“Follow Your Passion” is an Imprudent Advice

This is a question (and advice) that I had since my middle school years. We were often told to “follow your passion”, “follow your dreams”, and “let your passion lead the way”. Ever thought about how silly and impractical that advice is?

Passion does not mean things will 100% work out for you. It also does not mean some of it will work out, give and take. It’s not like that.

Everyone has different passions. It does not mean all our passion will work out. It also means that following your passion will feed you. Sometimes, some passions are meant to be a hobby or a side gig. Not everyone’s passion can be their full-time job.

Not All Passions Are Made Equal

This much is obvious and understandable. There are a couple of angles to look at this.

Angle 1: It’s a passion that can make you money, but just not in your country.

Sound familiar? For example, if let’s say you have a passion in fashion design. Do you think being a fashion designer can bring you far in our country? Less likely, if not entirely impossible. It’s possible if you take this passion of yours elsewhere where there is a bigger demand for it.  

If you are to make this into your full-time job, then you will find that it’s a difficult passion to keep you fed.

There are a few fashion designers who have made it big. They manage to earn more than enough money via their passion to buy fancy houses and cars and whatnot. But not everyone is able to go through this same path. And not every fashion designer will be as successful. If there are more starving fashion designers than there are the ones that made it big, then the figures can be an indicator of whether if this passion “is the right path” for you.

Angle 2: There is a market for your passion, but income and profits from it are limited, if not unstable

Ever have a passion that does make you money, but is not one that offers job stability and a stable income? Yeah, some passions are like that. There is a market for it, but it’s unstable. Maybe for 1 to 2 years, your earnings are off-the-roof raining money on you. By 3^rd year, you can see a huge dip in your passion’s income. Then it goes back up again, then back down. Like a yo-yo.

See where this is going? It’s not the kind of income that is guaranteed stable. Sometimes it works, sometimes it does not. If you are someone who cannot accept unstable income for your passion, then is this really your passion at all?

Some Passion Are Meant To Be Hobbies or Side Gigs

Coming from the last section, we can all come to a point (of agreement) that some passions are made to be only hobbies. Some passions are made only to be side gigs. You may or may not monetize your passion. However, that is largely depending on where you are on the planet.

Some passion/hobbies can easily be monetized in Malaysia. Some others, not really.

What Can You Do About It?

If it’s your passion, you can always stick with it since it’s something you are ardent about. However, if it’s a passion that cannot generate enough income to even feed yourself, then perhaps it’s best to keep it as a hobby. While at it, you should hold on to a day job that helps you pay the bills.

Sometimes it’s about practicality and moving on with your life. You don’t have to love your job. But if your passion cannot help pay the bills and feed you, time to move on.

Lydia is a content writer under Headliner by Newswav, a programme where content creators get to tell their unique stories through articles and at the same time monetize their content within the Newswav app.
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