Both models are flawed. No one should be tricked into training, and no one can pick your passion for you. Exercise is not a punishment, and it isnt something that you should be forced to do. I thoroughly enjoy my time in the gym. I am passionate about training. I dont get paid to train. I make my living training others. They dont care what I do in my free time. My training time is my time. I have my own passions that I pursue each day in the gym. It isnt work to me. It is something that I crave.The fact that exercise offers health benefits is an added bonus. It isnt why I train. Im not running from death or trying to postpone the inevitable. I embrace each day and live life to the fullest. Passion is what drives me, not fear of death or poor health. I am never more alive than when Im busting my ass in the gym.A frigid morning in January 2009In the picture above, it was 7 degrees Fahrenheit outside. This picture was taken from my garage gym. I had run out of propane for the heater the day before. I dont know what the exact temperature was inside the garage, but it was cold! I honestly didnt care. Sure, I refilled the propane tank soon after, but not before putting in a few hardcore workouts in the cold garage. I am too passionate about my training to miss a day because of cold weather. I come alive when testing my limits and seeing just how far I can go.I often receive emails from readers of the site who have watched video of me training. A week doesnt pass without someone asking where I find my motivation. It is as if they think Im crazy for training so hard. They cannot comprehend it. Meanwhile, I am the one who is truly puzzled. I cannot imagine training without passion. I cannot imagine putting forth a half-assed effort. My mindset is very simple. Go hard or go home. Its an easy choice that I make each day.And please do not be confused. Im not writing this article to tell you what to do and why to do it. I hope to help you find YOUR passion.In the words of Dr. Howard Thurman,Dont ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.A Useful AnalogyWhen discussing passion in regards to training, I like to use a career vs. job analogy.Job A job is an activity that you perform for money. Your primary reason for working a job is to earn a paycheck. Some jobs are better than others, but most of us have had jobs that we dreaded. We werent there to pursue a lifelong ambition. We were there to get paid. I had a work-study job back in college that was as exciting as watching paint dry. Boring is an understatement.Now consider your time in the gym. Does it feel like a job? Do you dread the work? Are you working aimlessly with no real direction? If you answered yes, it is time for a change.Career Im now fortunate to have a career that I truly enjoy. A career involves pursuing lifelong ambitions. I dont consider my career to be a job. I love my work. I dont have a job where I check the clock every few moments to see how much closer I am to my next break. There is never enough time in the day, and Im always eager to get started the next morning. I work very hard, but the work is something that I welcome. I enjoy it. I am passionate about my profession. I am also fortunate to be passionate about my time in the gym. I dont approach my training with a job-like mentality. It is something that I truly enjoy.Now consider your time in the gym. Are you working towards specific goals? Are you eager to overcome your next challenge? Are you excited about hitting a new personal record in the gym this week? If you answered yes, you bring passion to the gym. You welcome the hard work, as it brings you closer to your next goal.