Born for it

I guess I am really a busybody.  I was having morning tea with a friend of mine a while ago and I asked, “what’s your passion?”  The reason I asked is that I see him doing many things which recipients are grateful for, but I was unsure if his motivation was his passion, or he had been asked and was willing.
He did not know what his passion was.  That did not surprise me.  I often do not need to spend long with someone or spend time observing someone to determine what their passion is.  For others I am at a total loss.
Yesterday I came to a new chapter in the book I am reading.  The chapter title was “Where is my Passion?”  There was a sentence in there that had me thinking about my friend.   “Do you know what your passion is?  If not, you are more likely fulfilling the passion of others.”
Some it seems have had their passion squashed.  Believing it was safe to share they declared their passion only to have it shot down in flames. “You are not smart enough,” “who do you think you are?”
The book sites an example I get off on.  It says passion is like an inflated plastic ball that can be pushed underwater.  Yet given the chance it will pop up. 
It gives a true story of someone who wanted to be a pilot flying small planes.  He found out that not only did he need to be a skilful pilot, he needed to be a mechanic.  This was his passion, so he did what he had to do and qualified.  While waiting for a job in the field he was passionate about, he did other things.  His dad said when ever he was around planes it was like he was a different person.  He became animated.  He did other jobs well, but his passion was to fly.
Another example given that does not make a claim to be true was two people doing the same task.  The first arrives early and ensures all is set up and does what he needs to do like they were born to do it.  The other arrives as late as possible and wonders why a recorded message is not set up so this person is not needed.  The first is passionate.  The second is not.  The first person is not a better person because of their enthusiasm.  It is just the second is doing the wrong thing.  Find their passion and there would be no stopping them.
What I love is passion is not the domain of leadership.  There are many aligned to a cause that are passionate about their role.  It is like they are made for the role.  The right person in the right place.
It is a quality I would look for.  There tends to be a sense of ownership by passionate people.  They learn what the job requires and take it to the next level.  Those without passion tend to do something to minimum requirements.
As a result of what I have been reading I have examined myself with the aim of articulating my passion in a sentence.  I image for some that would be easy.  For me it is a work in progress.  I guess it is a bit like songs I write.  If I am not happy with words, I keep changing them until I am.  I can summarize my passion in a sentence, but it feels like it is still a work in progress.