Have you ever seen someone actually light up when they discuss something? You probably notice it most often when you ask someone about their child. Their eyes sparkle and you are engaged whether you've met the child or not. It is because the person is speaking about their passion and they are more persuasive and engaging because of it. I attended a program last night with Robin Gerber, author of Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way, and I was struck at once by two separate instances of how following one's passion can guide your work. The first example was in the story of how Eleanor found her passion working to improve the lot of others. The second was in how Robin found her passion writing about Eleanor. I learned to respect Eleanor Roosevelt's life and work, because she was an amazing woman with every opportunity and excuse to live it up without regard to consequences. And yet, through it all, she found a way to contribute to the world and to give her life mean
Life and leadership are not about which path you take, they are about the choices you make when the roads diverge. The are not achieved in a one-day or one-month. They are compiled through a lifetime of education, experience, and reflection.