Nothing is as Important as Passion by Marc LeVine

"Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you." - Oprah Winfrey

What are you most passionate about in life??Given the choice to attend a concert or sporting event, which would you choose? OK. Now let's test your level of passion.?If there was a raging blizzard on the evening of the event and it wasn’t cancelled, would you still go??I am not suggesting anyone risk life or limb to prove their allegiance to their fandom, but in many cases the most passionate among the fan base would probably find a safe way to attend.

We wear our passions like some wear a badge of honor.?Come to think of it, very few people wear badges of any kind these days.?Instead??Maybe a sweat or tee shirt with our favorite performer, team, or player on it. Right? ?Upon closer inspection, passionate people usually also have their own celebrity or team “shrines” at home or in their offices for the sole purpose fan worship.?These are not uncommon when you live and breathe something your soul is so committed to.?You want to show it off, see it in your stare and dedicate your soul to it. In short, it makes you happy.

HIS New York Yankees?

Passions go far beyond favorite pastimes, too.?They reach into all facets of living and give others something to remember us by.?Think of the many obituaries you have read in the past that fondly describe fond memories of the deceased.?“John was passionate about fishing, boating and his New York Yankees.” ?HIS New York Yankees??For the record, John’s last name was Doe not Steinbrenner and he never paid a single player’s 8-figure salary in his entire life.?Still, he took personal "ownership" over a baseball team that gave him joy and that he was very proud of. It defined what his most passionate interests were and deserved to be called out at the time of his passing.

If such pleasures became the last word in John’s life, we could infer that he gave everything of himself to these pursuits and they made him joyful. What more could we ask for to conclude a life well lived? And, YES, before his hobbies were listed, it was said he was a "devoted husband and loving father," putting all in proper perspective. That he was a passionate family man, was good to know.

Career Passion

The same said about passion can be true in our working and professional lives.?The person who made a difference at work because he or she cared enough is remembered fondly for giving his or her last full measure to see things through.?That is what passion does to us.?It makes failing at something we are committed to unpalatable and unacceptable.?Passionate people never take no for an answer and when they are supremely challenged, they rise to the occasion. They plant their flags on the ground, stand tall and make things happen.? Why??Because they know that if something is to be their thing, they must be successful at it.

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Ever go into a supermarket and try to get a rise out of the stoic cashier, only to observe their severe boredom and obvious displeasure about being there at all.?You greet them heartily with, “wow! what a great store!”?They look at you as if you are crazy and respond to you with indifference, “next customer, please!”?How disappointing for a joyful person clearly having a great day to be met with such disinterest and aloofness from someone who would obviously rather be somewhere else, doing something entirely different. ?No passion here to see.

Passionate people just can’t get enough of whatever they are deeply into.?These are the people most likely to read five articles and watch six YouTube videos after learning something new about a topic they are interested in.?Some engineers can work a full day on some very challenging work projects and then go home and do hobbyist work on their own with Arduino or Raspberry Pi.?Why??Because they love and adore doing it.?Better to do that than paint the bathroom ceiling or jog down the street with their dog in tow. ?It’s their true passion and since it so closely aligns with what they do for a living, their jobs are also their avocations.? Remember that if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life??That’s the point that passion makes.?

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The Author

Listen to Marc's latest interview on “Failing for You” with Jordan Yates

Marc LeVine is a graduate of Syracuse (NY) University with a degree in Industrial Psychology, Marc is currently Talent Acquisitions and Learning and Development Lead at Thermo Systems. He is the recipient of the Excellence in Talent Acquisitions Award from HR Awards in 2021.

Marc's prior employment includes senior Human Resources and Staffing Industry management roles with Edgewood Properties in Piscataway, NJ, Brickforce Staffing in Edison, NJ, InfoPro Inc. in Woodbridge NJ and Plainsboro, NJ and Harvard Industries in Farmingdale, NJ, a former Fortune 500 company. He also served as Director of Human Resources for New Jersey Press, the parent company of the Asbury Park Press, Home News and Tribune and WKXW-NJ101.5. Earlier in his career, Marc served as Director of Career Services and Placement at Union Technical Institute in Eatontown and Neptune, NJ. In addition, Marc owned and operated Integrity Consulting Associates, a New Jersey based Human Resources and Social Media Marketing firm for 11 years. Marc also served as Council President in his hometown of Freehold Borough, NJ