This week I was invited by the Belgian Insead Alumni to listen to an interesting panel discussion between Carlos Rodriguez (ex-coach Justine Henin) and Carlos Brito (CEO Inbev) on “Passion to win”.

A few take-aways were relevant to me for the way customers look at the behaviour of providers, employers look at the behaviour of employees. Both claimed that passion is not equal to fun. Fun is what you have on the beach with your kids, passion is the drive to aspire something and is in almost all cases hard and painful, but therefore not less satisfactory.

They continued that passionate people feel ownership – they are relentless and take care – and that ownership is the difference one feels when driving one’s own car as compared to a rental car or a company car… Interesting.

Also this week, I talked to a few partners and customers. Surprisingly, while many confirm how difficult times are, they continue to argue there is still quite some business to do. As per above, they also claim that there is a significant correlation between conviction, passion, pro-activity, relentlessness, and winning contracts. I guess the message is clear. Now, we just have to do it.

Chris