This is the text of a speech I am presenting entitled, “Be Passionate.” It is about volunteerism.
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I’m here tonight to talk to you about passion. Desire. An overwhelming sense of completion that makes you say, “Oh yes…I want to do that again.” I’m talking about about the deep seated satisfaction that comes from…volunteering.
We spend our lives earning a living, providing for ourselves and our families, getting by and making do. Far too many people spend their lives in search of something more. There is a deep seated need within all people to belong to something, no matter how independent they are. Beyond our individuality and our families, we are part of a greater community and as such need to find our place where we can share our time, talents, and treasure. But how? How do you know what cause, what group, what issue will stoke the fires of your passion and drive you to greater things?
First, do you believe what the cause you are investigating is centered on is an absolute good? Do you believe that rebuilding homes in New Orleans, fighting cancer, caring for animals, or something else is an absolute good? For something to feed the fire within you, you must believe in it fully. The reason that volunteerism has such a high attrition rate is that participating in something partially means that it cannot return something back to you and will draw from you only. Over time you run out of fuel for your fire and either move on or lose your interest.
Second, are you willing to attach this cause to your name? When searching for your passion, a powerful litmus test is your willingness to associate your identity with the cause. Are you willing to proclaim for all the world your belief in the fact that the cause is an absolute good? This willingness takes us to the third and most important measure.
Third, if you are willing to share your participation with others, why? There is always the cause-de-jour…the one popular for a time and then supplanted by another. Would you commit yourself to this cause regardless of it’s current popularity? When it’s not cool to walk…will you keep walking? When it’s not cool to care for the animals, will you keep caring? When everyone as forgotten about the levees, will you continue to swing a hammer?
To make a true impact in this world we need to take the talents we have been given, combine it with the time we have in this world, and use them to aid and assist in something greater than ourselves. For many this desire is unrecognized and unrealized. Those who do recognize this desire…this unlit fire within them…and choose to ignite it and fuel it with a cause they believe in find this flame burns on its own. Find something in your life that drives you. Light your fire, fuel it, be passionate.
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[...] Recently I gave a speech about “Be Passionate” in which at one point I pulled out a chair in the first row of the audience and stood on it, proclaiming my point loudly and forcefully. This topic lent it to this action naturally, but I could have used the same “shock tactic” with other topics had I felt the need to reinforce the point. The key with this is the old adage, “less is more.” You are creating a physical exclamation point in your presentation and it can be very powerful. But with each use, it’s strength weakens and diminshes. Wield this weapon in your arsenal carefully. It’s much more a bazooka than a sniper rifle. Motion can reinforce or distract [...]