A true professional is not defined by the job he or she does, but how he or she does the job. 

When I first met Fred the postman (the real life Fred Shea who I wrote about in my book The Fred Factor), I realized that he made delivering the mail both art and science; Fred was doing an ordinary job in an extraordinary way. What accounts for the remarkable difference between Fred and other postal carriers who fall short of his amazing level of service?

Consider:

Ability determines what you can do.

Aptitude determines what you can learn to do.

Aspiration determines what you hope to do.

Attitude determines what you believe you can do.

But passion determines what you want to do!

You and I would agree that there is a lot of gimmickry, fakery, and posing in the world. But true passion cannot be faked—at least for very long. Passion can be learned, grown, developed, and cultivated. And when it becomes part of who you are it will become part of your brand—part of how people identify you.

Developing passion in your own life for what you are called to do today—be a parent or spouse, make a sales call, teach a class, lead a company—is a daily exercise in self-leadership. In an article on creating passion and purpose in the workplace, consultants Joe Morrow and Vince Cavasin wrote, “Having a leadership mentality implies the conscious choice to live a life of meaning and to create an environment for all those around us to do the same.”

As I see it, “leadership mentality” is synonymous with “passion mentality.” This way of thinking affects not only you but those around you. You must choose to lead yourself into the passionate lifestyle that will make you a valued, repeat performer to those you serve.

Share your passion in the comment box below or connect with me on  Facebook and Twitter.

My friend Doug Dickerson has written a new book, Leaders Without Borders: 9 Essentials for Everyday Leaders for which I was honored to write the foreword. Doug is a leadership consultant, columnist, and speaker from South Carolina. This brief interview will introduce you to Doug and his inspirational new book.

Q: With many books on the market today on the topic of leadership, how is Leaders Without Borders different?

A: It is different for one important reason. While many books on leadership place an emphasis on how to lead, in Leaders Without Borders, I seek to help readers understand the why of leadership. The why has more to do with heart issues for leaders and when properly understood and applied will make the how to of leadership more effective.

Q: What are the nine essentials that you identify and how are they applicable to leaders?

A: The nine essentials are: passion, priorities, optimism, teamwork, attitude, authenticity, loyalty, kindness, and legacy. These essentials are applicable across the leadership spectrum. For example, we understand that business savvy and organizational skills are important qualities for leaders. Couple those skills with a dose of passion and kindness and it can take you to a higher level with a greater purpose. What I am attempting to do is link leadership smarts with leadership heart.

Q: Is there one particular hindrance to expanding your borders as a leader that can trump your performance as a leader?

A: Absolutely, and I write about it in the chapter on attitude. Organizational attitudes are the sum of personal attitudes that work in it. The attitude of the leader is the thermostat to which the rest of the organization is set. When the leader’s attitude is right it will set the tone for the rest of the company. Your company can be loaded with talent, but armed with a bad attitude your organization contains itself within a border of its own creation. You expand your borders by choosing the right attitude.

Q: When did you first begin to formulate these leadership concepts and who influenced you?

A: These concepts began to formulate in the early 1980’s as I was taking a course in Organizational Behavior and Leadership at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. Dr. Tom Wilson, a retired Army officer taught the course. As a professor he was tough, but was one of the kindest men I ever met. His ability to teach, inspire, and motivate were such that if he said we were going to charge the gates of hell with a water gun, I would have been the first to sign up.

Q: You write about leaving a leadership legacy saying, “The wonderful thing about your legacy is that you get to write it. You will be remembered as a leader not so much by what you said but in what you did.” How do you see legacy as a difference maker in expanding your leadership borders?

A: I see it as the ultimate privilege of leadership; a sacred honor if you will. Your legacy is the product of your leadership. The influence you have on your family, your children, and your company is only as strong as your commitment to living up to the high calling of leadership. In the end, I want it to be said that my legacy among others was second only in how well I led my family. And this is at the heart of Leaders Without Borders, helping the reader to understand it is not just what you do as a leader but why.

Q: Where can leaders and readers find your weekly column and order your book?

A: My column is posted each week on my blog at www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com  The book is available two places; first from my publisher Tremendous Life Books via www.tremendouslifebooks.net/ and on my blog.

Passion by itself is of little value (like having a gallon of gas without an engine to put it in), but used as fuel for one’s work, it has many benefits.

Passion…

Invigorates. Your alarm clock becomes your achievement clock. You’ll be waking up ready to get to the important work you believe in.

Inspires. You’ll find inspiration within rather than searching for it “out there.”

Sustains. Difficulties become stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks. Passion keeps you going after others give up.

Comforts. Passion reminds you that you did your best regardless of the outcome.

Initiates. It overcomes the resistance of procrastination and enables you to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Completes. Because you only begin that which is worthwhile, you’ll be a consistent closer and finisher.

Enhances: It expands the possibilities, benefits, and value of the work being done.

(Adapted from The Encore Effect: How to Achieve Remarkable Performance in Anything You Do by Mark Sanborn)