My Problem with the Concept of “Follow Your Passion”
I believes this advice is overly simplistic and can be misleading for several reasons:
Oversimplification: The advice to simply "follow your passion" is overly simplistic and can be misleading. It ignores the complexity of career and leadership development and the multiple factors that contribute to job satisfaction and success.
Pressure and Stress: This advice can put undue pressure on you to have a clearly defined passion from the start of your career. Not everyone has a single, burning passion, and expecting to find and follow one can create stress and a sense of inadequacy.
Evolving Interests: Passions can change over time. What excites you early in your career might not hold the same appeal later on. Rigidly following an early passion can limit your opportunities for growth and exploration in new areas.
Practical Considerations: Following passion alone without considering practical aspects like skills, job market demand, and financial stability can lead to unrealistic career choices. Balancing passion with practicality is essential.
Skill Development: I absolutely emphasise the importance of developing skills and gaining experience, which can lead to finding or developing a ‘passion’ over time. Sometimes, passion follows proficiency, not the other way around.
Multiple Motivators: People are often motivated by a mix of factors, including impact, recognition, relationships, and financial rewards, not just passion. Understanding and balancing these motivators is key to career satisfaction.
In summary, my problem with the advice to "follow your passion" lies in its simplicity and the unrealistic expectations it can set. I prefer a more nuanced approach that considers evolving interests, practical realities, and the importance of skill development and multiple sources of motivation.