Organisational learning is a concept that has proliferated within the discourse of construction management research over the last decade. Proponents of learning espouse that it is imperative for construction organisations to learn in order to maintain survival and success. However, the concept of organisational learning remains unclear and the semantics confusing. Moreover, the onus of learning rests upon individuals and hence it is necessary to consider how individuals learn that might contribute to project success. This paper therefore explores the individual's passion for learning and attempts to link this with project performance. It is believed that passion derives from knowing what the project mission is all about. Through a reflection of two case studies, we endeavour to show that passion for learning stems from the clarity of the project mission and the buy-in of the individuals that work on the project. Additionally, we suggest that high passion for learning would impact on project performance in terms of meeting time and cost targets.