Podcast Summary
In this episode of the 52 Life Lessons series, host Tim Borys explores why passion—when cultivated and paired with purpose—is one of the most powerful forces for growth, resilience, and performance.
Drawing on personal stories, research, and coaching experience, Tim explains how passion transforms mundane work into meaningful contribution, fuels persistence when things get tough, and creates energy that inspires others. He introduces the concept of “red threads”—the tasks and activities that light you up and pull you into a state of flow—and shares strategies for weaving more of them into your daily life and work.
Whether you’re leading a team, building a business, or simply navigating life’s challenges, this episode is a guide to unlocking the contagious energy of passion and turning it into a competitive advantage.
✅ Key Takeaways
Passion fuels performance — it’s not just a feeling, but a catalyst for growth.
Pair passion with purpose for sustainability and direction.
Red threads create flow — even 20% of your time spent on energizing tasks boosts performance and wellbeing.
Passion is contagious — it elevates teams and organizations, not just individuals.
You don’t have to love every task — but you can find love in how you approach it.
Passion is cultivated daily — through awareness, reframing, and alignment with purpose.
Episode Links & Resources
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Tim: https://timborys.com/book-tim/
Buy Tim’s Book: The Fitness Curveball (Amazon Link)
Podcast Highlights
Please note: This highlight is generated by a computer and may contain errors.
Introduction: The Misunderstood Word
Passion is one of those words tossed around so often it risks losing meaning. We’ve all heard “follow your passion” as career advice—but taken literally, it can be misleading. Just because you love something doesn’t mean it should become your full-time career. Yet dismissing passion entirely is equally dangerous. When cultivated and channeled, passion becomes one of the most powerful forces for progress in life.
Passion as a Catalyst
Passion is not just a fleeting feeling—it’s a catalyst. It fuels persistence, resilience, and performance. Paired with purpose, it becomes rocket fuel. Tim shares how writing his book, The Fitness Curveball, finally became possible when he reconnected with his passion for teaching sustainable performance.
The Power of Red Threads
Imagine your life as a tapestry. Some threads are heavy and draining. Others are neutral. But then there are the vibrant red threads—the activities that light you up, draw you into flow, and leave you energized. Research shows that just 20% of time spent on red threads drastically reduces burnout and boosts performance.
A Practical Exercise
For one week, track your tasks with a “loved it” and “loathed it” list. The activities in your “loved it” column reveal your red threads. The goal isn’t to love every task—it’s to deliberately weave more of your energizing activities into daily work.
Passion in Business and Leadership
Passion in the workplace is often misunderstood. Some fear it leads to impulsiveness, but when grounded in purpose, passion becomes one of the most strategic assets leaders can cultivate. Passionate employees are more engaged, resilient, and innovative.
Cultivating Passion Daily
Tim shares three strategies for building passion into your life:
Find the sparks — notice what excites or energizes you.
Create meaning in the mundane — reframe how you approach tasks.
Pair passion with purpose — for direction and longevity.
Closing Thoughts
Passion doesn’t always appear as fireworks—sometimes it’s a flicker of curiosity. But if you tune in, notice the sparks, and weave those red threads into your work, passion becomes the driving force of progress.
