I recently read an advance copy of So Excellent They Can’t Ignore You, Cal Newport’s interesting (and contentious) new book. The basic defense is that choosing a job based on your passion is unwise.
The first issue is that there are typically no established passions. Cal quotes a study in which more than 500 university students were surveyed and it was found that less than 4% of them had a passion related to their line of employment.
The second issue is that, even if your work interests you, pursuing them won’t necessarily make you happier. Following a preset interest was infrequently the first step in the career trajectories of those who actually enjoy their work, according to several interviews with them.
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Ironically, pursuing your passion could make it more difficult to find.
Mastery Instead of Passion
The counterargument to the passion hypothesis claims that developing professional capital, not pursuing a prior interest, is what leads to fulfilling work. In other words, excelling to the point where you can choose your own rules for living.
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All economic transaction involves two components: what you want and the value you must offer in exchange. The passion approach relentlessly emphasizes the first component. Cal advises that concentrating on the last part of the conversation is the better course of action.
Is “Passion” a Red Herring?
Having a passion for what you do is crucial, and neither Cal nor I would disagree. I enjoy what I do, and that is more important than earning a lot of money or fitting in with the norm.
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But, the language we use can lead us astray. When someone is asked to consider their passions, they frequently think about the subject matter of the activity: are they interested in biology or literature? Do they prefer math or writing?
These things can just be minor elements that take our attention away from the main reasons why we love what we do. It turns out that “passion” isn’t among the factors that contribute to joyful job, something social scientists have known for some time. Instead, the following three traits emerge:
1.Autonomy
2.Control
3.Connectedness
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These three qualities, in my opinion, account for a large part of my personal career satisfaction. When I first made the decision to launch an internet business, I had no idea that I would become a writer, let alone that the core of my company would be rapid learning courses. I anticipated developing software.
I certainly like reading and writing, but I also like a lot of other things that aren’t the focus of my professional life. But the autonomy I have in my work, the creative power, and the opportunity to actually witness people being helped by it are arguably more important reasons why I love my profession.
Many work options can provide freedom, control, and connection. But, those professional qualities are uncommon and in high demand, therefore you must provide something equally alluring in exchange for them.
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Entrepreneurship vs Craftsmanship
The Start-Up of You by Ben Casnocha and Reid Hoffman, a book about job achievement that I really appreciated, pairs well with Cal’s book. The two books rarely clash, but they present very different angles on the challenging issue of leading a fulfilling and successful professional life.
Cal’s book mostly concentrates on the finer points of excellence. How can you become proficient enough in your field to be able to demand the autonomy, control, and connectedness that lead to passionate work?
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Ben’s book focuses more on figuring out how to leverage the chances and social networks available to you to develop those talents. Excellence rarely happens in a vacuum, and getting good typically comes through securing job opportunities that let you expand your network and skill set.
Combined, these two publications have really aided in my professional reflection. Specifically, what I should be doing to develop over the following ten years as an entrepreneur and writer.
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