How big is your magnetic field: A shortcut to enhancing your cohesion and centripetal force

Author: Zhang Yunzhong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Let Passion Drive You to Success
Passion represents a positive spiritual force, which is not static but unstable. Different people have varying levels and expressions of passion; even the same person may differ in their passion levels and expressions under different circumstances. However, passion is something everyone possesses, and when utilized wisely, it can be transformed into immense energy. If you are already working, you will know that when you first encounter a job, due to unfamiliarity, you feel novelty and thus strive to understand and excel in it. This reflects your active exploration of things in your career. But once you become familiar with the nature and procedures of your work, daily routines replace the sense of novelty, leading to complacency and a lack of ambition. This subjective psychological change is also reflected in emotional shifts. Only with passion can you maintain positivity; without it, only inertia will result, which can hold you back. Poor performance inevitably leads to being "fired." This is also a law in the career world. Therefore, whether you can compete with others depends on your psychological resilience and inner drive—essentially, your unwavering work enthusiasm.
When Masaharu Matsushita was still an apprentice at the age of 13, he had always wanted to sell a bicycle independently. However, bicycles at that time were high-priced goods, costing around a hundred yuan—equivalent to today’s cars. Even if someone wanted to buy one, it wouldn’t be the turn of a small apprentice like Matsushita to sell it; instead, he would just be sent by his colleagues to deliver the bike. Fortunately, one day, a clerk from a customer’s company called: "Let’s take a look at the bicycle. Our boss is here, and we need it delivered quickly." Coincidentally, the other colleagues were unavailable, so Matsushita’s boss said to him, "It seems they’re in a hurry. No matter what, you must take this one over first."
Hearing this, Matsushita thought it was a great opportunity and delivered the bicycle to the customer with full energy. Although he wasn’t an experienced salesperson, he spoke earnestly. At that time, because Matsushita was only 13, the customer treated him as a cute child. The boss, seeing his earnest efforts, patted his head and said, "You’re very passionate—you’re a good kid. Alright, I’ll buy it, but I’ll give you a 10% discount." Overwhelmed by excitement, Matsushita didn’t refuse and replied, "I’ll go ask my boss!" Then he ran back to his owner and said, "They’re willing to buy it at a 10% discount." The owner, however, said, "How can we give a 10% discount? Let’s settle for 9.5% instead."
At this point, Matsushita was determined to make his first independent sale and was reluctant to go back for another round of negotiations. He even said to his owner, "Please don’t mention 9.5%; just sell it to them at 10%." With tears in his eyes, he burst into tears. The owner was surprised: "What store are you working for? What’s wrong with you?" Matsushita kept crying. After a while, the customer’s clerk arrived at the store: "Why have you been waiting so long? Are you still refusing to give a discount?" The owner replied, "This child came back and told me to sell it at a 10% discount, and he started crying. Now I’m trying to figure out which store he’s working for."
The clerk heard this and was deeply moved by Matsushita’s passion and sincerity.