Undaunted by sparse opportunities, Hoffman clung to his passion. He took whatever acting jobs would come his way, always hoping to be discovered. Each time he acted, even in humble roles, he added to his experience and fanned the flame of his passion.
Hoffman’s passion stayed sharp because of the company he kept. Two of his best friends were fellow “starving artists,” also trying to make a break as actors. Their names? Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall. Together, Hoffman, Duvall, and Hackman supported one another, validated each other’s dreams, and shared the ups and downs of life as aspiring actors.
Life’s fulfillment emanates from passion, thus passion must be exercised and kept alive. Dustin Hoffman found outlets for his passion to act. Even when work was slow and the pay was low, he attended open calls, worked commercials, and accepted parts in obscure drams. Hoffman also surrounded himself with friends, like Robert Duvall and Gene Hackman, who shared his passion for the stage and encouraged him to follow his passion.
Leaders have to populate their passion. That is, they need to cultivate relationships with fellow journeyers who share a passion similar to their own. In doing so, leaders develop a network of supporters to spur them on while their vision is in its infancy or when their dreams face opposition. Who is in your corner to cheer you on as you pursue your vision as a leader?
Oppositely, whose passion are you helping to stoke? Interestingly enough, the more a leader fuels the passion of others, the more he or she gains support in return. In the words of an ancient Hebrew proverb, “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”
This article is used by permission from Leadership Wired, Dr. John C. Maxwell's premiere leadership newsletter, available for free subscriptin at www.johnmaxwell.com/newsletters
John Maxwell grew up in the 1950s in the small Midwestern city of Circleville, Ohio. John's earliest childhood memory is of knowing that he would someday be a pastor. He professed faith in Christ at the age of three, and reaffirmed that commitment when he was 13. At age 17, John began preparing for the ministry. He attended Circleville Bible College, earning his bachelor's degree in 1969. In June of that same year, he married his sweetheart, Margaret, and moved to tiny Hillham, Indiana, where he began his first pastorate.
