Achieving high goals requires passion, I often hear.
Eg. “Dig a big well in africa”, if you are fond of building wells.
Eg. “Develop a precise, highly robust digital sensor”, if you are a sensor expert.
Yes, passion is important. But it is by far not sufficient.
Go try “meaning“.
The goal you achieve must have a higher meaning for others: For mankind, for your customers, for your company – naming just a few.
Do something for other people. Make other people happy.
“Digging a well in Africa” will provide vital, clean water for dozens of people.
“Developing a precise and highly robust sensor” could
- Allow companies constructing plants to require less cabeling, invest less effort in housing and cooling, as well as predict technical failures time ahead
- Enable your company to make more profit because the sensor is easier (=cheaper) to produce and has more value to costomers (=can be sold for a higher price).
Other examples:
- Provide martial arts lessons because you love doing martial art youself ? -> Safety, fitness and streangth for your students
- Sell books because you yourself love reading books ? -> Give childrean and adults a senseful alternative to watching TV and playing online games