Can passion be created?

9 years ago

Most of us have too many demands on our time to develop that level of passion.

BTW I know people who've reached that level of musicianship, but are complete misfits in"normal" society. That's a result of spending most of their youth alone in their room practicing, while the rest of us were out playing interacting and developing as human beings.

There's a trade-off involved.

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sbucciarel

Banned 9 years ago

Some "passion" is a result of obsessive-compulsive disorders, and like Whateverpedia states, can result in a big trade off of time and energy for other things and for developing relationships outside of the home with like ... real people.

I don't believe that passion can be created or forced. If you don't have a passion for anything, you probably haven't done enough things. I used to think that I didn't have a passion for anything when I was a lot younger. Now I have a passion for too many things. lol.

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David Beroff 9 years ago

If one is to believe the perfume/cologne companies' advertising, not only can passion be created, it can be bottled!
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Tom Addams

9 years ago

Married for almost two decades, I can tell you this: passion cannot be brought about by will, nor any amount of begging or on-the-knees pleading.

It either exists or it does not exist.

In seriousness: if you lack passion, go out and find it. If it cannot be found, and this is the case with the majority of people, find a way to accept the inevitable - a life of sanity.

And, at least in that regard, count yourself lucky.

- Tom

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Princess Balestra

9 years ago

Enthusiasm is a f*cker to fake.

Hot in the blood, it oozes on out, outta control.

Faked, gonna lay ya out dead of exhaustion within a week.

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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by perryny

Have you seen the movie, "Whiplash"?

It's about a kid who's going to school to play the drums. He wants to be one of the Greats.

Not great.

One of THE Greats.

He has a passion for playing. There is nothing he'd rather do than practice and play.

If I had that kind of passion for anything, I have no doubt that I would become very good at whatever I wanted to accomplish.

I don't. There are lots of things I want to do, but none that I have this kid's type of passion for.

This kid NEEDS to play every day.

I need Will Power to keep at my tasks.

Seems if I had a stronger passion, I'd need way less will power.

If you don't have a passion for doing something you want to do, and that something will take real effort, can the passion be created?

-Rob Perry

I understand such passion.

But it can take many forms, have several different causes.
Let's take the drum playing passion. What is it really?

It could be a passion for perfection in music.
It could be the desire to please a teacher, and look competent in their eyes.
It could be the passion for competition. To be the best. And the fact that it's about playing an instrument is very secondary.
It could be driven by anger, to beat a specific person.
It could be a passion to get the adulation that being the best at something generates.
Playing the drums could simply be your chosen path to wealth.
It could be that playing the drums is the only thing you have an aptitude for, and so you keep at it to protect your self image.
It could be ego. You just want to feel like you are exceptional in some way, any way.
You feel camaraderie with fellow musicians, and want their approval and respect.
You may be driven by a need to please a parent.

Or....you could just love playing the drums.

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lanfear63

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

I understand such passion.

But it can take many forms, have several different causes.
Let's take the drum playing passion. What is it really?

It could be a passion for perfection in music.
It could be the desire to please a teacher, and look competent in their eyes.
It could be the passion for competition. To be the best. And the fact that it's about playing an instrument is very secondary.
It could be driven by anger, to beat a specific person.
It could be a passion to get the adulation that being the best at something generates.
Playing the drums could simply be your chosen path to wealth.
It could be that playing the drums is the only thing you have an aptitude for, and so you keep at it to protect your self image.
It could be ego. You just want to feel like you are exceptional in some way, any way.
You feel camaraderie with fellow musicians, and want their approval and respect.
You may be driven by a need to please a parent.

Or....you could just love playing the drums.

"It could be ego. You just want to feel like you are exceptional in some way, any way."

I see you included your's there.

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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by lanfear63

"It could be ego. You just want to feel like you are exceptional in some way, any way."

I see you included your's there.

Ha!

Seriously.

I have a passion for being a great salesman. It's waned in the last decade, but it was a nearly all consuming passion.

And to anyone on the outside, it really does look like ego. But it isn't. I'm not even sure I have an ego.

When I was maybe 20 years old, I had no social skills, but also no fear of rejection.
I decided to give selling a try, because the only person in my small town that wore a suit and hat, was selling insurance.

My first outing was selling fire alarms. Six months, not one sale.
Then Life Insurance. I now started my study of the art of selling in earnest. And read every sales book I could find. For the first 25 years of selling, I took daily notes of everything I did, what happened on every sales call.

Was it for money? Only at the very beginning. But I made no money. So maybe it wasn't that. Was it recognition? At first. I won awards, and the rest of the office hated me. I didn't want to please my boss. I didn't feel camaraderie with my fellow salespeople. So, no motivation there.

Is it because I want to be the best at something? Maybe a little, especially at first.

So what was it that kept me going for several decades? I was fascinated. And being fascinated isn't about you. It's about the thing you are fascinated by. Having no social skills when I was younger, it fascinated me that some people could develop the skill to create a sale out of nothing. It was the complexity, the beauty of how it all worked.

And I constantly tried new approaches, new ideas, and experimented to see what actually worked. It wasn't about me. It was about the process, the artistry. The fact that it was me doing it, was almost secondary.

And now, the thing that attracts me is simply understanding the human engineering involved, how it all works. And at high levels, selling is invisible to the customer. They never appreciate what I'm doing, because they can't see it.

My passion for practicing Kung Fu, wasn't about competition, or being macho, or even the physicality of it. It was the understanding of the body mechanics involved. That's where the beauty of it was. Even if nobody ever sees what you do. Even if you never talk about it.

It's just all so interesting to me.

But to everyone outside myself, it looks like ego. But I also have no sense of humility, so it comes across as bragging. Believe me, I know how I sound.

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David Beroff

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

And now, the thing that attracts me is simply understanding the human engineering involved, how it all works. And at high levels, selling is invisible to the customer. They never appreciate what I'm doing, because they can't see it.

The tech support job that I quit in April had a large sales component, and I was often one of the top performers. I even earned an all-expense-paid trip to the US Virgin Islands one year.

I handled about 30,000 inbound calls in the space of four years. You get to understand how people work, how emotions can flow, change, and be changed. I learned how to control the call, right from the first second, and direct everything toward the sale, despite the fact that maybe 95% of the customers were not calling to buy anything.

Did I close every call? No, of course not. But every single word that I said had a very specific purpose. Some of management saw that, others didn't. One even advised that I had to find new jokes, because my patter was growing old... to him. But 99% of the callers had never spoken with me before, and my schtick was fresh for them, and so it still worked. Almost all of the callers assumed that we were just having fun on the phone, that we were just taking care of their original tech problem. And that's when the sales magic worked, because I diffused the stress and anger, and took care of their needs. Few realized that those attitudes were very carefully planted seeds toward finding additional things that they would want and need.

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ThomM

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

I understand such passion.

But it can take many forms, have several different causes.
Let's take the drum playing passion. What is it really?

It could be a passion for perfection in music.
It could be the desire to please a teacher, and look competent in their eyes.
It could be the passion for competition. To be the best. And the fact that it's about playing an instrument is very secondary.
It could be driven by anger, to beat a specific person.
It could be a passion to get the adulation that being the best at something generates.
Playing the drums could simply be your chosen path to wealth.
It could be that playing the drums is the only thing you have an aptitude for, and so you keep at it to protect your self image.
It could be ego. You just want to feel like you are exceptional in some way, any way.
You feel camaraderie with fellow musicians, and want their approval and respect.
You may be driven by a need to please a parent.

Or....you could just love playing the drums.

Being a drummer that started at a young age, I guess I'm qualified to respond to that. You're right. Except for maybe the path to wealth one.

I've never really thought much about why I have a passion for playing drums I just always knew I had one. So I guess I would fall into the last one, I just love playing.
I think I've told this story here before. When I was 5 I wanted to play the guitar. So my parents signed me up for guitar lessons and a month or so later I was done. It took my 5 years after that to convince them I wanted to play drums. What convinced them was that instead of saying I wanted to play drums I always said I wanted to learn how to play drums.
I think with drums or any instrument having a natural ability is key to being good and key to having a passion. Probably holds true with most other things in live people have a passion for. I feel pretty confident in saying you probably have a natural ability for selling vacuum cleaners or just selling.

Seems if I had a stronger passion, I'd need way less will power.

If you don't have a passion for doing something you want to do, and that something will take real effort, can the passion be created?

You still need a lot of will power even with passion. Keeping with the drum idea, even with the passion I still need the will power to stick with practicing. For example when doing simple exercises it takes will power for me to go around the drums from left to right and then right to left with each hand for 15 mins. each.

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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by ThomM

Probably holds true with most other things in live people have a passion for. I feel pretty confident in saying you probably have a natural ability for selling vacuum cleaners or just selling.

No. In fact, I had no skills at all. I never understood human interaction as a young man. And when I started selling, I was at a huge disadvantage.

In my books and speeches, I say I was "Shy". But I wasn't. I had no sense of empathy. I felt no affinity to my fellow humans.

Remember, I said I went my first six months without a single sale. All I had was the desire to learn the process, and no fear of rejection.

Now, I give speeches on selling, and sell books on the subject. But none of it ever came easily or naturally. I had to learn intellectually, what most salespeople know unconsciously.

Today, that gives me a huge advantage. But it was all uphill for me, for the first 20 years or so.

I guess it's the equivalent of the 97 pound weakling, pumping iron for years, until he becomes Charles Atlas.
But he didn't start as anything but a clumsy, pimple faced, shy 97 pound weakling...with a will of iron.

Originally Posted by thunderbird

I wonder if lessons can sometimes suck out the magic of something and muddy up a person's natural joy and affinity for it.

I think that's a very good question.

I think it depends on where they get the joy.

Let's take music. Is the joy in the images you conjure up when you hear music? Is the joy in listening to the complexity of the notes? Are you motivated by the arrangement?

I think that learning does suck out the magic, the joy.

Your understanding certainly increases, and that can be a source of joy, I think.

Stand up comics seldom laugh at each others acts.

I don't know anyone that makes a living on a stage, that shares the enthusiasm of the audience. I certainly don't.

And for it to be magic, you can't really understand how it works. Then it would simply be a craft, a study.

The people that I know that have the most joy in their lives, usually have little understanding of the thing that brings them joy. With the exception of children and pets.

My God, I love listening to myself talk.

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thunderbird

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

No. In fact, I had no skills at all. I never understood human interaction as a young man. And when I started selling, I was at a huge disadvantage. <snip>

I can relate to that. Neurotypical expression is not my first language.

Originally Posted by lanfear63

I don't see anything wrong with getting at least a few pointers along the way. You may develop habits or lack of understanding in certain areas that if someone can explain it, point something out, you would be better at it and more skillful in what you are doing.

Getting pointers can be inspirational if well-delivered. But pulling saplings out of the ground to make them grow up faster can destroy what would normally grow up to be a great oak tree (so to speak).

I often think of how Richard Feynman said that the magic and joy in physics had been snuffed out in him for a time, until he distanced himself the institutional trappings and petty rituals of work environments that had been ruining it for him. After he re-discovered the magic, he went on to discover something in physics that led to his winning the Nobel prize.

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discrat

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

I understand such passion.

But it can take many forms, have several different causes.
Let's take the drum playing passion. What is it really?

It could be a passion for perfection in music.
It could be the desire to please a teacher, and look competent in their eyes.
It could be the passion for competition. To be the best. And the fact that it's about playing an instrument is very secondary.
It could be driven by anger, to beat a specific person.
It could be a passion to get the adulation that being the best at something generates.
Playing the drums could simply be your chosen path to wealth.
It could be that playing the drums is the only thing you have an aptitude for, and so you keep at it to protect your self image.
It could be ego. You just want to feel like you are exceptional in some way, any way.
You feel camaraderie with fellow musicians, and want their approval and respect.
You may be driven by a need to please a parent.

Or....you could just love playing the drums.

Bingo, we have a winner

Been playing since I was 3.

Got First real Trap set at age 11.

It is a huge passion. I cannot have a drumset in the house we are currently at with my kids and neighbors.

But you can ask other drummers like Thom if that keeps me from this passion? Hell know it doesn't i.e tapping on the car dashboard. on the kitchen sinks, in the doctors room, at restaurants. etc..etc..

Its a passion and I cannot stop my hands from moving

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positivenegative 9 years ago

Originally Posted by discrat

Its a passion and I cannot stop my hands from moving

I was just about to write those very words. Uncanny
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- discrat 9 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by positivenegative
  
  I was just about to write those very words. Uncanny
  
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  Give me soft and curvy all day long
  
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ThomM

9 years ago

No. In fact, I had no skills at all. I never understood human interaction as a young man. And when I started selling, I was at a huge disadvantage.

But that's all things you learned over time. I could really say the same about drumming. About the only skill I had when I started was being able to count to 4 and the desire to hit things.

But without some passion you wouldn't be able to bring those skills out, you had them, but just didn't know it yet.

Originally Posted by discrat

Bingo, we have a winner

Been playing since I was 3.

Got First real Trap set at age 11.

It is a huge passion. I cannot have a drumset in the house we are currently at with my kids and neighbors.

But you can ask other drummers like Thom if that keeps me from this passion? Hell know it doesn't i.e tapping on the car dashboard. on the kitchen sinks, in the doctors room, at restaurants. etc..etc..

Its a passion and I cannot stop my hands from moving

That's the beauty of playing percussion. You don't need drums to keep the passion alive.

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ThomM

9 years ago

Originally Posted by discrat

It is a huge passion. I cannot have a drumset in the house we are currently at with my kids and neighbors.

But you can ask other drummers like Thom if that keeps me from this passion? Hell know it doesn't i.e tapping on the car dashboard. on the kitchen sinks, in the doctors room, at restaurants. etc..etc..

Its a passion and I cannot stop my hands from moving

I was just thinking about this again. Have you thought of exploring different drums?
In addition to my kit I have a Djembi, a pair of Cuban Congas, and two Bodhrans (18 and 14in.).
Here's a couple crappy videos of me doing covers of a couple Irish tunes on the 14in. Bodhran.

bodhran old hag - YouTube

You can see the congas, part of my kit, and the other Bodhran hanging on the wall in this one.

Bodhran cover queen of rushes paddy faye jig -...

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discrat

9 years ago

Originally Posted by ThomM

I was just thinking about this again. Have you thought of exploring different drums?
In addition to my kit I have a Djembi, a pair of Cuban Congas, and two Bodhrans (18 and 14in.).
Here's a couple crappy videos of me doing covers of a couple Irish tunes on the 14in. Bodhran. bodhran old hag - YouTube
You can see the congas, part of my kit, and the other Bodhran hanging on the wall in this one.
Bodhran cover queen of rushes paddy faye jig - YouTube

Good stuff, Thom. Not familiar with that Bodhran. You are playing with the right hand. And is your left hand behind doing some 'muffling' on backside of drum to get different dynamics of sound ??

I have been wanting to get Congas for awhile now.

Also, do you have any videos of you playing Trap ?

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ThomM

9 years ago

Originally Posted by discrat

Good stuff, Thom. Not familiar with that Bodhran. You are playing with the right hand. And is your left hand behind doing some 'muffling' on backside of drum to get different dynamics of sound ??

I have been wanting to get Congas for awhile now.

Also, do you have any videos of you playing Trap ?

Thanks. The left hand does a bunch of things mostly controlling pitch and timbre. Very interesting instrument really.
The congas are fun. I had to re-skin them a couple years ago, actually I rebuilt both drums. I did a poor job on the skinning part though and really need to do them again.
I've got two short videos on FB I'll see if the links work. Keep in mind both where done before morning coffee as a joke between me and a friend. The first is called more cowbell and has to do with me finally finding my old cowbell from years ago. I had given up looking for it and bought a new one, a week later I found the old one. The second video is naturally called less cowbell

https://www.facebook.com/Dirty.Thom/...44514379249973
https://www.facebook.com/Dirty.Thom/...76922896394393

Here's another Bodhran one from a better angle. You kind of see the shadow of my left hand near th e top of the drum.https://www.facebook.com/Dirty.Thom/...84904014205198

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Ron Lafuddy

9 years ago

Thom,

Are you sitting in with or getting together with other musicians?

Can't really hone those chops, as you know, without playing live.

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ThomM

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Ron Lafuddy

Thom,

Are you sitting in with or getting together with other musicians?

Can't really hone those chops, as you know, without playing live.

On occasion Ron. I've been friends with a Bass player here for years and sit in with his band when their regular drummer can't make it. They do a lot of The Band tunes with some Floyd and other stuff mixed it. Also I hit some open mic's once in a while.
There's a few videos on FB from an open mic in 2013 but I can't link to them here because they're on someone else's account.
Like I said before those vids from FB where done as a joke between me and the Bass player.
I'll try a link for an old open mic, no guarantee it will work.
https://www.facebook.com/patrick.mcn...type=2&theater

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Ron Lafuddy

9 years ago

Yeah, the facebook link didn't work, unfortunately. Glad to hear you're out and about playing.
There's a certain energy to live performances, that raises the standards, so to speak.

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ThomM

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Ron Lafuddy

Yeah, the facebook link didn't work, unfortunately. Glad to hear you're out and about playing.
There's a certain energy to live performances, that raises the standards, so to speak.

Didn't think it would, it was from a friends account.
I love playing out, it's the only way to get me in a bar

I quit drinking years ago and can't stand being in a crowd.
I get nervous and my anxiety kicks in.
But if I'm playing I'm totally relaxed and not nervous at all.
In fact the more people the better. Last summer I sat in with my friends band before a crowd of around 200 people, had a blast.

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perryny

9 years ago

Thanks for your replies, everyone. I've been thinking about this question for a long while, and I'm glad I posted. You've given me a lot more to think about.

I no longer believe what that drummer kid in the movie has is passion. I think what he has is more like a condition.

I don't think this condition can be created. Either it's within your personality, or it's not. If it is within you, you will unleash it when you discover something to latch onto, probably early on in life, and it won't easily let go.

What triggers the condition? I agree with Claude... Who knows?

But once it gets started, I don't think there's need for any encouragement or nurturing to keep it going.

Once this condition takes hold, you won't easily be discouraged. Not by early or repeated failures, not by bad teachers or coaches, and not by the trade-offs.

With this condition, you don't need a natural ability. A person with this level of focus and commitment will go far. Maybe never as far as they'd like to go, but farther than most.

This isn't a condition I'd want, even if I thought I could create it. The trade-offs are too great, and it doesn't seem there's much joy here.

I want passion. And passion as I'd like to imagine it exists is this...

It's big and it's important.

If not the biggest thing in your life, it should be Top 2.

If you have available hours in the day where you can work on whatever you want to, that time is spent on your passion.

With this passion, there is balance. There are things you don't trade off (family, social life, taking jabs at Claude), and things you do (watching movies or the latest Netflix series, goofing off on the phone, spending time upstairs.)

But the hours in the day where your thoughts or time can be spent on your passion, that's where you'd rather be than anywhere else.

It's pull, not push.

Passion pulls you to keep at it, even when it's difficult or tedious or even painful.

You shouldn't have to push yourself to get to work.

Once passion takes hold, it's your continuous, main focus until you intentionally turn it off, or maybe it eventually wanes. But while it's alive, it's there when you wake up in the morning, it's the thought that enters your mind during idle times in the day, and it's there when you go to bed.

Passion isn't a hobby. I'm not saying you can't love, love, LOVE a hobby. I think the difference between a hobby and a passion is a hobby brings you joy, but if it gets to the point of obsession and isn't helping you grow, then eventually it'll just swallow your time and will have more a negative effect on your life than positive.

Passion is bigger and more important, with potential, positive life-altering results if you borderline obsess over it.

With passion, you aren't easily discouraged, and you don't need natural ability. Passion is goal-based, and with this level of focus and commitment, you have a good shot at reaching your goals.

I'd like to believe this passion exists and I'd like to believe it can be created.

My theory is it can be created through iron will.

If you make a commitment to a big, positive, important passion to focus on, and you have the will to stick to your commitment long-term, the passion will come.

But what the **** do I know. I'm off to bed at 9pm to watch the last two episodes of Game of Thrones, season 3. Wahoo.

Night all!

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sbucciarel

Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by perryny

I no longer believe what that drummer kid in the movie has is passion. I think what he has is more like a condition.

This isn't a condition I'd want, even if I thought I could create it. The trade-offs are too great, and it doesn't seem there's much joy here.

I want passion. And passion as I'd like to imagine it exists is this...

It's big and it's important.

If not the biggest thing in your life, it should be Top 2.

If you have available hours in the day where you can work on whatever you want to, that time is spent on your passion.

With this passion, there is balance. There are things you don't trade off (family, social life, taking jabs at Claude), and things you do (watching movies or the latest Netflix series, goofing off on the phone, spending time upstairs.)

But the hours in the day where your thoughts or time can be spent on your passion, that's where you'd rather be than anywhere else.

It's pull, not push.

Passion pulls you to keep at it, even when it's difficult or tedious or even painful.

...

Passion isn't a hobby. I'm not saying you can't love, love, LOVE a hobby. I think the difference between a hobby and a passion is a hobby brings you joy, but if it gets to the point of obsession and isn't helping you grow, then eventually it'll just swallow your time and will have more a negative effect on your life than positive.

Passion is bigger and more important, with potential, positive life-altering results if you borderline obsess over it.

...

I'd like to believe this passion exists and I'd like to believe it can be created.

My theory is it can be created through iron will.

If you make a commitment to a big, positive, important passion to focus on, and you have the will to stick to your commitment long-term, the passion will come.

But what the **** do I know. I'm off to bed at 9pm to watch the last two episodes of Game of Thrones, season 3. Wahoo.

Night all!

There's little difference between what you're calling a condition and a real passion for something. Some might turn it off, as you say to spend time with family, etc., but not all do and you really can't just will passion by focusing and making a commitment to something. It's there or it is not.

I was lucky. I had a passion for computers and the Internet and software. It was so strong that I taught myself everything I know ... I read technical manuals for fun and enjoyment ... many of them. I've made my career out of it. If you are able to combine your passion with your career, you're very lucky. I've felt like I got paid for something I love to do and would do anyway.

As for hobbies, hobbies can be your passion. In fact many hobbies are a passion for people and are more important to them than their careers and other relationships. My father's hobby was more important to him than anything else in life, including his family. It was his passion and still is, although he's too old to pursue it. He wonders now why his children are a bit cool towards him. He barely knew we existed while growing up.

As I've gotten older and closer to retirement age, my hobbies are my passion more than my career.

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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by perryny

Thanks for your replies, everyone. I've been thinking about this question for a long while, and I'm glad I posted. You've given me a lot more to think about.

I no longer believe what that drummer kid in the movie has is passion. I think what he has is more like a condition.

I don't think this condition can be created. Either it's within your personality, or it's not. If it is within you, you will unleash it when you discover something to latch onto, probably early on in life, and it won't easily let go.

What triggers the condition? I agree with Claude... Who knows?

But once it gets started, I don't think there's need for any encouragement or nurturing to keep it going.

Once this condition takes hold, you won't easily be discouraged. Not by early or repeated failures, not by bad teachers or coaches, and not by the trade-offs.

With this condition, you don't need a natural ability. A person with this level of focus and commitment will go far. Maybe never as far as they'd like to go, but farther than most.

This isn't a condition I'd want, even if I thought I could create it. The trade-offs are too great, and it doesn't seem there's much joy here.

I want passion. And passion as I'd like to imagine it exists is this...

It's big and it's important.

If not the biggest thing in your life, it should be Top 2.

If you have available hours in the day where you can work on whatever you want to, that time is spent on your passion.

With this passion, there is balance. There are things you don't trade off (family, social life, taking jabs at Claude), and things you do (watching movies or the latest Netflix series, goofing off on the phone, spending time upstairs.)

But the hours in the day where your thoughts or time can be spent on your passion, that's where you'd rather be than anywhere else.

It's pull, not push.

Passion pulls you to keep at it, even when it's difficult or tedious or even painful.

You shouldn't have to push yourself to get to work.

Once passion takes hold, it's your continuous, main focus until you intentionally turn it off, or maybe it eventually wanes. But while it's alive, it's there when you wake up in the morning, it's the thought that enters your mind during idle times in the day, and it's there when you go to bed.

Passion isn't a hobby. I'm not saying you can't love, love, LOVE a hobby. I think the difference between a hobby and a passion is a hobby brings you joy, but if it gets to the point of obsession and isn't helping you grow, then eventually it'll just swallow your time and will have more a negative effect on your life than positive.

Passion is bigger and more important, with potential, positive life-altering results if you borderline obsess over it.

With passion, you aren't easily discouraged, and you don't need natural ability. Passion is goal-based, and with this level of focus and commitment, you have a good shot at reaching your goals.

I'd like to believe this passion exists and I'd like to believe it can be created.

My theory is it can be created through iron will.

If you make a commitment to a big, positive, important passion to focus on, and you have the will to stick to your commitment long-term, the passion will come.

But what the **** do I know. I'm off to bed at 9pm to watch the last two episodes of Game of Thrones, season 3. Wahoo.

Night all!

I think this post was especially insightful.

In my late teens and early twenties, I was consumed with practicing my martial art. I thought about it constantly, trying to work out the principles involved, the physics, the patterns of movement. I needed no encouragement, no support. Nobody praised me, or encouraged me. My instructor had one way of teaching me. He would show me something, and I would practice it. And he would say "That's all wrong". Never a moment of approval. Never a smile. He was like that with only two of us.

It was the right approach. After several years, I remember doing a series of movements, and he said (with no emotion), "Less wrong". Had he once told me I was doing it right, I would have left. Years later, I asked him about why he never offered encouragement. (after I was no longer a student) He said, "You didn't need it"

After I got married, I started selling. I was terrible at it. But again, needed no encouragement, no support. It consumed me. Learning the craft, practicing, keeping notes...and hours of study a day. Eventually, I made money, then a lot of money, then I trained, then gave speeches and wrote books.

But.....I had no natural abilities. In school, I was always the last to get picked for a team, Tall clumsy, awkward, slow. In Kung Fu, I was told to quit by several of the other students, and my instructor.

My first sales job, I didn't made a dollar my first six months. I had no natural ability.

You are right, it isn't a passion, it's a condition. I never felt joy in my accomplishments.
I honestly thought I would enjoy the applause when on stage, but the first time I heard it, it was meaningless. It's strictly the need to know more, to advance in skill. Even now, at retirement age, I still read sales books, work out new methods, study others. And there is no need, no reason.

You're right, it's a condition.

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lanfear63

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

I think this post was especially insightful.

In my late teens and early twenties, I was consumed with practicing my martial art. I thought about it constantly, trying to work out the principles involved, the physics, the patterns of movement. I needed no encouragement, no support. Nobody praised me, or encouraged me. My instructor had one way of teaching me. He would show me something, and I would practice it. And he would say "That's all wrong". Never a moment of approval. Never a smile. He was like that with only two of us.

It was the right approach. After several years, I remember doing a series of movements, and he said (with no emotion), "Less wrong". Had he once told me I was doing it right, I would have left. Years later, I asked him about why he never offered encouragement. (after I was no longer a student) He said, "You didn't need it"

After I got married, I started selling. I was terrible at it. But again, needed no encouragement, no support. It consumed me. Learning the craft, practicing, keeping notes...and hours of study a day. Eventually, I made money, then a lot of money, then I trained, then gave speeches and wrote books.

But.....I had no natural abilities. In school, I was always the last to get picked for a team, Tall clumsy, awkward, slow. In Kung Fu, I was told to quit by several of the other students, and my instructor.

My first sales job, I didn't made a dollar my first six months. I had no natural ability.

You are right, it isn't a passion, it's a condition. I never felt joy in my accomplishments.
I honestly thought I would enjoy the applause when on stage, but the first time I heard it, it was meaningless. It's strictly the need to know more, to advance in skill. Even now, at retirement age, I still read sales books, work out new methods, study others. And there is no need, no reason.

You're right, it's a condition.

At your age it's a medical condition.

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sbucciarel

Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

You're right, it's a condition.

I think the question was ... can it be created, so whether you want to call it a passion or a condition, or something else, the answer is still no. It cannot be created. It's either there or not there. Do you agree?

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Jonathan 2.0 Banned 9 years ago

I'm not 100% certain if "passion" can be created however I do believe that enthusiasm can be manufactured. (See "Autosuggestion" in "Think And Grow Rich.")

For instance I have a Mission Statement on my wall above my computer that I have memorized and often repeat it during the day. That strengthens my motivation/enthusiasm. Something I will say about "passion" is that I think it can be deepened/made stronger.
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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

I think the question was ... can it be created, so whether you want to call it a passion or a condition, or something else, the answer is still no. It cannot be created. It's either there or not there. Do you agree?

But it's not the same.
A condition probably cannot be created from an external source.

But a passion?

Remember, the passion may not be for the exact same reason. Are you really passionate about playing the drums (for example)?

Or is it some related passion that the playing satisfies?

For example, you are driven to please your parents. They encourage you to play the drums. Your Dad loves the drums.

Now, are you really passionate about drums, or are you passionate about pleasing your Dad?

Ultimately, I think you are born with drive in some direction, or you are not. But that's just an educated guess..I don't know.

For example, I could have stumbled into being a cobbler. I'm pretty sure I would have just loved being a cobbler, studied cobbling, eventually excelled at being a cobbler.

It was by pure chance that I chose Kung Fu, and eventually sales. But I'm also certain that if I didn't have the internal need to dominate a subject, I would now be a 350 pound, lazy, poor, ignorant bum, married to the first woman that would have me.

How do I know? That's the tribe I came from.

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sbucciarel

Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

It was by pure chance that I chose Kung Fu, and eventually sales. But I'm also certain that if I didn't have the internal need to dominate a subject, I would now be a 350 pound, lazy, poor, ignorant bum, married to the first woman that would have me.

How do I know? That's the tribe I came from.

I was like the OP when I was young. I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do and didn't feel excited about anything. I thought I'd die of boredom doing jobs that I absolutely hated.

The first passion (and I'm just calling it a passion but it felt more like an obsession) was for the restaurant business. That lasted for a long time... really until it was obvious that it was a young person's career. It is physically challenging and the hours are terrible for someone with children. But I did absolutely love the restaurant business for a long while.

Then I decided I needed to do something that was less challenging physically. It was just wearing me out. I rented a computer and had never even turned one on before that. From that moment on, I was hooked and read every technical computer related manual I could get my hands on and taught myself not only how to operate it, but taught myself graphic design. I made an excellent living both in offline jobs and freelance jobs doing that for many years and absolutely loved what I was doing. Nothing could have stopped me. This too felt more like obsession than just a passion.

Now that I'm slowing down in my career, my passions are hobbies ... like fishing, gardening, etc but none of these feel like an obsession. They just feel like things that I love to do, but whether passion or obsession ... it was there when I stumbled on it. Nothing could have stopped my interest. I didn't have to do anything to nurture the interest or force myself to do these things.

As for the "pleasing parents" or drumming thing ... I see that might be valid for some, but for me, little that I've ever done has pleased my parents ... maybe it was reverse for me. I was obsessed so I would annoy my parents. lol.

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perryny

9 years ago

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

I was like the OP when I was young. I didn't have a clue what I wanted to do and didn't feel excited about anything. I thought I'd die of boredom doing jobs that I absolutely hated.

Just want to say I'm not like this at all.

There's are a couple things in my life I call hobbies, which I truly love to do and would do all day long if I could .

There are things I want to do - big, life changing things, that make me excited.

And the job I currently have, I like very much. I'm my own boss, I make my own hours and work when I want, I have wonderful clients who like me, so I feel I have security, and I make enough money to properly care for my family.

But I want something else. Something big and significant. Something that will bring me and my family great happiness if I do it. Something I think I should and could be passionate about. Something that will take consistent, long-term effort to achieve.

Yet I don't put in the consistent, long-term effort.

Hence, my OP.

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bizgrower

9 years ago

Originally Posted by perryny

But I want something else. Something big and significant. Something that will bring me and my family great happiness if I do it. Something I think I should and could be passionate about. Something that will take consistent, long-term effort to achieve.

Yet I don't put in the consistent, long-term effort.

Hence, my OP.

Maybe just keep finding ways to make your business work harder for you. Like climbing the belt
system in self-defense. Keep improving, getting more strategic.

It's been a long time since I read it, but "Flow" might be a good read for you now.
http://www.amazon.com/Mihaly-Csiksze...i/e/B000AQ1KVM (NA)

https://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csi...ow?language=en

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ThomM

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

But it's not the same.
A condition probably cannot be created from an external source.

But a passion?

Remember, the passion may not be for the exact same reason. Are you really passionate about playing the drums (for example)?

Or is it some related passion that the playing satisfies?

For example, you are driven to please your parents. They encourage you to play the drums. Your Dad loves the drums.

Now, are you really passionate about drums, or are you passionate about pleasing your Dad?

Ultimately, I think you are born with drive in some direction, or you are not. But that's just an educated guess..I don't know.

For example, I could have stumbled into being a cobbler. I'm pretty sure I would have just loved being a cobbler, studied cobbling, eventually excelled at being a cobbler.

It was by pure chance that I chose Kung Fu, and eventually sales. But I'm also certain that if I didn't have the internal need to dominate a subject, I would now be a 350 pound, lazy, poor, ignorant bum, married to the first woman that would have me.

How do I know? That's the tribe I came from.

Good points Claude. I know the one thing (at least) that all my passions have in common is learning everything I can about them. It could very well be that I have an interest in things like drums, soils, gardening, etc. and the passion is with learning everything I can about them.

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lanfear63

9 years ago

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

I think the question was ... can it be created, so whether you want to call it a passion or a condition, or something else, the answer is still no. It cannot be created. It's either there or not there. Do you agree?

All passions in life are created. Say you raise sheep for a living. You love it, you enjoy it, raising sheep is your passion, your Found forte in life.

You are born and eventually get to learn about livestock along the way. One of them is the sheep who you find out wool comes from and are edible. At that point you are still indifferent to them and no more interested in them than any other livestock.

Perhaps though, farming appeals to in general you so you create the opportunities to get into farming. Go to college, work on a farm. This may lead to you running or owning one. Along the way you decide that sheep farming appeals to you most so you specialize in it, learn all there is to know about raising them and develop a passion for it.

What if you were born into an isolated sheep farming family. You learn the art of raising them and become passionate about it. Largely there you could say your passion was created for you by circumstances.

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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by lanfear63

All passions in life are created. Say you raise sheep for a living. You love it, you enjoy it, raising sheep is your passion, your Found forte in life.

You are born and eventually get to learn about livestock along the way. One of them is the sheep who you find out wool comes from and are edible. At that point you are still indifferent to them and no more interested in them than any other livestock.

I think that's an incredible argument to make. I'll have to give it more thought.

Nicely done.

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perryny

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

My instructor had one way of teaching me. He would show me something, and I would practice it. And he would say "That's all wrong". Never a moment of approval. Never a smile.

Had he once told me I was doing it right, I would have left.

Claude, if you haven't seen Whiplash, you definitely, definitely should.

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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by perryny

Claude, if you haven't seen Whiplash, you definitely, definitely should.

I have it recorded. Yeah, that quote I heard in the previews is the reason I want to see it.
Thanks again.

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discrat

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

I have it recorded. Yeah, that quote I heard in the previews is the reason I want to see it.
Thanks again.

Really really good movie. As a drummer, I never thought Hollywood would make this !
And it transcends outside the drummers demographic

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perryny

9 years ago

Another question...

Can you build iron will to consistently, voluntarily, long-term do something you don't have a passion for?

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lanfear63 9 years ago

Originally Posted by perryny

Another question...

Can you build iron will to consistently, voluntarily, long-term do something you don't have a passion for?

As long as I'm paid. That sounds like my job description.
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- perryny 9 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by lanfear63
  
  As long as I'm paid. That sounds like my job description.
  
  That's not voluntary. You have to get paid, so you do the job.
  
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Claude Whitacre 9 years ago

Originally Posted by perryny

Another question...

Can you build iron will to consistently, voluntarily, long-term do something you don't have a passion for?

I sold in people's homes fort 35 years. I never had a passion for it. In fact, I never really enjoyed it. I was just fascinated with the process of selling.

Can you build iron will? I don't think so. Unless something external forces you to work, like bills, promises made, a deadline....

For years, my main motivation was that I had employees, and I had to work to make them productive, teach them skills, and it forced me to work every day.

I found it was hard to get in a slump, when I was learning something new......or had just expanded my obligations to my employees. Sometimes you just get too busy to think about how motivated you are, you just have to do the work.

I don't know if that helps.
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sbucciarel

Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by perryny

Another question...

Can you build iron will to consistently, voluntarily, long-term do something you don't have a passion for?

People do it all the time. Many people get up day after day and go to jobs that they absolutely hate. I never could hack it, but I'd say the majority of people in the world hate their jobs or at least dislike them.

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perryny

9 years ago

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

People do it all the time. Many people get up day after day and go to jobs that they absolutely hate. I never could hack it, but I'd say the majority of people in the world hate their jobs or at least dislike them.

I don't believe will, the way I'm describing, is what's in play to get a person to go to their job every day. Even if they hate their job. They need money to survive and they need a job to make money. Don't do the job, no more money. No "will" required here to get up in the morning and go to work. You do what you have to do.

But let's assume what you say is true, that most people dislike or hate their job.

And let's assume one of these people discovers Warrior Forum and finds good, solid advice on how to build a new career that can replace their current income and allow them to be their own boss.

They understand it's not necessarily going to be quick or easy.

But to make it happen - to replace the job they hate with a career they'll like, or even love - only requires they do the work.

This requires will.

Most don't have it. I don't. And I still wonder if I can create it. Or find it if it's within me.

If it's going to take losing the day job to create the motivation to create the IM career, that doesn't count. It's no longer will to do something you want to do. It now becomes something you have to do.

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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by perryny

This requires will.

Most don't have it. I don't. And I still wonder if I can create it. Or find it if it's within me.

If you don't have an inner drive to succeed, I have found a viable alternative. Hate.

Maybe you need an enemy.

I was fascinated by the sales process. But what initially got me to want to learn how to sell, and make a good living? I hated being poor. I hated the way my backward relatives thought.

I hated the conditions in which I was raised. I mean it's a palpable pathological hatred.

Do you have a competitor that you can focus on? An idea that really gets to you? An injustice? Even the ignorance of your prospects , can be a worthy enemy.

If you can't fight for something, maybe you can fight against something?

And then, years from now, you can speak to groups, and they will applaud your altruism.

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perryny

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

If you don't have an inner drive to succeed, I have found a viable alternative. Hate.

Maybe you need an enemy.

Maybe. But for me, I doubt finding something to hate would be any more motivating than finding something to love. And if you can't create passion, is it any easier to manufacture hate?

Suzzane, I agree... what I'm calling will can also be called self-discipline.

Without something pushing you, like desperation or fear or a very real need... and you just "want" to do something that's hard, where does that self-discipline come from if it's not part of your personality?

I disagree that most people hate their jobs, but I definitely believe very, very, VERY few people possess the self-discipline to do something hard, where the only motivation is "want".

It seems it's either in you, or it's not. And if it's not, the only way to create self-discipline is to have the self-discipline to create it.

I guess if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by perryny

Maybe. But for me, I doubt finding something to hate would be any more motivating than finding something to love. And if you can't create passion, is it any easier to manufacture hate?
.

No, not manufacture hate, find something you hate. You can't manufacture hate on demand, anymore than you can love something on demand.

There are ways to trick yourself for short periods into acting as though you have inner drive. We have covered a few of these.

But I think I agree with you. A self generating inner fire is either there or it isn't. Like a sense of humor. Some of us are very funny, and some of us are like Kurt.

But I think if I was born to normal middle class loving parents......I would be far less than I am.

Someone once said, "The Enemy of Great is Good". Another way of saying it, is that if you are already comfortable, you have no real reason for a big change in your life.

Another way is to join a mastermind group that will put your feet to the fire. If you want to stay in the group, you have to produce. Just an idea.

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perryny 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

No, not manufacture hate, find something you hate. You can't manufacture hate on demand, anymore than you can love something on demand.

I get you. But I think the same principle holds. Sticking with my previous example, if you're after a new career that will give you money and freedom, there's plenty to love there.

If you can't find the self-discipline to make it happen based on love (or by creating a passion), then I doubt finding something to hate would produce the results you're after.

If the hate is already there and it's real, I would think it would already be a motivator.

If the hate doesn't exist, it doesn't. Search all you want. All you'll find are some thoughts and ideas, but not self-discipline.

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

Another way is to join a mastermind group that will put your feet to the fire. If you want to stay in the group, you have to produce. Just an idea.

Maybe for some, but again, I doubt it. How many people have had quality mentors or joined proven membership programs or spent thousands of dollars for help, (or hired personal trainers, or joined a diet program, etc., etc.) yet simply fizzled out?

I don't believe external sources can make you do the work. You need to have it within you to do it even without the help.
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- perryny 9 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by perryny
  
  If the hate is already there and it's real, I would think it would already be a motivator.
  
  You know what...
  
  I hate spending time in this forum.
  
  Not all the time. I'm enjoying and hopefully benefiting from speaking with you guys now. I like many of you, and I have made some genuine friendships here. I have gained massive value from WF over the years, which has very much helped me grow and permanently changed my life for the better.
  
  But I pop in here way too frequently for it to be any good. If I'm working from home, way too many times a day, as a complete distraction, I'll open my browser and do "a quick drive-by" just to see if there's anything new to see.
  
  Way too often that quick drive-by will go way too long. Now that I've created a thread of my own, I've given myself even more of a reason to pop in and stick around for a while.
  
  Lot's of times, before I open the browser window, I say in my head, "Booring, Robert!", trying to remind myself there's much more interesting things I should be doing.
  
  Most of the time, it's a waste of time. I hate it.
  
  I hate going to bed early to watch TV. There's A LOT of good TV I need to catch up on. Lately, I've been catching up on Game of Thrones. I didn't allow myself to watch prior to now because I had much more interesting things I should be working on.
  
  I'm still not working on my interesting things as often as I should, but I have given in and just completed Season 3. Damn good TV.
  
  But, oh, how I do hate leaving my desk before 1am, saying to myself (and I do say this often), "WEAK! If you had any f%&*ing WILL, you'd sit your ass back down and get it done."
  
  I hate playing games on my phone. What a total, pointless, fun waste of time. Why's it more fun than working on my project and creating something incredible? F*%k if I know.
  
  I do hate wasting time.
  
  Yet... here I type...
  
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Cali16

9 years ago

Originally Posted by perryny

Without something pushing you, like desperation or fear or a very real need... and you just "want" to do something that's hard, where does that self-discipline come from if it's not part of your personality?

Perry, you are really over-thinking this.

Let me sum it up for you: When you have a compelling enough "why" you'll likely find the self-discipline you need. It seems that, for now at least, you simply don't have a compelling enough why. (Btw, the why doesn't have to be desperation, fear, or need.)

When / if you can find that (the compelling why) for yourself, the rest will fall into place.

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Jonathan 2.0

Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Cali16

When you have a compelling enough "why" you'll likely find the self-discipline you need.

Really good point. Thanks Cali.

For me personally (and maybe other people) I'm more motivated by perusing something "positive" (like empowering people) than something negative (like desperation etc.).

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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

The second law of thermodynamics stated that passion cannot be created or destroyed, it can only change shape.

So, although you cannot create passion, you can mold it out of any other emotion.

This is right out of my new book, "Claude Whitacre has 4 minutes to kill".

And...it's a joke.

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lanfear63

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

The second law of thermodynamics stated that passion cannot be created or destroyed, it can only change shape.

So, although you cannot create passion, you can mold it out of any other emotion.

This is right out of my new book, "Claude Whitacre has 4 minutes to kill".

And...it's a joke.

"This is right out of my new book, "Claude Whitacre has 4 minutes to kill".

And...it's a joke."

Several other books you have written will attest to that.

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sbucciarel

Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by perryny

But to make it happen - to replace the job they hate with a career they'll like, or even love - only requires they do the work.

This requires will.

Well, I see what you're getting at. It never required will for me. I was driven to create my own job and income. Driven .... as in nothing could have stopped me. It would have taken a great deal of will for me to work at jobs I hate. I didn't have an ounce of tolerance for it and never did it for any length of time. I always went for jobs that I loved.

Some people haven't gotten to a point where they even know what kind of job they would love. I knew pretty early on in two separate careers.

More than will ... the word I use that is a requirement for a successful entrepreneur is self discipline. I see a lot of people on the WF that seem to want to work online for themselves, but don't have any self-discipline. They end up quitting tasks before they're complete, reading email, posting on social networks, playing games, basically doing anything and everything but what they need to do to build an online job and make money at it.

Another thing I see is that many here have no real online skills and it's like pulling teeth to get them to learn new skills. They want things done for them, they want blueprints ... step by step instructions and a lot of hand holding. They're not capable of digging into information and learning on their own.

If you really want it, you will do what is necessary to reach your goals, even if you feel you have to have an iron will to do that.

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discrat

9 years ago

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

They end up quitting tasks before they're complete, reading email, posting on social networks, posting in the Off Topic Forum,playing games, basically doing anything and everything but what they need to do to build an online job and make money at it.

Fixed that for you

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sbucciarel Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by discrat

Fixed that for you

Are you talking about me? lol.

I'm winding down my career life. I can afford to play around in Off Topic. I don't come to WF to make money any longer. It's not the same as it was in that respect, so I just shoot the breeze in Off Topic. I'm more in a "girls just want to have fun mode" now rather than a burning drive to make a million dollars.
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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by perryny

Claude, if you haven't seen Whiplash, you definitely, definitely should.

I just watched it. And I think I get why you recommended the movie.

I don't think I would have turned Fletcher in. Even if I hated him, I would recognize the attempt to bring out greatness.

My Martial Arts instructor wasn't violent like that. And with all the girl students (only a few) he was much nicer (no children. All at least 20 years old. The training was way too demanding for kids). But yeah, for me and one other guy, he was relentless.

He had a test your first day in class. He would have you stand in an awkward stance that was hard on the thighs.And he would just say, "Stay there"....and he would ignore you until you fell. With the girls, he would let them stop when he could see they were getting tired, but the guys? We would fall, and would just say, "Get back into the stance"

Honestly, most people never came back. But he wanted to see if you really really wanted to train. I remember eventually not being able to stand at all, and he pointed to a chair at the end of the training hall. I had to crawl to the chair while the advanced class trained. The next week, one of the guys said, "You came back. I'm impressed".

But my instructor was never impressed. Not by anyone in the class. I think it was a couple of years before I saw him smile.

Do you know what I decided to stay? When I first saw my instructor walk into class, it looked like he wasn't touching the floor. I know he was, but he had that much power in his legs. There was no give at all when he walked. It was like he weighed 5 pounds. And when I watched him move (in showing a technique) I had trouble seeing him move. I was sitting 20 feet away (after I crawled back to that damn chair), and still couldn't see what he was doing. It was like a film was sped up.

And in my own way, I could tell this was going to be worth it.

My instructor sized me up petty quickly, and figured out how to get the best out of me. And withholding approval was the way.

This was in 1975 (I think). In the middle of the Kung Fu craze. A hundred guys or more would sign up a month........but in 8 years there, it was essentially the same six guys. Almost nobody could stand it. Years later I was in a Mall and saw one of my fellow advanced students. He was still training with our instructor, and he told me that our guy had mellowed, and the training got easier...to allow more students. It really saddened me.

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positivenegative 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

it looked like he wasn't touching the floor.

Thinks! . . hmm . . .

a) Not talking about himself then

b) If he is then obviously no witnesses or mirror in room

c) err . . Claude walks on air. Yeah, with the help of reverse air from his deluxe vacuum

d) His Superman cape he got last Christmas somehow miraculously worked

e) (most likely answer) Event occurred on Earth in parallel universe

ps - I know you meant your tutor, but I just can't help myself!!!!!!!!!!!
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lanfear63

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

I just watched it. And I think I get why you recommended the movie.

I don't think I would have turned Fletcher in. Even if I hated him, I would recognize the attempt to bring out greatness.

My Martial Arts instructor wasn't violent like that. And with all the girl students (only a few) he was much nicer (no children. All at least 20 years old. The training was way too demanding for kids). But yeah, for me and one other guy, he was relentless.

He had a test your first day in class. He would have you stand in an awkward stance that was hard on the thighs.And he would just say, "Stay there"....and he would ignore you until you fell. With the girls, he would let them stop when he could see they were getting tired, but the guys? We would fall, and would just say, "Get back into the stance"

Honestly, most people never came back. But he wanted to see if you really really wanted to train. I remember eventually not being able to stand at all, and he pointed to a chair at the end of the training hall. I had to crawl to the chair while the advanced class trained. The next week, one of the guys said, "You came back. I'm impressed".

But my instructor was never impressed. Not by anyone in the class. I think it was a couple of years before I saw him smile.

Do you know what I decided to stay? When I first saw my instructor walk into class, it looked like he wasn't touching the floor. I know he was, but he had that much power in his legs. There was no give at all when he walked. It was like he weighed 5 pounds. And when I watched him move (in showing a technique) I had trouble seeing him move. I was sitting 20 feet away (after I crawled back to that damn chair), and still couldn't see what he was doing. It was like a film was sped up.

And in my own way, I could tell this was going to be worth it.

My instructor sized me up petty quickly, and figured out how to get the best out of me. And withholding approval was the way.

This was in 1975 (I think). In the middle of the Kung Fu craze. A hundred guys or more would sign up a month........but in 8 years there, it was essentially the same six guys. Almost nobody could stand it. Years later I was in a Mall and saw one of my fellow advanced students. He was still training with our instructor, and he told me that our guy had mellowed, and the training got easier...to allow more students. It really saddened me.

Interesting story Asshopper.

In Florida, sailing tomorrow, not into typing on an iPad. See yah' all soon.

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Claude Whitacre 9 years ago

Originally Posted by lanfear63

Interesting story Asshopper.

In Florida, sailing tomorrow, not into typing on an iPad. See yah' all soon.

Asshopper sounds like a great porn name. Can I use it? I'm thinking of getting back into porn.
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Princess Balestra 9 years ago

Hy Claude that is so cool.

Did you have the loon pants & stuff?

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

My instructor sized me up petty quickly, and figured out how to get the best out of me. And withholding approval was the way.

Mean without cruel sure hits on the drool, but I figure generosity goes a long way also if it's got real heart.

GJ GJ GJ GJ rolled off the tongue all knee-jerk never did anyone any good because it means nothin' -- jus' words hung in air.

Mush alla that waste into a single beamo smile rolled out only for blue moon triple aces & you got a different kinda catalyst.

(In Asshopper III, Randy Bulgecrotch only rises to a series of agonised grimaces but I figure he still got paid for the full 245 minutes.)
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- Claude Whitacre 9 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Princess Balestra
  
  Hy Claude that is so cool.
  
  Did you have the loon pants & stuff?
  
  if you are asking if I still have my training outfit, I think so.
  
  Originally Posted by perryny
  
  Claude, if you haven't seen Whiplash, you definitely, definitely should.
  
  By the way, the more psychopathic one in the movie was the student, not the teacher. Did you see that?
  
  The actor, Miles Teller, was asked what he thought was the future of the character he played;
  
  "I think [Andrew] lives a pretty lonely existence, just working on his craft and becoming one of the greatest drummers of all time, but being pretty miserable [and] alone. People say you are probably going to die alone. That’s Andrew."
  
  I see nothing so miserable about that. And JK Simmons really deserved that Oscar.
  
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HeySal

9 years ago

I think the passion is either there or it isn't. It's not created - it's discovered.

I never realized my passion for rock hunting............until the warm summer day Blitz and I took a hike up the back of Pikes Peak. I had stopped to sit and absorb some of the scenery around me and saw something nearby glittering in the sun. After a few minutes, I finally got curious enough to go see what it was. It was a chunk of quartz crystals. A very nice one. I'm thinking if there was anyone else out anywhere down that 10 miles of hill I just drove, they probably heard me howl. That was it. I've been off and running ever since.

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@tjr

9 years ago

Originally Posted by HeySal

I think the passion is either there or it isn't. It's not created - it's discovered.

I disagree. A passion for NFL or WWE for example, is not coded into my DNA. You could argue that (and this is all conjecture, I don't know my genetics or base psychology very well) that a predisposition for athletics and violence is coded into my DNA, but the way that manifests itself is created through learned behaviors, influences (both personal and societal), and a host of other psychological factors that I'm not qualified to speak on.

Passion is, at least in part, created.

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Cali16

9 years ago

Originally Posted by @tjr

I disagree. A passion for NFL or WWE for example, is not coded into my DNA. You could argue that (and this is all conjecture, I don't know my genetics or base psychology very well) that a predisposition for athletics and violence is coded into my DNA, but the way that manifests itself is created through learned behaviors, influences (both personal and societal), and a host of other psychological factors that I'm not qualified to speak on.

Passion is, at least in part, created.

I don't think Sal was suggesting it's genetic. It is, however, something that only occurs organically (for lack of a better word).

Passion isn't created. Like Sal said, it's discovered - often quite by accident - and then various factors influence it from there.

It's not pathological unless it becomes a full-blown obsession that significantly interferes with other aspects of a person's life.

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thunderbird 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Cali16

I don't think Sal was suggesting it's genetic. It is, however, something that only occurs organically (for lack of a better word). <snip>.

I'll suggest it is probably mostly genetic, based on my misunderstanding of what scientists say (I said "mostly," not totally). That is not to say, roll over, don't try. To whatever extent one's life and fate may be genetic, it is not another person's role to define it, however high-falutin' that person may be, as corroborated by successful life story after successful life story.
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thunderbird

9 years ago

I wonder if lessons can sometimes suck out the magic of something and muddy up a person's natural joy and affinity for it.

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lanfear63 9 years ago

Originally Posted by thunderbird

I wonder if lessons can sometimes suck out the magic of something and muddy up a person's natural joy and affinity for it.

I don't see anything wrong with getting at least a few pointers along the way. You may develop habits or lack of understanding in certain areas that if someone can explain it, point something out, you would be better at it and more skillful in what you are doing.
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Princess Balestra

9 years ago

Guess it's a dance.

Sumthin' core in ya finds expression 'cos you can't stop yourself.

Then you follow that feelin', refine your aptitude some.

Gotta get expertise or you'll stay where you are.

But, sure, there's gonna come a point when you gotta strike a balance between refinement and lettin' it all hang out.

Too little finesse and you're a loose cannon, too much tweakin' and tunin' and you stifle or smother the flame.

So you gotta know where you are as you're leapin' from step to step.

Jus' gotta ease off here, gotta fill in sharper there, kinda thing.

We all seen people on X Factor had their talent screwd on, and others red raw as spilled innards.

Winners hit the sweet spot an' see it's a movin' target, a battle with themselves to stay up on their feet.

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bizgrower

9 years ago

Passion - discovered, yes. Also, sometimes something that needs to be encouraged.
Like a musician that thinks they are no good. Or, a Michael Jordan whose grandparents,
after he was cut from a team and very discouraged, had to tell him to work for it if he wanted it.

The wrong teaching or coaching can sap the life out of something. In high school soccer we had to practice trapping the ball by kicking it against the school wall and then trapping it. I was getting good
at essentially catching it on one foot between my foot and ankle. The coaches told me to stop it because it was too risky. I never really enjoyed playing soccer for those coaches after a couple of things like that. Should have joined the football team as a kicker.

Now we see that pro football player practicing one handed receptions that became a game winner for his team.

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Princess Balestra

9 years ago

I figure you guys are talkin' yourselves into formin' a band.

Soft n Curvy
Any venue. Anytime. Anyone????

Yeah, the promo for you cats gonna write itself...

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bizgrower

9 years ago

Some get passionate about a job or a business, not the work itself, but because it provides for their family and relatives.

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socialentry

Banned 9 years ago

Dostovsky used to gamble all his money at the casinos.

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jessegilbert

Banned 9 years ago

good question. I have a hard time getting passionate about computers. my passion would probably be something offline like building farms or riding horses or going scuba and rock climbing, developing real estate or something. But maybe if something is part of the path you can be passionate about it.

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Kurt

9 years ago

What's the difference between passion and obsession?

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David Beroff 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Kurt

What's the difference between passion and obsession?

Five to ten years with the possibility of parole?
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sbucciarel Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Kurt

What's the difference between passion and obsession?

Degrees. Obsession to me feels more intense. Not necessarily even healthy. I've always had a compulsive/obsessive personality type. As an example, I love gambling ... I mean really love it. I don't do it. It would be financial ruin. The times I've done it, I don't want to stop until there's not a penny left. I have always been all or nothing about things ... even things that were self-destructive.

I just got lucky that I directed some compulsion and obsession to career related activities rather than all self-destructive activities. I gave up drinking and drugs 20+ years ago. No such thing as one cocktail to me or one pill or one of anything that I really like.

My little "passions" don't feel nearly as intense, although I love fishing and gardening, for example, and nothing could get in my way of enjoying those hobbies, I don't compulsively fish or garden ... at least not to the degree that I would gamble.
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thunderbird 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Kurt

What's the difference between passion and obsession?

Spelling and arbitrary conflicting definitions?
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Claude Whitacre 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Kurt

What's the difference between passion and obsession?

I would think that passion means something you care about deeply, and obsession means something you care about, to the exclusion of everything else. I think Suzanne gave a pretty good answer.

Of course, we could just look in the dictionary.

I would, but I'm not passionate about knowing.

But I am obsessed with the idea of punching you in the nose. After all, your head is shaped like a target.
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discrat

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Kurt

What's the difference between passion and obsession?

Suzy and Clause hit it square on.

People with OCD typically do not enjoy doing what they do. Actually they hate it.

People who have Passion love what they do and it does not dominant their Life in a unhealthy way

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sbucciarel

Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by discrat

Suzy and Clause hit it square on.

People with OCD typically do not enjoy doing what they do. Actually they hate it.

People who have Passion love what they do and it does not dominant their Life in a unhealthy way

I have to clarify .... I didn't use the term OCD as I don't feel that disorder applies to me. I used compulsive and obsessive but not the kind of OCD that the fictional character Monk had. I did enjoy both the restaurant career and the computer/graphic career (loved it actually). I do enjoy gambling and I did at one time enjoy drinking and drugs (loved them too). The job related obsessions worked out very well for me. The self-destructive ones ... well, a lot of counseling went into getting that under control.

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perryny 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Kurt

What's the difference between passion and obsession?

I was going to agree that passion brings you joy and obsession is negative, but then Claude completely shot this theory down.

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

But I am obsessed with the idea of punching you in the nose. After all, your head is shaped like a target.
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allegandro

9 years ago

I created an instant passion for my wife...
From the moment she put her finger in my eye while she was dancing in the club....
A passion was born.

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mentat47

9 years ago

Passion is something that is born inside you, you can not create that thing. I never watch that movie, but according to your story, I should suggest you to watch Peaceful Warrior.

You gonna love it!

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dmaster555

9 years ago

Learn discipline and you won't need passion and will power as much to get things done.

Of course not as easy as it sounds.

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Princess Balestra

9 years ago

Hey listen I am in a cool place right now so mebbe I'm speakin' outta a rose tint hat but each time this post has bobbed back up from the entrailo depths & I review the reflectorial herein, I never figured on passion havin' a negative connotation, which either makes me super goober naive brain or kinda resolute I ain't sullyin' on the passion with no hatred.

Sure, I hate stuff, and sure, I get consumed, but it's way different to when I really wanna and I really gotta, and alla that steps-into-air deal gonna land my enthuso in the blendyjuicy zone with sumthin or someone I'm crazy to mix with.

Hate is just a whole lotta nuthin' hissin' outta a burst vacuum.

Mebbe runs on the same fuel as passion, but it comes from noplace good and is bound for someplace worse.

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sbucciarel

Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Princess Balestra

Hey listen I am in a cool place right now so mebbe I'm speakin' outta a rose tint hat but each time this post has bobbed back up from the entrailo depths & I review the reflectorial herein, I never figured on passion havin' a negative connotation, which either makes me super goober naive brain or kinda resolute I ain't sullyin' on the passion with no hatred.

Sure, I hate stuff, and sure, I get consumed, but it's way different to when I really wanna and I really gotta, and alla that steps-into-air deal gonna land my enthuso in the blendyjuicy zone with sumthin or someone I'm crazy to mix with.

Hate is just a whole lotta nuthin' hissin' outta a burst vacuum.

Mebbe runs on the same fuel as passion, but it comes from noplace good and is bound for someplace worse.

^^^^^^^^
Yeah. That's what I meant. lol.

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Princess Balestra

9 years ago

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

^^^^^^^^
Yeah. That's what I meant. lol.

Snark cyborgs of the future gonna run on your DNA, S.

Infuriatin' thing about yankin' on the guy switch is how the circuitry sometimes don't match the labels on the board.

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David Beroff 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Princess Balestra

Infuriatin' thing about yankin' on the guy switch is how the circuitry sometimes don't match the labels on the board.

That's not something that's exclusive to just men, Princess!
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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Princess Balestra

Snark cyborgs of the future gonna run on your DNA, S.

Infuriatin' thing about yankin' on the guy switch is how the circuitry sometimes don't match the labels on the board.

I got that.

Honestly, I just so proud of myself that I understood what you said.

I'm Hip.

Well...hip and stomach......well....mostly stomach.

I miss Riffle. Somebody insult me..Quick!

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discrat

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Princess Balestra

Snark cyborgs of the future gonna run on your DNA, S.

Infuriatin' thing about yankin' on the guy switch is how the circuitry sometimes don't match the labels on the board.

Pretty good , Princess. You're more clever and funnier than I thought

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Princess Balestra 9 years ago

Originally Posted by discrat

Pretty good , Princess. You're more clever and funnier than I thought ')

I figure everyone needs an ersatz ditz on their team.
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Mike Anthony 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Princess Balestra

Infuriatin' thing about yankin' on the guy switch is how the circuitry sometimes don't match the labels on the board.

Meh....we're good.....as long as the size on the board don't match
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perryny

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Princess Balestra

Hey listen I am in a cool place right now so mebbe I'm speakin' outta a rose tint hat but each time this post has bobbed back up from the entrailo depths & I review the reflectorial herein, I never figured on passion havin' a negative connotation, which either makes me super goober naive brain or kinda resolute I ain't sullyin' on the passion with no hatred.

Sure, I hate stuff, and sure, I get consumed, but it's way different to when I really wanna and I really gotta, and alla that steps-into-air deal gonna land my enthuso in the blendyjuicy zone with sumthin or someone I'm crazy to mix with.

Hate is just a whole lotta nuthin' hissin' outta a burst vacuum.

Mebbe runs on the same fuel as passion, but it comes from noplace good and is bound for someplace worse.

Tru dat.

However... it has been said that we will do more to avoid pain than we will to gain pleasure.

Make the pain strong enough, and we'll automatically gravitate toward the love.

So the theory goes.

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perryny

9 years ago

Originally Posted by dmaster555

Learn discipline and you won't need passion and will power as much to get things done.

Perhaps, grasshopper. Or perhaps, find passion and you won't need discipline and will power as much to get things done. Perhaps.

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Kay King

9 years ago

Every time I notice the subject line I'm reminded of a few men along the way who looked GREAT 'on paper' but just didn't push the buttons in the right sequence....

If passion could be created, I would have married rich.

Sorry, couldn't resist...

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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Kay King

Every time I notice the subject line I'm reminded of a few men along the way who looked GREAT 'on paper' but just didn't push the buttons in the right sequence....

If passion could be created, I would have married rich.

Sorry, couldn't resist...

Sure, at 60 I finally learned...it isn't how you push a woman's buttons...it's the sequence.

Now they tell me.

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David Beroff

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Kay King

Every time I notice the subject line I'm reminded of a few men along the way who looked GREAT 'on paper' but just didn't push the buttons in the right sequence....

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

Sure, at 60 I finally learned...it isn't how you push a woman's buttons...it's the sequence.

Now they tell me.

Sorry in advance; I couldn't resist posting this:

(Source: one of many.)

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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by David Beroff

Sorry in advance; I couldn't resist posting this:

(Source: one of many.)

Absolutely!

And the dials on the woman's side aren't labeled in a language that men can read.
Men have; On and Off ...and volume. Those are the dials we have.

Women have pitch, tone, timing, timber, base, treble, several layers of hidden meanings, tone from a long term memory, manic depressive interpretation mode, "I don't want my problem solved, I just want you to listen"......thousands of background noises men never hear...thousands of subtle facial movements the men aren't even aware of....emotions that don't even have names...

Hell, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if I found out that women can see in infra red.

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bizgrower

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

Absolutely!

And the dials on the woman's side aren't labeled in a language that men can read.
Men have; On and Off ...and volume. Those are the dials we have.

Women have pitch, tone, timing, timber, base, treble, several layers of hidden meanings, tone from a long term memory, manic depressive interpretation mode, "I don't want my problem solved, I just want you to listen"......thousands of background noises men never hear...thousands of subtle facial movements the men aren't even aware of....emotions that don't even have names...

Hell, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if I found out that women can see in infra red.

Women can see in infra red and ultra violet, smell as well as a blood hound, hear around corners, see behind them, remember everything, and they don't ever fart. DUH

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mentat47 9 years ago

Originally Posted by dmaster555

Learn discipline and you won't need passion and will power as much to get things done.

Of course not as easy as it sounds.

Yeah, with discipline you will always get what you like, but passion goes together with discipline. When the passion for something is born inside of you, with discipline you will complete your mission!
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Brian Brown

9 years ago

if your create something to do then call it passion, it's a fake one.
keep on trying various types of activites/jobs then your bell will ring when the time is right.
I have my own experience about this

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Mike Anthony

9 years ago

Originally Posted by perryny

If you don't have a passion for doing something you want to do, and that something will take real effort, can the passion be created?

-Rob Perry

Fundamental problem with asking that question here is that its like walking into a bongo player hangout to ask whats it is like to play the harp. Forums in general are not a good place to ask as it is.

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perryny

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Mike Anthony

Fundamental problem with asking that question here is that its like walking into a bongo player hangout to ask whats it is like to play the harp. Forums in general are not a good place to ask as it is.

I'm not asking in Forums in general. I'm asking in the WF OT Forum. There are many people here who's thoughts and ideas and opinions on this topic, I would very much like to hear.

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Mike Anthony 9 years ago

Originally Posted by perryny

I'm not asking in Forums in general. I'm asking in the WF OT Forum.

Yep. thats my point - makes it less likely to get a good answer but whatever floats your boat. People who have passions like the ones you are talking about don't have the time to post day in and day out in WF's basement.
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- perryny 9 years ago
  
  Whether they have the answers, or they face the same challenges I do, I value hearing their ideas.
  
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  Claude Whitacre 9 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by perryny
  
  Whether they have the answers, or they face the same challenges I do, I value hearing their ideas.
  
  Such kindness and fair mindedness are not welcome here. Begone.
  
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  Mike Anthony 9 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by perryny
  
  Whether they have the answers, or they face the same challenges I do, I value hearing their ideas.
  
  Meh....Like I said whatever floats your boat. I wasn't addressing what you find valuable. Just an honest and fair observation (no matter what the poster above likes to think) for a question open to all to answer. Its just common sense that if you ask people here what the 24 7 rigors of becoming an Olympic gymnast is like - whether you value the ideas or not - this isn't likely the forum to get the right answers either.
  
  C'est la vie
  
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  discrat 9 years ago
  
  Meh...Meh...Meh
  Heck...heck...heck
  
  I forming a Petition to get these two words banned in the OT for over usage by a certain few
  Anyone on board ? lol
  
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  Mike Anthony 9 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by discrat
  
  Meh...Meh...MEEHEEEE
  
  Sounds like we have a goat in here
  
  Now we do
  
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  discrat 9 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Mike Anthony
  
  Now we do
  
  Oops....changed it MA ,must have been as you posted this
  
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  Mike Anthony 9 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by discrat
  
  Oops....changed it MA ,must have been as you posted this
  
  As the proud person who has used the expression the most in this thread I knight thee Sir Pointless.
  
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  discrat 9 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Mike Anthony
  
  As the proud person who has used the expression the most in this thread I knight thee Sir Pointless.
  
  Meh...being knighted has never interested me in the least
  
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  socialentry Banned 9 years ago
  
  Being part of an organization that puts deserters to death like the French Foreign Legion or a cult also can ignite long-buried passions.
  
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bojan92

9 years ago

Passion can be recreated but it can not be created. That is one of those things either two people have it or they dont have it. If they do have the spark magic can/will happen. However time stress money kids , can distract you to forget about that with your loved one. Never forget the one you love to give her the attention she deserved the kisses she earned making you dinner. Part of my thoughts about passion. If it is there enjoy it if it is not , its not gonna happen , move on. There are seven billion people in this world.
Cheers.

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Princess Balestra

9 years ago

Originally Posted by bojan92

Passion can be recreated but it can not be created. That is one of those things either two people have it or they dont have it. If they do have the spark magic can/will happen. However time stress money kids , can distract you to forget about that with your loved one. Never forget the one you love to give her the attention she deserved the kisses she earned making you dinner. Part of my thoughts about passion. If it is there enjoy it if it is not , its not gonna happen , move on. There are seven billion people in this world.
Cheers.

You've kinda forked off down all kindsa presumptions here.

But, yeah, you're right about distraction.

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whateverpedia

9 years ago

Looks like folks are pretty passionate about this topic to have kept it going this long.

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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by whateverpedia

Looks like folks feel pretty passionate about this topic to have kept it going this long.

I hate you.

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bizgrower

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

I hate you.

With a passion?

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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by bizgrower

With a passion?

First, Clever. But I detect a sliver of compassion behind your post.

Second, I miss Riffle. He has a detached cold way of insulting me, that I frankly miss.

Today, the black cat behind my store, was waiting for me to feed it. I did, and put a chair out, next to the food bowl.

I sat in the chair, looking ahead, and the cat sat next to me on the ground, totally ignoring me...and ignoring the food. After about 20 minutes, my wife called me to help a customer. I walked in, closed the door...immediately opened the door again, and saw the cat eating the food.

The cat and I are in an ideal relationship. We ignore each other...together. I feed him, he ignores me. It is completely satisfying to both of us.

The cat reminds me of Riffle. His complete disregard for my reaction, is completely hilarious to me. He knows it. I know it.

I wish he were here more often.

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bizgrower

9 years ago

Did you say something?

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

First, Clever. But I detect a sliver of compassion behind your post.

Second, I miss Riffle. He has a detached cold way of insulting me, that I frankly miss.

Today, the black cat behind my store, was waiting for me to feed it. I did, and put a chair out, next to the food bowl.

I sat in the chair, looking ahead, and the cat sat next to me on the ground, totally ignoring me...and ignoring the food. After about 20 minutes, my wife called me to help a customer. I walked in, closed the door...immediately opened the door again, and saw the cat eating the food.

The cat and I are in an ideal relationship. We ignore each other...together. I feed him, he ignores me. It is completely satisfying to both of us.

The cat reminds me of Riffle. His complete disregard for my reaction, is completely hilarious to me. He knows it. I know it.

I wish he were here more often.

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Princess Balestra

9 years ago

It's the vomit that won't stay down.

Feelin' hangdog? Suicidal? So vicious minded you could bite the head offa a cartoon baby?

Then say hello to passion.

Gonna whup back up into your throat on a stomach pulse & clear your larynx of all negative utter an' stutter.

O, Vegas plume of irrepressible eructile!
Swill all evil from my soul hole!

K, so I had a lousy waiter tonite an' Im gowin' dancin', misplaced apostrophes prancin' like that stoopid 900' equestrian monstrosity they built next to the Roman Forum, only it never pranced anywhere and I am wearin' flat shoes because I don't wanna injure no one.

So, yeah, agree: plx can we kill this thread before we all rot from the unstoppable enthusiasm?

Plz can we make next tome with favorite wallpaper or cruelty to penguins?

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Mike Anthony

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Princess Balestra

It's the vomit that won't stay down.

Feelin' hangdog? Suicidal? So vicious minded you could bite the head offa a cartoon baby?

Then say hello to passion.

Gonna whup back up into your throat on a stomach pulse & clear your larynx of all negative utter an' stutter.

O, Vegas plume of irrepressible eructile!
Swill all evil from my soul hole!

Sometimes you are on and some time you are just on - hard liquor.

-at least tonight you have found your passion. easy on the shots though

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Gandolfo85 9 years ago

In my honest opinion, passion cannot be created but can be found by trying and testing new things, activities, places, environments and so on.
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bizgrower

9 years ago

I think the passion (and drive) to be a top athlete, musician, actor...is something they are born with.

Sometimes (often) passion has to be tempered with judgment. I tried to help a guy expand the
territory within which he could operate his transportation business. He was very passionate about
serving the entire region and he was just a one man shuttle service. Because he wanted to get
so much territory he was opposed by a taxi service.

Since there was opposition to his request, it went to a hearing with the utilities commission and his
request was denied. The judge can only look at the request as submitted, not reduce it.

Before the hearing, I talked to the opposing taxi service and they would have agreed to a more
reasonable expansion of his territory.

His passion overrode his judgment and now he is not working at all.

Dan

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marketingfreak

Banned 9 years ago

some people say that the passion cannot be created and some say that the passion can be created i think the people who say that the passion can be created are right. because if we are willing to do some thing then we need passion.. without passion nothing can be done.. some impossible things can only be done with the help of passion.. there are many ways to create a passion...

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sbucciarel

Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by marketingfreak

i think the people who say that the passion can be created are right. because if we are willing to do some thing then we need passion.. without passion nothing can be done.

A lot of things are done without passion. Millions of people do things that they hate to do simply because it needs to be done. Right now, I'm painting walls and doing fall cleaning. I despise it. I don't have passion for it, but it needs to be done.

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Daily Online Deals

9 years ago

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Kurt

9 years ago

Claude...A fistful of Viagra, a bottle of wine, and playing Barry White on your 8-track, while spooning with your anatomically correct male blow up doll is NOT passion. It's perversion. And sad.

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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Kurt

Claude...A fistful of Viagra, a bottle of wine, and playing Barry White on your 8-track, while spooning with your anatomically correct male blow up doll is NOT passion. It's perversion. And sad.

That's not what you told me when you sold me the doll.

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socialentry

Banned 9 years ago

Dostovsky used to gamble all his money at the casino before starting to write.

He also pissed off a monarch who put him through a mock execution.

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Can passion be created?

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