Leadership Refined

1. Leadership Refined Passion Lesson 9

2. Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things. Denis Diderot

3. Who never climbs rarely falls. John Greenleaf Whittier

4. Review Character. . . Who you are when no one is watching Focus. . . Working on your priorities Servanthood. . . Putting the needs of others before your own Positive Attitude. . . Maintaining a positive outlook, regardless of circumstances Communication. . . Seeking to understand others first

5. Passion. . . American Heritage says it this way. . . “boundless enthusiasm” • What does the passionate person look like? • They do what they believe in. • They show boundless enthusiasm. • They hang out with other passionate people.

6. Did you ever get up early before the sun was up in hope of participating in the dawn of a new day - rising at the “crack of dawn”, hoping to catch that first glimmer of light? (No, noon, is not the crack of dawn!) If you were to try and catch the first rays of morning, you would discover that the crack of dawn is just that - a tiny space between night and day. Then the sun bursts on the horizon, opening up in a grandiose way, a new day, a fresh opportunity, a unique moment to seize. If you’re not there at the exact moment, you’ve missed it; the sun is up and rising and you’ve missed the crack of dawn. The sun rises each morning with boundless enthusiasm. The sun doesn’t just mosey in, taking its sweet little time. It literally bursts on the horizon into a glowing array of hues in greens, blues, and yellows. The sun is so predictable in its passion that its rising is noted to the exact minute. When the sun is up, it is unmistakably up! What about you? How do you face each day? Do you moan and groan with a negative attitude? Do you rise with boundless energy and enthusiasm? What is it that you believe in that gets you up each day?

7. You may not throw to the same person twice in a row. • If a person is tagged, two-handed tag, that person MUST immediately (within 2 seconds or possession changes) throw the ball to a teammate. • If two players grab or catch the ball at the same time, the ball gets tossed up into the air and counting of catches starts over. • When a team reaches 15 consecutive throws/catches they score 1 point. Winning team has the most points. • The ball is tossed out again after a score of 15 throws is reached. PASSION PASS Briefing: In this activity you and your team will try to enthusiastically maintain possession of the foam ball and accumulate 15 consecutive throws to your own team members. Sort of like a massive “keep away” game. Procedure: Split the group in ½___. Use bandannas or some other means of identifying team members. Throw a foam ball out into the open area. Whoever gets the ball may run with it until tagged or throw it to another team member.

8. Passion Pass • How did your team perform? • Can you name a feeling that you had at any point during the game? • What personal beliefs were responsible for allowing you to have that feeling? • Is that a common feeling in your life? • Who felt enthusiastic or passionate about playing the game or even winning? • Did you express that feeling to others? How? • If you felt no enthusiasm or passion, what would it take for you to have that feeling of boundless enthusiasm? • How can you take your feelings of energy, excitement or passion back to the classroom without being disruptive?

9. An elderly man, in the final days of his life, is lying in bed alone. He awakens to see a large group of people clustered around his bed. Their faces are loving, but sad. Confused, the old man smiles weakly and whispers, “You must be my childhood friends, come to say good-bye. I am so grateful.” Moving closer, the tallest figure gently grasps the old man’s hand and replies, “Yes, we are your best and oldest friends, but long ago you abandoned us. For we are the unfulfilled promises of your youth. We are the unrealized hopes, dreams and plans that you once felt deeply in your heart, but never pursued. We are the unique talents that you never refined, the special gifts you never discovered. Old friend, we have not come to comfort you, but to die with you.” Les Brown

10. Journal 11 Date your journal. In your journal write about passion. Who do you know that is a passionate person? What do they do that makes them passionate? How did they get this passion? Why are they passionate? Now think about yourself. What is it that you truly believe is worth doing? What is it that motivates you? Are you passionate about something? What is it? What would it take for you to be passionate? What do you wish you were passionate about? How do you show your passion? What will you miss out on if you are not passionate?

11. The great at anything do not set to work because they are inspired but rather become inspired because they are working. They don’t waste time for inspiration. Ernest Newman