2 Reasons Why "Follow Your Passion" Is Bad Business Advice
The phrase “follow your passion” is frequently shared across social media platforms, self-help books, and conferences like a mantra to stir discontent in our hearts. We’re told we're wasting our lives if we don’t do what we love.
An Inc. Magazine article stated that—
“Ultimately, passion is the driving force behind success and happiness that allows us all to live better lives.”
I disagree.
The idea that if you follow your passion in your work, you’ll feel fulfilled is inspiring but misleading business advice for two reasons:
It assumes what you’re passionate about will earn you a living.
It oversimplifies quitting your job today and making it a reality.
Let me explain…
Your passions aren’t always practical
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a photographer.
I bought disposable Kodak cameras everywhere I went and documented everything I deemed beautiful or memorable. In high school, I bought my first big fancy DSLR camera. I was thrilled—my dream was coming true!
Until I realized my passion for photography was a hobby. I froze when people asked to hire me to take their photos. I loved doing it, but being responsible for someone’s wedding day or family Christmas picture was daunting. Plus, I had to come up with a price?
In my mind, photography was priceless, but it would need to support me financially if I chose it as my career.
I could be “passionate” about photography without making it my job. It was a fun hobby, but when I looked at the competition, it was difficult to break into such a saturated market.
You may be passionate about cooking, gardening, traveling, or a number of other things, but if it can’t support you, it’ll cause stress instead of contentment.
You need more than passion to start a business
Caught up in the romanticism of entrepreneurship, it’s easy to believe you can just “jump in” to the fun part of running your own business. But starting from scratch is a grind. It involves planning, actionable steps, foresight, and follow-through.
Not only do you have to provide a product or service that people want/need, but you have to:
Choose a business name
License your business
Set up bank accounts
Build a website
Design a brand
Get on sales calls
Write proposals
Create contracts
Send invoices
Balance your books
Pay taxes, etc.
…all before actually doing the work you’re “passionate” about.
Owning a business is a huge responsibility, especially if it involves other people like employees or your family. Your passion is suddenly the thing that supports your life and others’ lives. The pressure is on.
Don’t follow your passions; find your skills
After college, I took a job at a marketing agency that was easily the worst job I ever had. I was hired as an office admin but was eventually tasked with everything from graphic design to social media advertising (all without a raise).
The job was awful, but the experience I gained was invaluable. My very talented designer coworker helped me learn Adobe and become interested in graphic design. It wasn’t my “passion,” but I was good at it.
I tested my newfound skillset by designing wedding invites and social media posts to see if there was a positive response to my work and later brand design and websites. I did most of my services for free or at a very discounted rate to see if there was a market for my skills—and there was.
It takes time to become good at something. Malcolm Gladwell notes that it takes 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to master complex skills. So, I began educating myself on design, practicing, and learning how to run a business.
I haven’t mastered design, but I’m better today than I was when I started. I’m slowly chipping away at those 10,000 hours.
Passion didn’t lead me here
“Passion” is defined as a strong and barely controllable emotion or an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. None of those definitions applied to design for me.
Passion didn’t lead me to where I am today. Hard work and finding my skills did.
Here’s some better business advice:
Find your strengths and capitalize on them rather than aimlessly chasing what you’re passionate about.
You’ll have a realistic plan for success, and your passions will remain an activity you love without worrying about covering this month’s rent.
Test the advice, “follow your passion,” with these questions to see if doing so would best serve you:
Can I earn a living doing the thing I’m most passionate about?
Would it still be a passion of mine if I had to do it every day to make money?
Is my passion (1) related to a skill that I have and (2) that’s needed in the market?
If the answer’s yes, that’s great! But be mindful—when your passion becomes your job, you may eventually resent it.
If the answer’s no, that’s okay! It can still bring you joy and fulfillment. It can still be work you get lost in. Let it be what you look forward to after work and/or on the weekend or a side gig that reaps reward without it carrying you financially.
I’ve become passionate about design without it being the driving factor. Passion follows purpose. Once you step into your purpose, you’ll find that passion is close behind.
