Have you ever felt like if you just had a little more passion or let yourself express the passion you do have more fully, you could be doing a lot more good in the world? I recently had a chat with Gary Yazwa who helped raise over $250,000,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs. Passion is his driving force.
Here are 6 tips he shares to connect with your passion and get more support for your cause:
1) Acknowledge what’s made a difference in your life and share it with others. Listen to your heart about what matters most to you and then express it without holding back. Too many of us have been trained to speak intellectually when the voice of real power is the voice of the heart.
2) Articulate your passion and show others what you feel. The first step is to connect heart to heart with a clear message. Gary muses, “You don’t have to be smart, but you’ve gotta show your enthusiasm!” He has a sparkle in his eye that’s contagious.
3) Tell vivid stories to get the conversation started, then ask questions and show genuine appreciation. As you’re sharing, watch body language and notice where your listener lights up. Ask them questions and explore where there’s a connection. Give yourself permission to slow down and be present with the person in front of you. Just as building a fire takes much kindling, cultivating relationships takes time. Not only does it build trust and create rapport, you’ll find that unraveling what really matters to others re-ignites your own passion.
4) Surround yourself with an aligned team. Recognize you can’t do it all on your own, but don’t just grab anyone. Make sure it’s the right fit. Share your vision with others, say thank you often and extend your appreciation.
5) Stay focused -To keep his energy high, Gary takes the kids to theatre, talk with donors and finds out more about his volunteers and staff. He didn’t join the organization to sit behind a desk all day. He meets the kids and hugs them on a regular basis. He considers this an important part of his job. Gary’s responsibilities are vision and fund-raising. He doesn’t allow himself to get off track with planning programs or anything other than his responsibility. If you’re like most people, it’s easy to get off track. What are your specific responsibilities and how can you focus your actions on them?
6) Monitor your progress – Set goals and take strategic action to make them happen. A common mistake people make, Gary says, is wishing and hoping without taking the necessary action. Talk about your progress openly and do whatever it takes to make your goal. Achieving your goals will increase your self-confidence and keep your passion alive.