Passion Pitfalls 

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life,” Confucius said. Or Mark Anthony said or Mark Twain said depending on which Googled source you believe. In the mid-1990s the phrase “follow your passion” became popular advice to  job seekers looking for their right career. But people who know about careers, like Mark Cuban and Cal Newport, disagree with that advice. Will following your passion lead to career success or is there a better path?

Pitfalls

One of the major issues with the “follow your passion” advice is your passion may not align with the skills and competencies the job market requires. For example, just because you are passionate about playing video games does not mean that you have the skills necessary to be a professional gamer, game developer, or game script writer. Another downside of pursuing your passion as a career is that it blurs the line between work and leisure. When a passion becomes a job, the pressure to both perform and to pay your bills detracts from the original joy the passion generated. Additionally, the belief that doing what you love guarantees success can lead to unrealistic expectations. The job market is harsh. Repeated rejection leaves you disappointed, disillusioned, and burns out your passion. Relying solely on your current passion is dangerous because it changes over time. As you develop new interests you may soon find yourself in a career that no longer aligns with your passion.

Prudence

Instead of following your passion, evaluate where you spend your time and effort. What tasks do you perform really well? What activities do you love?  What skills do you enjoy improving? The answers help you discover what you are genuinely good at and allow you to bridge the gap between your interests and practical competencies. For example, if you write code in Python for fun, this may be an expertise you want to intentionally grow and obtain certifications for. Spending your free time to hone specific skills is a strong indicator of both your aptitude and potential for career success in that passion.

Practice

Once you have identified your strengths and skills, seek job opportunities that align with them. Look for roles and industries where your natural talents and proficiency can shine. Continuous learning is vital for staying competitive in today’s ever-evolving job market. Dedicate time and effort to training and practical experience so you can further develop the talents you pinpointed. Keep your eyes open for new roles that may not have been on your radar initially but are closely related to the competencies and interests you defined. Being flexible can lead to exciting career paths you may not have otherwise considered.

Relying solely on your fickle passion is risky business for career planning. Evaluating where you spend your time and energy is a more accurate gauge of the jobs you would both like and be good at.

How does your job play to your strengths? Please share in the comments.