“Follow your passion! Do work that you love.” I used to be a strong proponent of this idea. We spend a big portion of our time at our job most days, so might as well do something that we love right? Something that fulfils us and satisfies us? And for many people, following their passion is not just a means of attaining job satisfaction, it’s also the key to living a good and meaningful life. I believe that many of us tie our jobs to meaning, a sense of purpose and identity, or at least I do.
So passion or pay, which will you prioritize? According to University of Michigan professor and author Erin Cech, many college students and college-educated workers in the US have turned to what she calls the “passion principle” where fulfilling work or one’s passion is prioritized even at the expense of job security or a decent pay when it comes to career decision making. Based on the findings of her research, over 75% of college-educated workers believe that passion is an important factor in career decision making. While 67% of them said they would prioritize meaningful work over job stability, high wages and even work-life balance.
So do you agree with them? Do you think it is sensible to “follow your passion” when it comes to deciding your career? I used to think so but reading Cech’s article has opened me up to another perspective or should I say, alternative.
Firstly, pursuing your passion is not always feasible. Sometimes what you’re passionate about just doesn’t pay the bills. Hence, it would be financially risky to switch from your stable, unfulfilling career in accountancy, for example, to pursue your passion for painting. You may not earn as much, at least for the short term. Even if you happen to be a talented artist, building your reputation and a regular client base takes time. So sticking with your stable job though it is unfulfilling may be the smarter choice for the time being before transitioning to your passion full-time. So that is one reasonable way to go after your passion if you’re unsatisfied with your current job.
However, what if pursuing your passion just doesn’t work out? Cech warned in her article in the Atlantic titled “Loving Your Job is a Capitalist Trap” that pursuing one’s passion is often a recipe for disappointment. Based on her research, she found that “when working-class college graduates pursue their passion, they are about twice as likely as wealthier passion seekers to later end up in unstable, low-paid work far outside their passion.” So if that’s the case, should we still insist on changing our careers to suit our passion? Is it worth it?
Cech’s simple answer is “No”. There’s an alternate route we can choose. This involves changing our philosophies about work. Instead of relying on our jobs as a centrepiece in our search for meaning it’s better to diversify by seeking out multiple sources of meaning. In simpler terms, meaningful work is only one route to a meaningful life. Besides work, we can also find meaning in other aspects of our lives such as in our relationships, hobbies and various other pursuits or passion projects. If you can’t pursue your passion at work, then, by all means, pursue it after work! I think Cech phrased it best when she concluded “Follow your passion if you must, but also find places outside of work to anchor your sense of self.” It’s okay if you can’t pursue your passion at work as it is not the centrepiece of your life.
Random Rose 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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