“I have a message for my fans. Whatever you want to do in this world, it is achievable. The most important thing that I’ve found, that perhaps you could use, is be passionate and enthusiastic in the direction that you choose in life, and you’ll be a winner.”
Crikey, mate.
Some people have called Steve Irwin crazy for what he did. Some people have said that Irwin was out of his mind. Maybe they were right, since he did pass away while on the job, but you can’t deny that the “Crocodile Hunter” was positively enthusiastic, passionate, and positive in everything that he did.
He did what he loved, not because it paid the bills, but because he loved what he did. Irwin once said that he has always been fascinated with animals and he was simply doing what he had done since he was a child; the only difference is that he had a television crew following him around.
They say that if you do what you love, the money will follow. That’s not entirely true, since Irwin surely surrounded himself by more business-savvy people, but he was achieve far more than putting money in his family’s bank account. He raised awareness. He got children (and adults) interested in nature conservation. His enthusiasm was contagious.
It is precisely this kind of passion that will get you through the tough patches. It is this kind of intensity and dedication that will motivate you to pursue your dreams. Indeed, enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world.
I look forward to seeing this infectious enthusiasm first hand when I visit the Australia Zoo, home of the Crocodile Hunter’s legacy and a place still run by the Irwin family, a little later on in my trip down under.
Great post. Guys like Irwin truly lived out their lives doing what they were most passionate about. Sure some people called him crazy but they didn’t realize how he’d probably rather die doing something he loved so much than spend a life doing uninteresting boring work that most people are forced to trudge through from dawn till dusk every day.
-Jean