We've all been told in some way or another to follow our passions. We've been assured that if we do what we love, we won't work a day in our lives. This mindset has no doubt fueled the increased rates of people changing jobs on a more regular basis. As of this past fall, workers changed jobs on average every 4.2 years. This average tenure is even less for those folks under the age of 35. No doubt many factors contribute to someone deciding to take a new job, and the pandemic has revealed those factors to an even greater degree. However, I also wonder about general lack of contentment or happiness as a factor in deciding whether or not to stay in a job.
I recently heard an interview with Mark Cuban where he shared some counterintuitive advice. He encouraged folks not to follow their passions, but instead follow their effort. Although passion can sometimes spark effort, the opposite is more often true. When you do something well, you enjoy it. If you do something badly, you are far less interested in continuing to do it. The logic is sound, even if it does push back against the advice of countless others.
We are all passionate about many different things. We have plenty of interests, things we love chatting about at the bar or with friends at a dinner party. However, we are rarely speaking from the perspective of an expert, and more likely that of an armchair quarterback.
When I started running, it wasn't for passion. On the contrary. I had very little interest in running, especially when sleep and/or a pint of Ben & Jerrys were far more appealing. However, I started putting in the effort. I got up each more, following my couch to 5K podcast plan, and eventually worked my way up to my first 5K race. Even after that race, I still didn't have any passion for it, but I at least felt good about myself. After sticking with it a bit more, the passion did eventually come. It's now one of the things I'm perhaps most passionate about and that passion continues to fuel my adventures.
That passion came about because I put in the effort. I started to see results and watch as I felt myself improving. If I had started to put in that effort, but gotten injured quickly or discovered that it triggered my asthma in unexpected ways, I most likely wouldn't have kept at it.
The history books and newspapers are littered with stories of people that followed their passion only to discover that they couldn't turn that into the success they thought would come. As Cuban himself wrote over 10 years ago:
If you really want to know where you destiny lies, look at where you apply your time.
Time is the most valuable asset you don't own. You may or may not realize it yet, but how you use or don't use your time is going to be the best indication of where your future is going to take you .
Let me make this as clear as possible
1. When you work hard at something you become good at it.
2. When you become good at doing something, you will enjoy it more.
3. When you enjoy doing something, there is a very good chance you will become passionate or more passionate about it
4. When you are good at something, passionate and work even harder to excel and be the best at it, good things happen.
Don't follow your passions, follow your effort. It will lead you to your passions and to success, however you define it.
