Why Loving What You Do Might Not Always Lead to Success
Ben Casnocha, a blogger and expert in entrepreneurship, recently shared a thought-provoking post on the fallacies of working with passion. In his piece, he referenced a seemingly contradictory excerpt from Steve Jobs’ famous commencement speech at Stanford University—a speech that has now become a staple on the internet. You can check out Ben’s full post here: The Contradiction in Steve Jobs’ Famous Commencement Speech.
So, let me ask you this: How many people do you know who truly love what they do, make a lot of money, lead a balanced life, and view their work as their main source of passion? And are you confident in your answer?
Passion Only Takes You So Far
Here’s the updated perspective on the “work with passion” idea. Speaking from personal experience and professional insight, passion can only take you so far in the marketplace. You can be great at something you love, but sometimes external factors—things beyond your control—prevent you from earning what you deserve. That’s when adaptability becomes crucial.
It’s easier said than done, but many professionals find themselves putting their passions on hold temporarily, finding ways to keep going despite not being able to fully pursue what they love. A classic example is Walt Disney, whose early failures in animation and theater happened long before Disney World came into existence.
Some people pivot their passions into other areas, such as hobbies, charitable causes, or ministries. You think of figures like Steve and Jean Case or Bill and Melinda Gates—though their stories are extraordinary and involve immense fortune, their passions found new outlets in philanthropy.
Passion and Hard Work Go Hand-in-Hand
Even icons like Steve Jobs had to put in hard work behind the scenes to get to where they are. Most business leaders would agree that working with passion is a continuous cycle of experiments. Some of these experiments result in major successes—think iPods or iPads—but not every passion project leads to that kind of breakthrough. In this sense, working with passion might be a lifelong endeavor, similar to faith—an ongoing process of trial, error, and adaptation.
While the “work with passion” mantra dominated the Dot Com boom days, the landscape has shifted, and the true meaning behind it is more complex than it first appeared. Be cautious of anyone who claims to have it all figured out. Passion alone does not guarantee success, as much as we’d like to believe otherwise.
A Lesson from a Hollywood Mogul
I once posed the “Passion Question” over lunch with a prospective client—a mini-Hollywood mogul at the time. “What’s your passion?” I asked. He stared at me, puzzled. So I rephrased it: “What gets you up in the morning?” His response? “I don’t know. I’ve never had trouble getting up in the morning.” That simple answer told me everything I needed to know.
If anyone out there wants to debunk the mystery of passion further, feel free to join the conversation. But please, don’t forget to leave a few dollars on the blogging pillow.