Passion
I have two groups of friends, and the Thursday night crew calls itself “Consultants Night Out” (CNO). This name came from a time when we were all consultants, single, and wanted to do something social. So, one Thursday, we went out for dinner and saw a movie. That was 1998, and the group has been meeting ever since.
Not all has been perfect over the years. Our group has three anchor members, and six others have passed through it. Their reasons for leaving include cancer, stroke (leading to failing eyesight), and incompatible personalities. Still, we have had many great evenings.
Over the years, we have seen hundreds of movies, and after each one, I started the trend of assigning letter grades. Typically, our scores agree, but on occasion, they differ wildly.
Sometimes, because of the time, we have to go to different theaters across town, and other times we do not see a movie at all. On these occasions, we do all kinds of things, including road trips, visits to the zoo, or chatting the night away.
Occasionally, theaters change showtimes the day before or the day of. Not cool. When this occurs, we either have to wait for the next showing, see a different movie, or call it an early night.
In 2011, this happened, and we decided to see a movie that none of us knew anything about: Drive, starring Ryan Gosling. I was overwhelmed from the first minute to well into the credits. The plot, acting, dialogue, characters, and scenes were incredible. Why? It was clear to me that the creators had a deep passion to make an incredible film.
Of course, there was a problem. Not all viewers appreciated this minimalist approach, including my two friends, who gave it B and C grades. Where was the disconnect? They both thought it was not fun to watch.
We often discuss the movie after watching it, and they both felt it lacked energy. I pointed out that not all films are meant to be fun. The Killing Fields is a perfect example of a fantastic movie that was not fun at all. I told my friends that each scene, line, and camera shot was a standalone project filmed just for me.
From my perspective, passion is one of those things that if you have it, you know it. The rest of us are content to pass through life without taking the time to smell the roses.
There is a wide range of passionate people. If I were to put a class of people at the top of the list, it would be those who write poetry. For nations with passionate people, France and Italy are prime examples. They really know how to live.
From there, the bell curve smooths out until we have lifeless subjects who prey on the weak. But what about everyday folks who aren’t meek or into poetry? I suppose 90% of us fall into this gray area, which is why Drive wasn’t a box-office hit.
What is the difference between passion and obsession? I think it is the execution. People with passion do what they do because it’s in their hearts.
Are people with passion weak? Non-passionate people look down on those who are committed to something, like artists and poets. “Get a real job!” While this might be a good observation to some, I consider people with deep passion to be the most vital parts of a moral society.
My life has a few passionate areas. Clearly, I am passionate about my family and friends, but I have become passionate about writing. How can I tell? The defining factor is to do my absolute best to make the perfect outcome. I want my books to stand out and be successful.
And what about this very article? Was it written with passion? Each article I create contains a small part of me, and I want each one to succeed. Yet, I know my reach is not too far. Oh well, I tried my best, and that is all that matters. I will passionately continue writing until they rip the keyboard out of my dead hands.
You’re the best -Bill
December 29, 2021 Updated May 16, 2026
Not all has been perfect over the years. Our group has three anchor members, and six others have passed through it. Their reasons for leaving include cancer, stroke (leading to failing eyesight), and incompatible personalities. Still, we have had many great evenings.
Over the years, we have seen hundreds of movies, and after each one, I started the trend of assigning letter grades. Typically, our scores agree, but on occasion, they differ wildly.
Sometimes, because of the time, we have to go to different theaters across town, and other times we do not see a movie at all. On these occasions, we do all kinds of things, including road trips, visits to the zoo, or chatting the night away.
Occasionally, theaters change showtimes the day before or the day of. Not cool. When this occurs, we either have to wait for the next showing, see a different movie, or call it an early night.
In 2011, this happened, and we decided to see a movie that none of us knew anything about: Drive, starring Ryan Gosling. I was overwhelmed from the first minute to well into the credits. The plot, acting, dialogue, characters, and scenes were incredible. Why? It was clear to me that the creators had a deep passion to make an incredible film.
Of course, there was a problem. Not all viewers appreciated this minimalist approach, including my two friends, who gave it B and C grades. Where was the disconnect? They both thought it was not fun to watch.
We often discuss the movie after watching it, and they both felt it lacked energy. I pointed out that not all films are meant to be fun. The Killing Fields is a perfect example of a fantastic movie that was not fun at all. I told my friends that each scene, line, and camera shot was a standalone project filmed just for me.
From my perspective, passion is one of those things that if you have it, you know it. The rest of us are content to pass through life without taking the time to smell the roses.
There is a wide range of passionate people. If I were to put a class of people at the top of the list, it would be those who write poetry. For nations with passionate people, France and Italy are prime examples. They really know how to live.
From there, the bell curve smooths out until we have lifeless subjects who prey on the weak. But what about everyday folks who aren’t meek or into poetry? I suppose 90% of us fall into this gray area, which is why Drive wasn’t a box-office hit.
What is the difference between passion and obsession? I think it is the execution. People with passion do what they do because it’s in their hearts.
Are people with passion weak? Non-passionate people look down on those who are committed to something, like artists and poets. “Get a real job!” While this might be a good observation to some, I consider people with deep passion to be the most vital parts of a moral society.
My life has a few passionate areas. Clearly, I am passionate about my family and friends, but I have become passionate about writing. How can I tell? The defining factor is to do my absolute best to make the perfect outcome. I want my books to stand out and be successful.
And what about this very article? Was it written with passion? Each article I create contains a small part of me, and I want each one to succeed. Yet, I know my reach is not too far. Oh well, I tried my best, and that is all that matters. I will passionately continue writing until they rip the keyboard out of my dead hands.
You’re the best -Bill
December 29, 2021 Updated May 16, 2026
