The Passionate Organization

"One untrained but passionate novice will rise above any ten trained but dispassionate experts as surely as the passionate upstart organization will bring its rational entrenched competitors to their knees."

"We hear a logical argument, but we are not moved to action. Why not? Because action is driven by our passions, not our reason."

"The world is transactional, like a game of pool or billiards, where we can't plan our next move until the balls have stopped moving from the previous shot."

"A true learning organization begins with an attitude that says that almost all people are capable of doubling their knowledge and tripling their wisdom?all they need is the passion and the resources. "

"Imagination strategizes at the deepest level when it is synthesizing widely diverse, even apparently contradictory, data."

"Getting people motivated about work when they would rather be at the beach or fishing is hopeless. If they already love the work, we won't have to motivate them. All we'll have to do is make sure we don't screw up their motivation."

"It is important?critical, absolutely necessary?that we spend real time and resources to stir the passions of our people for our vital goals. "

"Spend some time asking about the decision's impact in ten or twenty-five or fifty years on stakeholders who may not yet even be born."

"Getting anything done in life, against the massive opposing forces and the insidious power of inertia, is extremely difficult. Only a person of passion can get the job done."

"People who are passionate about their work because they love it will perform at the highest possible personal level, be more creative, be more committed, be readier to sacrifice, and be less likely to look for greener pastures."

"If there is no encasement, liberty can be abused, freedom can turn into license, and passion can run amok."

"Helpers come in many forms: vendors, contractors, lawyers, consultants. They make their living by helping us make our living. Be passionate about helpers."

"Stoke the fire by letting everyone, individually and in their natural work groups, feel the same pressures as any organizational CEO."

"Management can never lead to passion."