“Follow your passion” is maddening career advice

Passion is a loaded word when it comes to career. There’s a myth that if we just harness our passions, our careers will take off.

I don’t buy it!

Passions don’t automatically turn into careers, and Passion is just too slippery.

What if we don’t know what our passion is? The truth is: most of us don’t – myself included!

I have several things I like, but what’s the magical point on the continuum when an interest becomes a passion?

Here’s a wonderful article that appeared in the New York Times last year on this very subject. The author talks about fostering interests rather than following passions, and describes the trial-and-error process of moving through one’s career.

While directed at college graduates (which makes it timely as it’s graduation season again), this article is relevant all year round – and not just for young adults, and not just for those with college degrees, but for adults of all ages who are seeking meaning and purpose in our work.

Here’s the article:

Graduating and Looking for Your Passion? Just be Patient
By Angela Duckworth
New York Times – June 4, 2016

Enjoy!