Lean Quote: Zeal Will Do More Than Knowledge

On Fridays I will post a Lean related Quote. Throughout our lifetimes many people touch our lives and leave us with words of wisdom. These can both be a source of new learning and also a point to pause and reflect upon lessons we have learned. Within Lean active learning is an important aspect on this journey because without learning we can not improve.

"Zeal will do more than knowledge." — William Hazlitt

Without a sense of zeal, life sometimes can become pretty boring. Everything then seems to be done with a big sigh and a have-to. Going through the motions without a genuine want-to, turns everything into a must-do.

Nothing can take the place of being zealous or passionate. Opportunity can’t. Opportunity may open the door, but without zeal you won’t make the most of it. A lack of zeal, may cause you to miss a door meant to lead you toward your destiny.

Knowledge can’t replace zeal. Knowledge can be taught, and experience is earned in time, but it’s very hard to make someone passionate about something. And if someone is passionate about something, they’re more willing to take the extra steps and make the sacrifices to gain the necessary knowledge and collect the valuable experience.

Having a passion promotes a sense of creativity. All of the sudden, you'll find yourself connecting two aspects of your life together that you never thought could coexist. You may be inspired to start a blog to share your ideas with the world, or you may be more compelled to show your talents in a more hands-on environment.

Without passion, there isn't much motivation to work. Yes, there are material motivations such as a large bank account, the biggest house or a new car. When those things are put into perspective, though, one learns that these wants will only satisfy you for a certain amount of time before you want something else. Following your dreams suppresses all of these desires because you're striving for knowledge rather than money. Knowledge is a motivation in itself because it is infinite. You could never have too much, but you'll never have it all.

Finally, having good connections isn’t a substitute for personal zeal. You will never be successful without others, but merely surrounding yourself with the right people doesn’t guarantee success either. A team with no heart, passion, and vision won’t succeed.