2. He continued to hone his craft as he pursued his dream. He did not stay still in his skills. Instead, he continued to march forward growing and tweaking and marveling as he mastered navigation, leadership and dreaming as large and wide as possible.

3. Once he made his initial voyage, he returned to his place of discovery and branched out. His original intention was NOT to discover a new continent, AND he did not make his discovery wrong! Instead, he returned and looked for lesson there. I have yet to call Columbus a "failure" though if one were to look at his original "goal" and "outcome realized" failure label might be appropriate. This is a great example of finding "other" right answers or right ways.

4. When life throws curve balls, embrace them. Learn from them. Expect anything and refocus accordingly instead of retreating and deciding straight way is only way. This is a fact throughout Columbus' life and beyond. It is still a mystery as to where his remains are for eternity. Some say they are in Caribbean and some say Spain. And does it really matter? No. What matters is impact of life as it is lived.

5. Listen to quiet voice within. Spend time in contemplation. Columbus spent time in a Franciscan monastery. With his flowing red tresses and statueque form, I am sure he looked part in his religious garb. More importantly, he did not only LOOK part, he LIVED part. His discoveries were not based solely in ego. His discoveries were fueled by Spiritual. Did path devolve later on? Perhaps. Perhaps not. The lesson remains same: listen and act upon messages you hear.

Henry David Thoreau reminded his generation to open to new channels of ' thought as Columbus did. Today, continue this path and also open yourself to new possibilities in passion. We can learn from lessons of man sometimes called "The Navigator". As we maneuver our ever brightening life, may we relentlessly pursue our dream. May we continue to hone our craft. May we never make ourselves or others around us wrong, may we embrace life's curve balls and may we make it a practice to listen to quiet voice within.

Last week my favorite new information was about Rice Genome from an article in Los Angeles Times. A genome, I learned, is a completely mapped structure of a living organisms DNA. Not only did I learn what a genome is, I also learned about significance of this genome and impact this scientific evidence may have on entire world. Not simply for consumers of rice, for consumers of ALL agricultural products. This fact is amazingly huge.

Until I read article, I did not even know what a genome was!

Merriem Webster teaches us that learning to gain knowledge or understanding of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience.

It is to be facilitated with respect and continued to be cultivated throughout life. To learn is to know. To understand. To be able to integrate lessons and apply them to your life with both effectiveness and efficiency.

Mrs. Parker had words right. We do have abillity to learn something new everyday. The piece she did not understand, she did not know, is that to truly learn everyday requires that we gain knowledge and understanding. It is not just about being a repository of facts.

It is about using those facts to passionately connect with world and people around you.

Passion Activator: For next three days, scan newspaper and pick out an article or two that interest you. Look at article not from a perspective of a collection of facts that are not connected to your life and your work.

Instead, ask yourself to create two or three ways article connects to your life and your work. Ask yourself questions such as: "What solutions does this article point to in my business?" "What are similarities with this story and a particular situation in my life?" and "What is it that called me to select this article above myriad of other articles published today?"

I guarantee you will begin to learn truly learn something new. And use that knowledge. Today and everyday.

Activate Your Passion!