“Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too.”
— Blaise Pascal
A Clear Eye.
On marketplace success
by Tom Asacker
“Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too.”
— Blaise Pascal
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"All humanity is passion, without passion, religion, history, novels, art would be ineffectual. - Honore de Balzac
"The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all a part of one another." - Thomas Merton
I believe that I may have discovered the answer to a marketing question that I’ve been pondering for a long, long time. And I found it, of all places, at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Here's how it transpired.
I gave a speech in Cleveland to a large financial services company and had a little over an hour to kill before my flight home, so I ventured down to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. It was a fateful trip.
As I wandered the floors watching video clips of greats like Chuck Berry, James Brown, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, etc. and experiencing the stage clothes of the Stones, ZZ Top, Al Green, The Supremes, Rage Against the Machine, Lenny Kravitz, Destiny’s Child, and on and on, something hit me like a ton of saxophones.
I have always wondered which attribute was more important to success in business: passion or compassion? I’ve gone back and forth on this one for years. But I’m finally done flip-flopping. Here is what I discovered from the emotion-filled, twisted faces and colorful outfits of the early blues shouters through the most current teen idols: passion sells! Passion not only sells, it creates! It busts paradigms; it inspires; it attracts; it stirs; it rejuvenates.
Does that mean that passion wins out in my intellectual sparing match? Not at all. What I’ve finally realized is that passion and compassion are simply opposite sides of a successful business coin. It works like this: when communicating one-to-many, passion rules! When communicating one-to-one, compassion rules!
This rule applies to everything from advertising, selling, PR, speeches, customer service, employee communication, negotiation, etc. Think about it. And then let me know what you think. And by all means . . . stay passionate!
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Which is better for business? Tom Asacker makes a persuasive case for passion, thanks to a visit to the Rock Roll Hall of Fame. [Read More]
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The question is:
I have always wondered which attribute was more important to success in business: passion or compassion? I’ve gone back and forth on this one for years. But I’m finally done flip-flopping.
Read his posting for the answer.
... [Read More]
"Tom is timely, thought provoking and all about the new brand vision packaged as a Seinfeld stand up. I went to school on his ideas."
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You've elucidated the passion vs. compassion riddle.
(For the record, I was nowhere near the guitar when it was shattered to bits.
Unfortunately.)
Posted by: olivier blanchard | November 30, 2005 at 01:34 AM
excellent
Posted by: jens | November 30, 2005 at 05:04 AM
I love it - another great piece of common sense coming from you!
Posted by: Francois | November 30, 2005 at 01:10 PM
Well said. Well written.
Posted by: Troy Worman | December 05, 2005 at 11:48 PM
Yes, an excellent synthetic work, Tom. The R'N'R Hall of fame must be an outstanding visit.
Posted by: Felix Gerena | December 06, 2005 at 04:19 AM
I don’t like it. I love it.
I am trying to live by this rule 7 days a week.
"Passion with out Mondays."
Posted by: Stefan Engeseth | December 06, 2005 at 04:26 AM
Your assertation appears to make some sense and like all good slogans, it has a ring of truth to it. However, I would like to point out an area of consern. You have presented a dichotomy.
Black and white statements tend to promote black and white thinking which is typically way too simplistic. The challenge with dichotomies is that as they are retained in the mind and remembered, they become almost a "rule" to follow and believe. Over time, this can actually limit critical thinking and creativity because they persuade a person to feel as if there is only one of two choices to a situation. This is a dangerous trap of human thought and consequently, human behavior.
I realize your intentions are good and you are using business ideas and strategies with the intention of gaining insight into a sort of "business" dilema. For that I commend you. Although, I suggest that your dilema is one of human communication rather than just business. The simplistic and hypnotically suggestive mindset that dichotomies create reminds me of George Orwell's 1984. This is a scarey example of how simplistic language, slogans, propaganda and words can completely alter how one thinks and interprets the world. It is interesting that in business, people tend to think of slogans as a "good thing." Clarity is important, but, when communication with one's self or someone else is so stripped down and simplified, it presents only part of a situation.
I certainly don't mean to come across as rude and I hope you don't take my critisism in a negative light. But, might I add something to your original contention about passion and compassion?....
"What I’ve finally realized is that passion and compassion are similar to opposite sides of a successful business coin. It works like this: when communicating one-to-many, passion rules! When communicating one-to-one, compassion rules! If neither of these works well, consider using the whole coin."
~Keer
Posted by: Keer | December 03, 2006 at 09:41 PM