BloggEd

There are many aspects which separate excellent employees from not so good ones, but I think there is one not-so-often mentioned capability which really makes the difference.

Hint: Kathy Sierra could write a book called “Creating passionate workers”.

I think enthusiasm is a major driving force behing successful projects and products. Intelligence, experience and self-discipline certainly get you far, but I really believe passion is more important alone than any other aspect. Just think about it: by what other means you can make your product distinguished from other, fine products, if not by the excellent quality and elegance which is above standards and craftsmanship, more close to art than anything else?

Speaking about craftsmanship, I believe all astonishingly beautiful tools, furniture, cars etc. defining the direction for other creations have reached their phenomenal status because of one thing in particular: their designers and architects have been passionate about what they do. Ferrari was not created by some well-paid professional who just committed to designing a very good car. Tolkien wasn’t just a talented professor of English who decided to write a good novel. Linux and OSS in general wouldn’t have succeeded so well if all it had was talented developers. Ruby is exceptional because it’s creator had more than just idea. Besides, passion is like a good virus: it spreads and is contagious.

Great, world-moving visions and ideas are fueled by passion.

The problem is that you can’t acquire one for the things you do by education, discipline, practice or coercion. Passion, or lack of it, is inherent to your nature. By means of proper motivation you can cultivate your inner dog puppy¹, but you can’t really make yourself passionate without appropriate ingredients in your person.

Fortunately, most healthy people are keen to some things at least (and being able to feed your puppy, you probably stay more healthy too). The problem is, how to use your passion to do things you think are important? not all of us are passionate about being lawyers, nurses, receptionists, truck drivers, doctors, software engineers (hey! many of use are..)

Now, find out what you are passionate about and make that your driving force for something good or useful.

Then tell me how you did it.

[1] Can you think of something constantly more eager, willing and enthusiastic than a dog puppy? Seriously. I think we could learn a lot from dogs…