• 2025-02-05

When Wisdom Never Runs Dry

Passion is not an eternal flame that will burn forever unless one knows how to keep it alive.

I have devoted more than 30 years of my life to New Toyo Group, and throughout it all, I have experienced both highs and lows where I felt as if I had reached my limits.

There are days when I, as dawn breaks, burst with energy thinking about projects, plans, and a myriad of things that need reviewing – from the company’s framework and processes to its management systems and even issues related to human affairs. Yet, there are also days when I, as twilight descends, ask myself, “Do I still have any value?” This is an unnerving question, indeed, but it is one that compels me to look deeply within myself.

Passion is not an eternal flame that will burn forever unless one knows how to keep it alive. When we feel drained, there are usually three main causes:

1. Repetition and monotony: When tasks that once excited us turn into tedious routines, we are susceptible to becoming jaded.

2. The wear and tear of responsibility: As we ascend the career ladder, the pressure of work naturally increases. The overwhelming responsibilities that come with it can sometimes make us lose sight of why we chose this path in the first place.

3. The advancement of the times: The rapid development of technology, artificial intelligence, and the constant changes in the market can make us feel exhausted because we have no choice but to painstakingly keep up lest we be left in the dust.

But how can we overcome these predicaments? How can we keep our passion burning? How can we prove that, regardless of our age and the changing world we live in, we can still bring value to the table, that we can still make a difference?

Ignite Your Inner Fire: Ways to Breathe Life into Your Passion

1. Remember that initial spark

Whenever I feel lost, I often look back to my beginnings. I reminisce about the early days of building up my career when I was driven by ambition and the spirit of having nothing to lose and everything to gain. Simon Sinek’s words have always resonated deeply with me: “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”

I dig up my “whys” once more, as they are the foundation of motivation.

2. Never stop learning, never stop growing

Nothing makes a person feel more worthless than standing in place while the world keeps turning. I find that the best way to avoid being left behind is to keep moving forward. In this day and age, the advancement of artificial intelligence is unimaginable; in spite of that, AI can’t replace human creativity, emotions, and vision. Ultimately, learning isn’t about competing with technology per se but about integrating and harnessing its power to make oneself better.

3. Embrace new challenges

The thrill of achieving your dream and conquering your Everest is a potent stimulant. However, once we reach a certain position, we tend to coop up in our comfort zone. That very security is a double-edged sword that obstructs our passion. In light of that, I always set new challenges for myself – thinking of things I’ve never thought of and doing things I’ve never done before! You can be bold and step into a completely new field, or you can do something less daunting and attempt to accomplish a small goal that is enough to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone. 

4. Find inspiration in others

No one can grow indefinitely without external sources of inspiration. I look to veteran entrepreneurs, as well as young business and startup entrepreneurs alike who are brimming with aspiration and creativity, for their drive and spirit of thinking outside the box! Reading about visionaries such as Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Jack Ma, and Warren Buffett also motivates me to reach greater heights. Their stories help me realize that age does not define our value, but our commitment to learn and change, for success is not a destination, but a journey of continuous advancement.

Although AI can replace humans in many fields, there are certain human aspects that can never be substituted by machines:

1. Vision and creativity: Machines may have superior computing capabilities, but they lack the faculty to create groundbreaking visions.

2. Empathy and leadership: Machines are incapable of providing inspiration or guidance to a team.

3. Adaptability and innovation: AI is limited by its programming, whereas humans have the capacity to adapt and evolve.

I have no intention of competing with AI directly; instead, I endeavor to grasp how it works and use it as a tool to improve my work performance and efficiency. I learn to leverage the technology we have without forfeiting my identity.

In the end, passion isn’t something that is born or vanishes on its own; whether it burns bright or dims dark depends on how we choose to perceive ourselves and the world around us. I choose to never stop learning, never stop challenging myself, and never stop giving back.

One day, I might no longer hold my current position; nevertheless, that by no means diminishes my value. In truth, real value lies not in one’s title, but in the impact and mark that one leaves on others.

And so, I continue to march on with conviction, like a flame that never fades.

(NHAN HUC QUAN - General Manager of New Toyo (Vietnam) Aluminium Paper Packaging CO., LTD.)