Most would answer Americans. Americans are known around the world for their outward displays of passion from the fireworks of Independence Day to the outspoken support for free enterprise.
Americans are not shy and tend to be louder about their passions – for their country, their community, their career, their sports teams. But are Americans in fact more passionate than Canadians? My answer is no, they are not more passionate than Canadians. In fact, Canadians are more passionate than Americans. Here’s why.
Since 2000, a lot has changed for the U.S.A. Many of these changes have acted to dampen or diminish the general level of passion Americans have. Since Y2K, the average citizen of the U.S.A. has faced: the terrorist attack of 9-11, the banking crisis, several wars, a housing market collapse, the great recession, too much debt, unaffordable healthcare, and the outsourcing of many middle class jobs. Any one of these could challenge the passion factor of any country.
At the same time, Canada has been going from strength to strength as a passionate people in a passionate nation.
Think about it. Canadians have an incredible number of things to be passionate about. We have financial capital, represented by one of the world’s strongest banking systems and a strong currency. We have political capital, with one of the world’s lowest levels of federal government debt. We have social capital, with diversity that works, plus healthcare and education that is a cut above and available to all. In the area of natural resources, we have the world’s second largest oil resources and 90% of the world’s fresh water. Above all, Canada has Passion Capital. So, what is Passion Capital?
Passion Capital is passion with a plan!
Passion is an emotion. Passion Capital is an asset. Passion Capital starts with passion but is more than an emotion. There are seven building blocks or principles of how passion is transformed into Passion Capital. When a country, or a company, or an individual builds passion capital, they have the energy and intensity to succeed. Passion Capital is the form of passion that drives success. Passion Capital is built on the 7 building blocks of Creed, Culture, Courage, Brand, Resources, Strategy, and Persistence. While America has lost some of its Passion Capital, Canada is finding its passion and has transformed it into Passion Capital.
Here is a quick look at the building blocks of Passion Capital, starting with Creed. America was founded on a creed or set of common beliefs summarized in the words, “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. These are passionate words and an incredible creed. Canada has the less ‘outwardly’ passionate but more workable creed based on, “Peace, order and good government”.
Canada has been well served by a basic creed that has helped build a solid base where the passion of our people could take root and flourish.
Canada has been well served by a diverse Culture and the acceptance of language, religion, ethnic origin as our fertile medium where our basic beliefs could grow. In Canada, diversity actually works and is embraced as part of the DNA of our culture.
Canadians are Courageous in war, in peace and in everyday life. A new generation of Canadians, many who are recent immigrants to Canada, are embracing risk and have the courage to start successful enterprises in resources, manufacturing, technology, science and service sectors.
Canada has become an emerging global Brand where our reputation for performance, quality and stability is the essence of our calling card to the world.
Canadian Resources and our ability to bring these Resources to the world make us the envy of every country on earth.
Canadians and Canadian firms are building Strategies and plans for future generations after being educated at some of the finest public universities anywhere.
Finally, Canadians show the Persistence to follow our uniquely Canadian passion to build, lead and improve the world. We are a small country in population, but an emerging global power with a very high standard of living and one of the best quality of life standards in the world today.
Americans are louder in their passion, but have seen their Passion Capital decline over the past decade. Canadians walk softly and carry a big stick – hockey stick that is!
Canadians are a passionate lot but are more reserved in our outward expression of that passion. This does not change the fact that Canada has Passion Capital and is in the position to take our uniquely Canadian brand of Passion to the world!
