Falling In and Out of Passion — The Story of Jürgen Klopp

Hi there! ?? Are you a soccer fan? Even if not, this story serves as a great reminder for all of us who are pursuing our passions.

Jürgen Klopp stands out as one of the most successful soccer managers in the world. As a German, I grew up watching his coaching journey unfold at Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund, often inspired by his passion and relentless drive, and sometimes intimidated by it.

In 2015, Klopp took the helm at Liverpool FC in the English Premier League. He led Liverpool to significant achievements, including winning the UEFA Champions League (2018-19) and securing the Premier League title (2019-20), ending the club's 30-year wait for a top-flight championship.

However, just last week, after nearly nine years with Liverpool, Klopp announced that he will be leaving the club at the end of this season — sending a shockwave through the world of soccer:

I’m like a proper sports car — not the best one but a pretty good one. Can still drive 160, 170, 180mph, but I’m the only one who sees the tank meter is going down.?

Wait... what? What led him to this unexpected decision? (He simply ran out of energy.)

Is that even possible for someone with so much passion? (Absolutely.)

And what does this tell us about pursuing our own passions in our daily lives? (A great deal.)

Here's why.

What is Kaizen?

Welcome to my first newsletter, Kaizen. I named it after the Japanese term Kaizen (改善), which translates to "continuous improvement" or "change for the better."

Kaizen not only echoes my first name but also poses a question that often keeps me awake at night: How can I improve my own life and the lives of others?

I am eager to explore this question in this newsletter, diving deep into other people's passions, learning from them, and getting inspired to bring positive changes to our own lives and the lives of those around us.

The (Visible) Passion of Jürgen Klopp

Klopp is renowned for his aggressive and passionate attitude on the sidelines. When he joined Dortmund in 2008, Klopp spoke of "this passion for soccer that rages within me" and expressed his aim to convey it to his players: "None of my teams have ever played lawn chess."

Again: It's inspiring, but also somewhat intimidating.

And you could see his passion in every single match. Klopp's entire style is built on emotion — especially during a game. Throughout his career, his animated presence has consistently ignited the entire stadium.

Here's just one (high-quality) video I stumbled upon:

Research calls this phenomenon "passion contagion," suggesting that the intensity of one person's passion has the potential to inspire and ignite similar fervor in those around them.

In my recent paper, we identified several factors for how people can express their passion (in the workplace):

• Displaying both positive and negative emotions
• Putting in extended hours and delivering high-quality work
• Adapting your body language and voice
• Increasing social interactions with your colleagues
• Becoming fully immersed in and focused on your work

(Note, though, that some people (extraverts!) are better than others at making their passion visible to others — which has widespread implications for employees, managers, and organizations.)

Klopp's Mission and Goal

But back to our main topic. As you might have suspected already, being a soccer coach was more than just a job for Klopp; he was all in, emotionally invested in his club and its success.

According to Wharton professor Amy Wrzesniewski's framework on how people view their work, Klopp would definitely fall into the "calling" bucket.

When we pursue our calling, we often have a specific goal in mind—a vision, a mission, or an impact we want to create. Over the years, Klopp has been living out his passion by nurturing a strong team spirit in his clubs.

Upon his arrival in Liverpool, he listened to the people around him, taking them on a journey of hope. His first priority was to "turn doubters into believers," understanding that the club needed to heal before it could succeed.

To create a situation where everybody feels important, enjoys themselves,?knows their jobs, feels respected and feels needed - that’s how life should be.

The Paradox of Passion

So, you might think, 'That definitely sounds challenging but it can be achieved.' You pursue your passion, invest a huge amount of time and effort, and eventually, you might achieve your goal. Once that's accomplished, you will feel satisfied.

That's what Klopp set out to do. His aim was to guide the Liverpool team back on track. "It was all I was thinking about," he reflected in his interview last week.

But did he really achieve his goal? Yes! And No?

This dilemma illustrates an important challenge with passion. You can make all the difference you want, but you may never be satisfied with yourself. That's why it's tough to put a halt to it — it often becomes a never-ending cycle. No matter how much positive you've done with your passion, there's always more you can do.

"Every time a new season starts, we'll start thinking about the new season already," Klopp emphasized. Even after a victory, "we immediately ask ourselves how we should start the next game, how we can keep the shape and so on."

But now, Klopp said, he has started thinking about himself again.

Falling In and Out of Passion

When we experience intense passion, passion can sometimes blind our needs. This can reach a point where passion turns into self-deception, failing to signal the necessity of recovery and instead creating the illusion that no recovery is required.

I signed a new contract not too long ago, and I was over the moon when I did it, and it was exactly what I felt in that moment. The one thing that I didn’t know and underestimated was the fact that my energy source is not endless.

... but it is: “I am running out of energy," Klopp explains his decision to depart from Liverpool at the end of the season.

His story strongly resonates with our own research, highlighting how passion — when unregulated — can lead to burnout. And just like in soccer, passion requires breaks and recovery to recharge the emotional tank.

Given Klopp's extensive career, it's only natural that he might have fallen out of passion. As Tiny Buddha said, "Something that once filled me with excitement and passion had become a burden. It was time to find a new dream."?

To me, it seemed as if Klopp has embraced his decision, finding relief even. "It's not what I want to do, it's just what I think is 100% right." By putting pause on his primary passion soccer, he also allows himself the opportunity to explore new passions. "I need to find a different purpose as well, I need to have a look for it."

Perhaps, for the first time in his life.

Thank you for taking the time to read my first newsletter! If you would like to explore more of my ideas and thoughts, here is a summary of my posts and podcast episodes from this January:

New LinkedIn posts:

My favorite quotes from 2023 +++ What I will change on LinkedIn in 2024 +++ How to Lead a Gen Z Volunteer Team? +++ Announcing new season of my podcast +++ How Tom Odell shows is what passion is +++ Thoughts about going back to Boston +++ Starting the second semester of my PhD +++ How to spend less time on your phone

New podcast episodes:

Why pettiness will harm your relationship with others +++ The psychology behind conspiracy beliefs

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Watch the full interview here: