Virtue of Passion

What is the source of this extreme self-confidence found in almost all optimists, this conviction that they can accomplish great things? Do they have an exaggerated view of their abilities?

Usually not. Many optimists I know are quick to point out that others have talents superior to theirs. Yet they are confident they can accomplish almost anything and have almost anything they want. The intangible quality that separates many successful people from talented people who fail is the sheer force of their wills. They have stronger passions, greater desires than average.

A young man who aspired to the study of law once wrote Lincoln for advice. Lincoln replied, “If you are resolutely determined to make a lawyer of yourself, the thing is more than half done already. Always bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing.”

A salesman said this about his beginnings:
“When I began my career, I took stock of myself and added up my assets and liabilities. I was appalled at the extent of my liabilities. I had no sales experience, no extensive education, no voice training, and certainly no captivating personality. Apparently, I lacked nearly all the attributes of the master salesman.
As far as assets were concerned, I could find only one. That was a determination so strong it amounted almost to an obsession – a burning, overwhelming desire to become a top salesman. Even at that early age I considered this quality an asset for the simple reason that I never heard of anyone achieving success who didn’t want to achieve it.”

If we knew nothing more about that man apart from this declaration, we could predict that he would go to the top. Perhaps not immediately, perhaps not in the first years of his career, but eventually he would succeed. In fact, he did just that and retired a very wealthy man.

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Tommy Lasorda, not long ago manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was fond of saying this to his team, “Races are not won by the fastest athletes. Fights are not won by the strongest. But the races are won and the fights are won by those who want to win most of all.” Desire and willpower are not the only ingredients for achievement, of course. There is such a thing as talent. Willpower may not override talent, but it continues to be the factor that causes people of ordinary ability to accomplish extraordinary things.

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