Passion Meter
July 10, 2007 | by brett | Permalink
People want to know how we are finding passionate people to interview. They want to know how we judge passion in people. That is a million dollar question I’m hoping to answer with your help.
I think passion is something that is so ingrained inside us that there is no difference between where work life ends, and where real life begins. I’ve been told passion is like the Supreme Court…you know it when you see it. I know from experience that passion breeds productivity. Passion is infectious, and people recognize passion within others.
I have booked interviews based on the following criteria for the first few weeks on the 2007 Pursue the Passion tour.
1) They must be referred by someone that knows the local community very well (i.e. a reporter, president of an outside organization, family, friends, etc.).
2) When I talk to prospective interviewees on the phone, via email, or read their story submittal, they must be positive, because passion is typically synonymous with “positivity.”
3) Lastly, I look to see what a person has done that exemplifies their passion. The phrase “passion breeds productivity” is the truth, because passion overflows into other things like getting involved in organizations and creating programs around that passion. Extracurricular activities and achievements are an excellent judgment of passion.
Now that I’ve given you the keys to the kingdom to tell you how I “judge” the passion of a peer, it’s time to ask for your help.
What am I missing?
How do you judge passion? How would you go about finding passionate people?
Let me know.
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THERE ARE 6 RESPONSES TO THIS INTERVIEW
Susan Cartier Liebel Says:
July 10th, 2007
Passion can be heard in a person’s voice….can be seen by the sparkle in the eye when they talk about those things, ideas or people they are passionate about. Passionate people are not afraid of showing emotion, infecting others with their intensity. Passionate people are not afraid to show their passion for fear of being labeled. Passionate people are pied pipers of sorts. We all seek out passionate people to validate our own desires, to encourage our enthusiasm and to allow us to bubble forth with laughter or motivation or intensity. Passionate people exude a certain confidence in their mission, unfraid to misstep because that misstep might in fact turn out to be the right step. You know passion when you respond to it…you feel it.
brett Says:
July 10th, 2007
Well said Susan. So how do we find passion on the internet? Or without physically seeing a person’s passion?
Susan Cartier Liebel Says:
July 10th, 2007
By their writing. By their topic choice. By the comments made by others in response to the conversation. By those who continue the conversation on their own blogs. By the word being spread that ‘this is a voice to listen to.’ That’s how I feel passion on the internet even though I’ve never heard a voice or seen the sparkle in the eye.
brett Says:
July 10th, 2007
Good point. Internet passion…
Marcia Francois Says:
July 11th, 2007
I love Susan’s answer. I agree - passion can be felt. It’s the difference between boring and fun 
Steve Says:
July 11th, 2007
Passion in your career means even if you were not getting paid for it, you would still do it. We all came with “factory installed” wiring with a desire to do something special, to leave our mark.
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