Where Passion Comes From | Simon Sinek

Summary

The speaker explores the concept of passion as an output rather than an input, suggesting that it arises from involvement in activities that align with personal values and contribute to a higher purpose. They challenge the societal pressure to have a personal vision, advocating instead for finding and adopting a vision that resonates deeply. The speaker encourages individuals to identify and commit their unique talents to advance a cause, emphasizing the importance of aligning with a vision that inspires and motivates, leading to a fulfilling life.

Takeaways

• 🔥 Passion is an output, not an input, and it arises when we are engaged in something deeply personal and aligned with a higher purpose.
• 🌟 People with passion are willing to work long hours and make personal sacrifices because they believe in the value of their work.
• 🤔 The difference between passion and stress is the personal connection and belief in the bigger picture; passion feels rewarding, while stress does not.
• 🧩 Not everyone is a visionary, and it's unfair to expect everyone to have a grand vision for their lives.
• 💡 It's possible to adopt someone else's vision if it resonates with you on a deep level, turning you into a follower who is equally committed to the cause.
• 📚 To find a vision that you believe in, expose yourself to various sources of inspiration like books, TED talks, articles, and speeches by leaders.
• 🌐 Visionaries and followers both serve something larger than themselves, and the origin of the vision is less important than the commitment to it.
• 💬 Effective leaders can articulate a vision so clearly that others can internalize and recite it as their own.
• 🧩 Everyone has a unique piece of the puzzle to contribute towards a shared vision, whether it's through their work, leadership, or personal relationships.
• 🎁 We should commit our 'gifts' to advancing a vision, as gifts are meant to be given away and used for the benefit of a greater cause.

Q & A

What is the main difference between passion and stress according to the transcript?

Passion and stress are both outputs, not inputs. Passion is felt when one is involved in something deeply personal that helps advance a higher purpose or cause, making long hours and sacrifices feel worthwhile. Stress, on the other hand, is experienced when one is forced to do something without a personal connection to a bigger ideal, making the same sacrifices feel not worth it.

Why is it suggested that not everyone needs to have a personal vision?

The transcript argues that not everyone needs to have a personal vision because not everyone is a visionary. It's an unfair standard to expect everyone to be one, just as it's unfair to expect everyone to be creative or good at math. Instead, individuals can find and adopt a vision that resonates with them.

How can one find a vision that they believe in if they are not naturally visionary?

One can find a vision by reading books, watching TED talks, reading articles, and being open to various forms of leadership. When something resonates with you on a deep level, even if you can't explain why, you can adopt that vision and make it your own.

What is the significance of adopting someone else's vision?

Adopting someone else's vision is significant because it allows individuals to connect with and serve something bigger than themselves. It fuels passion and conviction, and it doesn't matter whether you originated the idea or not; what matters is the commitment to the cause.

What role does the concept of 'followership' play in the context of vision and passion?

Followership is presented as a positive and essential role. Followers take on the vision of a visionary and commit to it, just as passionately as the originator. There is no difference in the level of service to a bigger cause between a visionary and a follower.

Why is it important to commit our 'gifts' to a cause or vision?

Committing our 'gifts' to a cause or vision is important because it allows us to contribute to something meaningful using our unique talents and abilities. The term 'gifts' implies that these talents are meant to be given away, not kept to oneself, and using them for a higher purpose can lead to a sense of fulfillment.

What does the speaker mean when they say 'we all have a piece of the puzzle'?

The speaker means that everyone has a unique contribution to make towards a shared vision. Just as in a jigsaw puzzle, each person's talents and efforts are necessary to complete the bigger picture of the vision.

How does the speaker describe their personal contribution to the vision they support?

The speaker describes their personal contribution as the ability to put ideas into words that others can relate to. They see themselves as the person who points at the box of the jigsaw puzzle, helping others understand the vision, but not necessarily the one who builds the business or leads the charge.

What is the speaker's vision for the world?

The speaker's vision is for a world where the vast majority of people wake up every morning feeling inspired, are safe at work, and return home fulfilled at the end of the day.

Why is it beneficial to have great leaders who can articulate a clear vision?

Great leaders who can articulate a clear vision are beneficial because they can inspire and guide others towards a common goal. When a vision is communicated effectively, it can be internalized and recited as if it were one's own, fostering unity and motivation within a group.

Outlines

00:00

🔥 Passion as an Output

The paragraph discusses the concept of passion as an output rather than an input. It explains that passion arises when individuals are engaged in activities that resonate with their personal values and contribute to a higher purpose. The speaker contrasts this with stress, which is experienced when tasks lack personal meaning or alignment with a larger ideal. Passion drives people to work long hours and make sacrifices, yet it feels fulfilling. Conversely, stress can lead to similar behaviors but without the sense of worth. The speaker encourages finding a vision or cause that one can believe in, suggesting that adopting the vision of others can also ignite passion. The importance of aligning one's personal gifts with a larger vision is emphasized, as this alignment fuels both passion and conviction.

Keywords

💡Passion

Passion, in the context of the video, is described as an 'output' rather than an 'input.' It is not something one inherently possesses but rather something that emerges when one is deeply involved in activities that align with personal values or a higher purpose. The speaker uses the example of passionate individuals working long hours without feeling the need for rest because their work feels meaningful and connected to a larger cause. This contrasts with stress, which is also an 'output,' but stems from a lack of personal connection or belief in the work being done.

💡Stress

Stress is presented as a response to work or activities that do not resonate with one's personal values or larger purpose. Unlike passion, which is associated with positive engagement and fulfillment, stress is linked to feelings of burden and a lack of worth. The speaker illustrates this by comparing the long hours and sacrifices made by passionate individuals to those made by stressed individuals, where the latter do not feel their efforts are worthwhile.

💡Vision

A 'vision' is defined as a clear and compelling picture of a desired future or goal. The speaker argues that society often pressures individuals, especially the younger generation, to have their own unique vision. However, not everyone is naturally visionary, and the speaker suggests that it's more important to find a vision that resonates with one's values rather than creating one's own. Examples from the script include adopting the visions of leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., whose dream of racial harmony inspired many to join his cause.

💡Cause

A 'cause' refers to a principle, goal, or movement that an individual or group supports or advocates for. In the video, the speaker encourages finding a cause that one feels passionate about and then committing one's talents to advance it. The cause could be anything from social justice to environmental sustainability, and it serves as the driving force behind an individual's actions and dedication.

💡Talents

Talents are innate abilities or skills that individuals possess. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing and utilizing one's talents to contribute to a cause or vision. The concept is introduced with the idea that everyone has a unique piece of the puzzle to offer, and by using one's talents, one can help build towards a collective vision.

💡Follower

A 'follower' in this context is someone who adopts and supports the vision of a leader or visionary. The speaker dispels the notion that there is a significant difference between being a visionary and a follower, stating that both roles involve serving something larger than oneself. The act of following is portrayed as a positive and essential part of realizing a vision, as it involves commitment and action.

💡Conviction

Conviction refers to a strong belief or persuasion that drives one's actions and decisions. In the video, conviction is linked to the passion and commitment that individuals feel when they align with a vision or cause. It is the emotional and intellectual force that compels individuals to work towards their goals, even in the face of challenges.

💡Resonate

To 'resonate' means to have a deep and often emotional impact or connection. The speaker advises individuals to seek out ideas, visions, or causes that resonate with them on a personal level. This resonance is what can lead to a sense of passion and the desire to contribute to a larger purpose, as it signifies a genuine alignment with one's values and beliefs.

💡Gifts

In the video, 'gifts' are described as talents or abilities that individuals are meant to give away in service of a cause or vision. The speaker uses the metaphor of a jigsaw puzzle to illustrate how everyone has a unique piece to contribute, and by giving these 'gifts,' individuals can help create a larger, more meaningful picture.

💡Leadership

Leadership is the act of guiding, influencing, and inspiring others towards a shared vision or goal. The speaker discusses the importance of great leaders who can articulate a vision so clearly that others can internalize it and make it their own. Leadership is presented as a critical component in mobilizing individuals to work towards a common cause.

Highlights

Passion is an output, not an input; it arises when we are involved in something deeply personal that aligns with a higher purpose.

People feel passion when their work helps advance a bigger ideal, contrasting with stress from tasks lacking personal connection.

Passionate individuals may work long hours and make personal sacrifices, but they find it worthwhile due to their belief in the cause.

Stressed individuals may exhibit similar behaviors as passionate ones but lack the sense of worthiness due to the absence of a compelling vision.

Society often pressures individuals, especially the younger generation, to have a vision, which is an unfair expectation as not everyone is a visionary.

It's not necessary to originate a vision; one can adopt and make someone else's vision their own, which is the essence of being a follower.

Visionaries and followers both serve something larger than themselves, with the originator of the idea being irrelevant to the cause.

To find a vision, one should read, watch, listen, and engage with various forms of media and leaders to discover resonating ideas.

Adopting a vision that resonates with you on a deep level can fuel passion and conviction, even if you didn't create it.

The speaker has a clear vision of a world where people wake up inspired, feel safe at work, and return home fulfilled.

Everyone has a unique piece of the puzzle to contribute towards building a better world, and it's important to identify and commit to one's gift.

The speaker's gift is articulating ideas into words that others can relate to, helping to advance the shared vision.

Great leaders can articulate a vision so clearly that others can recite and make it their own, fostering a collective commitment.

Everyone has at least one friend who sees the good in them and believes in them, which is a gift that can be used to advance a cause.

Finding and committing one's gifts to a vision is essential for creating a meaningful impact on the world.

The concept of gifts implies giving them away; they are not meant to be kept but to be shared for the advancement of a vision.

Transcripts

passion is not an input passion is an

output

uh passion um you know we're all

passionate we're just not all passionate

for the same things

and we will feel what we call passion

when we are involved in something

that is deeply personal to us that is

helping us advance

some higher purpose or cause then when

we go to work what we

what we experience is passion but if you

make us do something that we feel no

personal connection to that is not as

helping advance any kind of

bigger ideal than what we feel is stress

now passionate people work many hours

they don't come home they miss their

families

they take business trips they they don't

sleep

and yet it feels worth it people who are

stressed go on

business trips they miss their families

they work long hours they don't sleep

but it doesn't feel worth it

passion is an output not an input like

stress is an output not an

input so you don't you can't do what

you're passionate about

you find something you believe in and

what you will experience is passion

so then it begs the question how do i

find what i believe in right

there's a i think society especially our

society

and especially for a younger generation

puts overwhelming pressure on us

to have a vision what's your vision or

find your blessing all of these they're

all the same thing right

and the problem is we're not all

visionaries it's unfair

it's an unfair standard that's like

telling everybody

to be creative but we're not all

creative or everybody be good at math

but we're not all good at math

we're not all visionaries only a small

percentage of our population are

actually visionary

you don't have to have a vision you have

to find a vision

right if you hear martin luther king

say i have a dream that one day little

black children will hold hands on the

playground with little white children

you go

that's what i want you choose to follow

dr king

when you hear the words of visionaries

and if they appeal to you on some

visceral level they give you goosebumps

they make you excited

they make you want to sacrifice be a

part of it stand in line

to hear them pay money whatever it is

follow that make that your vision take

it and say that's my vision too

you can adopt someone else's vision and

make it your own that's what we call

a following is we have taken the

visionary's vision

and we have chosen to follow that vision

ourselves we are followers

that's a good thing there's no

difference between the visionary and the

follower

we both see ourselves in service to

something bigger than ourselves

whether you are the originator of that

idea or not is irrelevant

what it does is fuel passion what it

does is fuel conviction

so we don't have to have a vision but we

do have to

find one and so read books watch ted

talks

read articles be in life

watch videos you know go out seek find

listen

listen to leaders corporate political

whoever

and when something resonates with you

even if you don't know why

that then you can adopt and you can take

it upon yourself to use your own

talents your own gifts to help advance

whatever that cause is

right so i have a cause i have a crystal

clear vision of the world i want to live

in i

imagine a world in which the vast

majority of people wake up

every single morning inspired feel safe

at work

and return home fulfilled at the end of

the day the gift that i have committed

to help advance that cause

is the ability to put some of these

ideas into words that other people can

relate to

you know when you do a jigsaw puzzle the

first thing you do is lean the box

against the wall

right we all have a piece of the puzzle

to help build this vision

my piece of the puzzle is i'm the guy

that points at the box

but i'm not the guy who builds the

business

because there are other people who are

better at that the entrepreneurs and the

business leaders

i want them to embrace the same picture

on the box

the people who work for companies who

say i want to work for a company that

does that

that's their piece the one who's a

gifted natural leader

who cares we all have at least one

friend

who for whatever reason love us and care

us even when we're horrible people

that that for some reason they still

believe in us and they see the good in

us

that's their piece of the puzzle and so

we have to commit our gifts the reason

they call them gifts is because they're

forgiving

that's what gifts are they're forgiving

away if you have a gift it's not

something you take it's something you

give

so i think we have to find a vision and

commit our gifts to help advance that

vision

and the great leaders the ones that can

put that vision into words

so clear that we can then recite that

vision as if it were our own

[Music]