Jeff Bezos Said Living a Successful and Meaningful Life Boils Down to 1 Simple Thing
The Amazon founder spells out the formula for lifelong success.
This post is part of my Thought Leadership series: long-form articles aimed at teaching you how to build great work cultures where people and businesses flourish.
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Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon and one of the most influential entrepreneurs of our time, once said, "You don't choose your passions, your passions choose you."
Many people get upset when they read this quote, mistakenly thinking it suggests waiting for a perfect moment to realize their purpose in life while life passes by. But it's not that romantic. Achieving success requires drive, motivation, hard work, and numerous encounters with failure. There are no shortcuts.
What I understand from Bezos is that success comes to those who know, without any doubt, what they were meant to do. They choose their path with unbridled passion, move full speed ahead, and stay focused, preparing every day and working hard to achieve their goals and objectives.
Bezos's Formula for Lifelong Success
Finding your passion in life is a crucial piece of advice that Bezos often gives to young people, he said at the George W. Bush Presidential Center's Forum on Leadership in 2018.
"You can have a job, or you can have a career, or you can have a calling," Bezos said. "And if you can somehow figure out how to have a calling, you have hit the jackpot, because that's the big deal."
In other words, true success comes from turning your passion into a career, and Bezos believes everyone has a passion.
I tend to agree because I'm living proof. My passion has always been to help others become better leaders and better humans. I believe that you are gifted with certain passions as well. How will you know what they are?
Passions are intrinsic. They are not something you consciously decide to have; instead, they are an integral part of who you are. These deep-seated interests and longings emerge naturally, often from a young age, and shape our desires and actions. Bezos's quote underscores this natural occurrence of passions, suggesting that they are a gift each of us possesses uniquely.
Recognizing and embracing our passions is important because they give us motivation and energy. Doing things we love makes us feel fulfilled and purposeful, leading to more creativity, productivity, and satisfaction.
The Pursuit
This pursuit is not always easy or straightforward. Many people face obstacles, whether they are financial constraints, societal pressures, or personal fears. However, those who manage to overcome these barriers and dedicate themselves to their passions often find the most success and happiness.
Following your passion means investing time and effort into something that genuinely excites and interests you. It means taking risks and sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone. The journey may be challenging, but the rewards are often worth it.
Doing What You Love
Following your passions comes with added benefits: You love coming to work because you love what you do. Warren Buffett said it best: "In the world of business, the people who are most successful are those who are doing what they love."
So what do you love? For most of us, we take for granted our cushy paycheck, health benefits, and job security, even though we may dislike our jobs and toxic co-workers, and wish we were doing something else -- something we actually loved.
Doing what we love as entrepreneurs and business owners is a major contributor to our happiness as humans. And, more important, knowing what you love should be a top priority. If you don't know what it is you love, then finding out what it is should be your first step. That's when passion chooses you.
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