The higher the potency of your passion the further you will go

Russell Bell PHOTO/FILE

Last week I was in North Queensland and took time out to visit Mossman where my grandmother was raised - a small town with a core business of growing sugar cane. Although I had never got to visit the place with her, memories of my grandparents and their wisdom came flooding back.

One was a flashback to 1988 and I recalled a conversation with my grandfather, as I was looking forward to embarking on my studies after successfully attaining an "A" Bursary.

"I just love what I do, always have, always will ... "

My grandfather was describing his life in physiotherapy which began in Australia, continued in the USA, was interrupted by World War II and saw the Bell family finally land in Wanganui - integral to establishing the Duncan Hospital on Durie Hill. He ended the sentence above with " ... just make sure you feel the same way about what you do, because you will spend a long time doing it".

Right now, I am loving what I do because I share what my grandfather had - passion. Where my passion is fuelled by helping businesses excel, his was in seeing polio sufferers and, later, general patients improve their physical capabilities.

Passion can carry you to great achievements. You already know my view on having a strategic plan. Think of a strategic plan as the aeroplane to take you to your goal / destination and passion is the fuel. The higher the grade / potency of your passion the further you will be taken. And passion took my grandfather a long way.

Bill Bell followed his cousin, Sister Elizabeth Kenny, to the United States to set up a clinic in Minneapolis, Minnesota to treat the most insidious of diseases - poliomyelitis. There, they pioneered a method which ran counter to medical convention and drew criticism. Their passion overcame this and the treatment became renowned for its results, going on to be accepted and replicated throughout the US.

As the method proved more successful, demand rose for the treatment and my grandfather travelled extensively. However, the Duncan family of Hunterville obviously encouraged him to set his roots in Wanganui because he settled here in the 1950s until his passing in 2005.

With passion as your fuel anything is possible.

Zenith Strategic Solutions is Wanganui's specialist business consulting practice. For help with your business' strategic direction and opportunities contact Russell on 021-244-2421.