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Why “Follow Your Passion” Is Horrible Advice for Most People
Passion feels great but skills pay the bills
“Do what you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life.”
Although this quote (or variations of it) has been linked to multiple figures in history, including Confucius, Mark Twain, and Marc Anthony, it’s less notable for who first said it than for how often it is still said.
Around graduation time every year, nearly every commencement speaker will include some version of it. “Do what you love.” “Oh, the places you’ll go.” “Follow your passion.”
But is it really horrible advice for most people?
What does “follow your passion” actually mean?
One of the most dangerous places for people to hear “follow your passion” is when they are seeking advice on which career to choose.
On one level, it sounds easy. Of course people want to be interested in and passionate about the work that they do for a living. But on a practical level, it can be extremely difficult advice to follow.
Cal Newport, author of the self-help book So Good They Can’t Ignore You, has often spoken on the “follow your passion” motto. One of his main criticisms? The advice is too simplistic. As…
