In 2002 the National Research Council estimated one in four adolescents in the U.S. is at high risk of not achieving meaningful adulthood. In recent years, a report published by the Commission on Children at Risk called Hardwired to Connect. This report states what parents, especially mothers have known for ages: children (and people) and made to connect. They are meant to be in deep relationships.
Mark Zuckerberg knew this. Mark left Harvard during his undergrad to pursue a dream fueled by his passion to see people connect. He moved cross country into run down apartments with friends to build his online social network, Facebook.
Despite his limited resources, Facebook took off at an unprecedented rate. Because Facebook became so popular, investors came knocking. Yahoo offered, at that time the twenty-two year old one billion dollars for his company. Mark turned them down. He turned down the offer because he had a passion to see people connect. He did not want anyone else to control how that connection happened.
When we put our efforts and do not compromise on our passions, we will experience incomparable accomplishment and joy. We will all be tempted to sell out, compromise, and settle for less, but we must not give in for anything less than completion.
Saying "No" can come at a hefty price in the immediate future, but straying true to your passion is will pay dividends you couldn't fathom. What is Facebook's value today? It is around fifty two billion dollars. Mark was right in holding out.
When have you been tempted to sell out of your passion? What has happened because you did not give in? Labels: cornerstone leadership solutions, Facebook, Hardwired to Connect, Mark Zuckerberg, National Research Council, passion, relationship, yahoo
