The notion to “follow your passions” is an often quoted notion advocated by self-help pundits and business start-up gurus that success in life only comes about through doing what you love and are passionate about, so it was nice to run into a couple posts that seem to fly in the face of this sentiment. I often believe that it is important to be passionate about what you do, since the persistence and endurance required for success can only come about if you truly like what you do. But is this enough?
A post by self-help guru Steve Pavlina titled “Are You Faking Progress?” discussed the notion that one can spend a lot of time following your hobbies, research and passions under the assumption that you are doing something highly productive, only to find in hindsight that you’ve really only expended a lot of time and effort for not much in return. Unlike other commodities, time wasted cannot be regained, so if obtaining tangible progress and return on your time and efforts is important, then you must be mindful of what you spend your time in. Sounds very simple and like common sense.
On the other hand, I don’t think it’s that simple either. There are lots of stories of geniuses and business tycoons who were criticized for indulging in a hobby, only for them to create some great invention that makes them wealthy or famous. I’m sure many “normal” people would have thought Steve Wozniak toling away in his garage trying to make a home computer back in the 70s to be “wasting” his time, with no idea that he would be creating the foundations for the computer revolution and home based computers, aka Apple. Or Einstein who’s teachers thought was lazy and inattentive due to his “day dreaming” in class, not realizing that these day dreams would become the genesis for the theory of relativity and change the world. In these examples, these individuals are at the level of great artists, thinkers and entrepreneurs who are so passionate and involved in their ideas that it was of no consequence whether there was a practical return on their indulgences.
But what about us normal people who aspire to reach our less than great potential and make tangible progress and success?
A post in Harvard Business Review by Dorie Clark, maintains that it can actually be bad to follow you passions and that it would be best to don’t do what you love. She provides 4 reasons to now follow your passions:
- You love it — but you’re not great at it
- You’re skilled at your passion — but hate the work that surrounds it
- You’re too emotionally attached
- No one will pay for it
I thought this post outlined a good checklist to think about when you’re very involved with some side hobby, research or business and wondering if you are investing your time wisely. You may really love doing something, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your great at it or even good enough at it that you’ll achieve a modicum of success. Just watch an episode of American Idol to see this sentiment in action. I think the 2nd and 3d items can be worked around with sustained effort, but the last one is vital if you’re trying turn your hobby or passion into a profitable venture. If no one will pay for it, then you need to look into something else period.
Though I think the above are great reality checks, I really enjoyed this response from a reader named Athomas Goldberg, that sums up my overall view on this topic:
I guess in all of this, I’m not trying to argue that you’re points are invalid – only that they seem to apply to people who “don’t have what it takes” to be truly successful at their passions, because they’re not truly passionate about their craft, and with that I would agree, and would sum it up by with a single piece of advice for those who would pursue their passions:
If you’re prepared to assume that pursuing your passion will be the most difficult thing you will ever do, and are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve success, while never being completely satisfied with wherever you currently stand in pursuit of your passion, than you have a chance of becoming, not just successful, but hugely successful at it. If not, than you should find a way to love what you do and embrace whatever brings you happiness beyond your career.
I think if you live under this precept, and are honest and practical about the limitations of your abilities and the time and effort it will take to achieve your true passions, then you will be successful and possibly greatly successful!
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Finally, an issue that I am passionate about. I have looked for information of this caliber for the last several hours. Your site is greatly appreciated.
I think my biggest fear of following a passion is that the passion might then turn into work, and no longer be fun. But I guess the only way to know would be to just do it.
Hi Don,
I think what you have mentioned makes more sense than what has been written in HBR article. Self help Gurus or not, it does makes sense to analyze if the hobby can be converted to a profitable business. Most of the people have this idea that they can somehow start generating money on day one is the cause of failure. Even a business that is not based on the hobby can never hope to think so.
But then if someone does not try at all to convert hobby into business that is the worse part. failure teaches a lot of lessons and I think by not trying at all , we may not learn them.
I think that there are no right or wrong parts to it, just learning and trying is the key.
Have a great day.
Ashvini
For me the problem is that i does’t find my “real passion” until today. In the past i start following and fight for a few thing i thought then that was the “real passion” and finally i just spend a few years of my life.
I hope as become older, finally find what is my passion and fight for lat time for something.