Kay Koplovitz, founder of Koplovitz & Co and USA Networks, kept her eyes, ears, and mind open to big ideas, and it helped her find a passion for satellite technology. Keep your sights set on the big ideas of the day, and you might one day impact the business world as well.

Summary

1. True visionaries aren’t narrow-minded.

2. Great ideas and intense passion are sometimes found where individuals least expect them.

3. A strong leader not only knows his passion, he has to courage and wherewithal to pursue it.

4. Passion is often the force that moves the boulders of the business world.

Ideas for action

1. Identify three to five topics about which you are passionate. Analyse how you discovered these passions. Consider what common skills or strategies were used to find these passions. Identify the thought and emotions that are inspired when you follow these passions.

2. Identify how you apply or use your passion in your career. Present examples to your staff or colleagues. Encourage them to share their passions and to provide examples of how their passion plays a role in their workplace experience.

3. Determine how or why you don’t pursue or utilise a passion in your career. Present examples to your staff or colleagues. Encourage them to share their experiences with passion. Identify examples of passions they do and don’t pursue and discuss the reasoning behind those decisions.

4. Identify the strategies and skills that one must have to discover passion. Now compare those strategies and skills to those necessary to following passion. How are they alike or different?

5. Identify the strategies and skills that one must have to discover passion. Compare those to your personal skills and create a list of strengths and weaknesses. Share these results with your manager or colleague and create a strategy and timeline for overcoming weaknesses.

Questions to ask

1. What companies or individuals seem truly passionate about what they do? How do they exhibit their passion?

2. What are some of the benefits to companies that employ and inspire passionate people? What are the risks of those that don’t?

3. Are leaders who are passionate more likely to have employees who do what they ask?

4. What are examples of passions you don’t pursue? Why don’t you follow them?

5. Which organization is likely to be more successful: the organization with the better product yet uninspired staff, or an organization with a lesser product yet highly passionate visionaries? Which description best fits your organization and why?

These video lessons are provided by Fifty Lessons. For more video lessons from leading entrepreneurs and executives, visit Cwerty.com Fifty Lesson’s website for aspiring entrepreneurs and managers.

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