“Don’t Follow Your Passion—Build It Instead”
In nearly every graduation speech or career pep talk, one familiar piece of advice is repeated like gospel: “Follow your passion.” It sounds inspiring—almost magical—but in reality, this seemingly inspirational advice is widely misunderstood and frequently backfires.
I’ve seen it time and time again… Bright, motivated individuals chase what they believe is their “passion job,” only to abandon it within a year when they are disillusioned and disappointed. This is because the kind of passion they were chasing was never there in the way they expected. The job didn’t feel magical. It felt like…Work! And that’s because it is work!
The truth is, passion about work is rarely innate. It’s not some burning flame you discover waiting for you in a dream job. Passion at work doesn’t hit you like romantic love, which benefits from the intoxicating flood of oxytocin.
The kind of passion that keeps you engaged in your career for the long haul is different. It tends to grow slowly and is nurtured through competence, connection, and meaningful contribution. It’s less like falling in love and more like building a lasting relationship.
Real passion is forged in the doing – when you master a skill and see your impact or find flow in solving problems that matter to you. This is the kind of passion that sticks. It’s never the fleeting passion you hope to find on day one.
So instead of chasing passion like it’s hiding in a dream job, try this instead:
- Get good at something. Mastery breeds confidence, and confidence fuels engagement.
- Stick with the hard stuff. Passion often emerges on the other side of frustration.
- Pay attention to energy. Focus your energy on the tasks that give you a sense of flow or purpose, even if they are difficult.
So yes, pursue work that matters to you. But do not expect it to come prepackaged with fireworks. Build your passion, that’s where real fulfillment lies. A better mantra might be: “Don’t follow your passion…BUILD IT!” It’s a slower road, but far more sustainable and authentic.
You can follow Sam on Twitter: @SuperTaoInc
