it was ancient governance who ensconced it to prevent “the people” from garnering their own powers to rise up against the current regime. Nelson Mandela, the South African leader who was very good at adaptive change, understood that by changing the attitudes, minds, and hearts of people, a social system could operate in a new and harmonious way. He said, “There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living”. An anti-apartheid activist who spent 27 years in prison, his leadership was evident before, during, and after his release. He was passionate about ending segregation and discrimination to the extent that he would suffer for it, but his wisdom and words will not be soon forgotten.

I would argue that the greatest leaders were very much in touch with their passion.

What is your passion? How will you use it to motivate yourself and others toward a greater good?

Kim Barrett is President/Broker of Magellan®, Inc., a realty and training firm. 1Magellan.com