- Tension: Young professionals often feel immense pressure to align their careers with personal passions, fearing that deviating from this path signifies failure or a lack of authenticity.
- Noise: The pervasive mantra “follow your passion” suggests that passion alone guarantees career fulfillment and success, overlooking the complexities and practicalities of the modern job market.
- Direct Message: While passion can inspire, building a sustainable and fulfilling career often requires adaptability, skill development, and openness to opportunities beyond one’s initial interests.
This article follows the Direct Message methodology, designed to cut through the noise and reveal the deeper truths behind the stories we live.
I’ve always been someone who likes to march to the beat of my own drum. An independent thinker, a non-conformist, and yes, a passionate individual.
So when it came time for me to choose a career path, I fell back on the advice that seemed to be everywhere: “Follow your passion.” It’s a mantra that’s been ingrained in our heads, especially for us millennials and Gen Zs who have grown up in the era of self-discovery and personal branding.
This mantra led me down a path of studying film at university, with dreams of becoming the next Spielberg or Scorsese dancing in my head. I thoroughly enjoyed my college years, immersing myself in all things cinema.
I reveled in the late nights spent editing films, the debates over the merits of different cinematic techniques, and even the countless rewrites of screenplays.
After graduation, armed with a degree and a head full of dreams, I took off to Los Angeles, ready to conquer Hollywood. I was prepared for hard work and long days. What I wasn’t prepared for was the reality of trying to make a living in an industry fueled by passion.
Fast forward five years. After numerous gigs as a production assistant, countless rejections on my scripts, and more ramen dinners than I care to admit, I started questioning the wisdom of that ubiquitous advice. Was following my passion really the best way to shape a fulfilling and financially stable career?
I began exploring other career paths that could leverage my skills and interests in different ways. This led me onto a new journey of discovery where I learned that passion is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to choosing a career.
Reflecting on this experience now, having found satisfaction in a completely different field as an editor for an online company, I’m not entirely convinced that “follow your passion” is the best advice for young people choosing careers. Here’s why.
The awakening: Questioning the “follow your passion” mantra
The first couple of years in LA were exciting, albeit challenging. I was living in the city of dreams, working on sets with some truly talented people. I felt like I was on the brink of my big break. But as time went on, my enthusiasm began to wane.
Despite my passion for film and tireless work ethic, I found myself struggling financially. I wondered if I had misjudged the mantra “follow your passion.” Was it really supposed to be this hard?
The turning point came when I started freelancing as a script editor to supplement my income.
To my surprise, I found that I enjoyed the work. It was creative and challenging, but it also offered stability and a steady paycheck — something my passion-driven career in film wasn’t providing.
This experience made me question the wisdom of blindly following one’s passion. Was it possible that this well-intended advice might actually be leading young people, like myself, astray when choosing a career?
The perceived truth: Passion as the key to success
It’s easy to understand why the advice “follow your passion” is so prevalent.
We live in a world that idolizes success stories of people who turned their passion into a thriving career. The narrative is compelling – do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.
I bought into this belief too. I thought that if I was passionate enough about film, I would find a way to make it work. But my experience told a different story. I was passionate, yes, but passion alone wasn’t paying the bills or providing the security I needed.
Passion is undoubtedly important in choosing a career. It can fuel persistence and make work enjoyable. But it’s not the only factor to consider. Other aspects, like financial stability and personal growth, are equally, if not more, important.
Many people might disagree with me on this. They might argue that the sacrifices are worth it if you’re doing something you love. And for some people, it might be true. But for me, following my passion wasn’t the key to professional fulfilment.
Finding balance: Passion and practicality
After some soul-searching, I realized that I needed to strike a balance between my passion and practicality. I loved film, but I also valued financial stability and personal growth. So, I started to look for ways to combine these elements in my career.
I refocused my career towards editing and proofreading scripts, which still allowed me to be involved in the film industry. This shift was not easy. It took time, patience, and a lot of learning. But it was worth it. The work was rewarding, stable, and still tapped into my passion for storytelling.
This doesn’t mean that I completely abandoned my dreams of becoming a filmmaker. Instead, I chose a path that allowed me to pursue my passion in a more practical way.
If you’re a young person choosing a career, don’t feel compelled to choose between your passion and practicality. It’s possible to find a balance between the two. In fact, it’s this balance that may lead you to the fulfilling career you’re yearning for.
Empowering yourself: Taking responsibility and thinking for yourself
During this career shift, I learned some powerful lessons that extended far beyond my professional life. One of the most important lessons was the power of taking responsibility for my situation.
While it wasn’t my fault that breaking into the film industry was tough, it was within my power to handle the situation differently.
This doesn’t mean I ignored my struggles or painted a rosy picture of my reality.
Instead, I acknowledged my dissatisfaction and took action to change it. I began to question societal myths about success, including the “follow your passion” mantra. I understood that it was limiting my potential.
Here’s what worked for me:
- Taking responsibility for my situation and acting upon it.
- Acknowledging my struggles and dissatisfaction.
- Questioning societal myths about success.
- Embracing practical self-development over feel-good mysticism.
I started to think for myself, rather than blindly following societal expectations. I pursued my personal ambitions and desires, not externally imposed ones. This empowered me to break free from societal expectations and align my life with my true nature.
It’s crucial to remember that this journey isn’t just about your career. It’s about reshaping your reality and living life on your terms.
