You've heard it a million times: "Follow your passion, and you will never have to work for another day in your life." Well, I'm here to tell you that this is terrible advice. Sure, it sounds all warm and fuzzy, like sipping cocoa by the fireplace, but in reality, it can lead you down the rabbit hole of financial ruin. So, let's set the record straight, shall we?
Follow Your Passion, and You'll be the Proud Owner of an Empty Wallet
Let's face it, following your passion can keep you poor. Imagine this scenario: You're absolutely passionate about collecting vintage rubber duckies. You've got a room filled with them, and your heart sings every time you add a new one to your collection. But here's the thing: There's no market for vintage rubber duckies. People aren't lining up to buy them, no matter how much passion you have for them.
Now, let's talk about my successful, wealthy clients. They have businesses like a strawberry farm, a waste management company, or a software company that analyzes big data sets for other clients. Sound exciting? Not really. But guess what? It's making them a boatload of money. The guy driving the Rolls Royce down the street? He made his fortune collecting people's garbage. Do you think, when he was 8 years old, he dreamt of being a garbage remover entrepreneur? Absolutely not!
Practicality Over Passion
The first reason following your passion will keep you poor is that wealth is built through practicality, not passion. If you want to rake in the money, you've got to provide a service or product that the market really needs or wants.
And let me tell you something, the market doesn't give a damn that you want to start the nine thousandth sustainable gym wear brand when you have 456 followers on Instagram. You have to solve a problem. But how do you become a professional problem solver?
Well, here's a little secret: When I was 8 years old, I didn't say, "I want to study psychology with business management and do it for 7 years to get 3 degrees and help entrepreneurs and business owners grow their teams and performance." Heck, when I was 8, I couldn't even pronounce "psychologist," let alone know what the term meant.
But you know what? That doesn't mean I don't wake up in the morning feeling pumped and excited about my work. What I do is incredibly meaningful and fulfilling to me. I find immense enjoyment in helping others solve their business problems and seeing them succeed.
So, the next time someone tells you to follow your passion, take a step back and ask yourself, "Is there a market for my passion? Can I turn it into a practical, money-making venture?" Because, that's the real path to success and growth in your career.
Passion is the Spice, Not the Main Course
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you should abandon your passions altogether. Your passions are like the spices that add flavor to your life. They can make the journey more enjoyable, but they shouldn't be the main course on your plate of life.
Think of it this way: Imagine you're a chef in a high-end restaurant. Your passion might be experimenting with exotic spices and flavors. That's fantastic! But if you're only serving up plates of spice with no substance, your restaurant will go out of business faster than you can say "cayenne pepper."
In your career, your passion should complement your practicality. It should be the secret ingredient that makes your work uniquely yours. But you've got to start with a solid foundation of practicality and market demand.
Finding Your Inner Problem Solver
So, how do you become a professional problem solver? Well, it starts with being open to opportunities. You might not have dreamed of your current career path when you were a kid, but that's okay. Life has a funny way of leading you down unexpected roads.
Keep your eyes peeled for challenges and needs in your industry or community. What problems can you solve? What solutions can you provide? It might not be glamorous, but it could be profitable.
Emotions
Picture this: you're encased in a shimmering, golden bubble that fills your world with an aura of perpetual optimism and delight. This enchanting bubble is your unwavering belief in your passion, and it can shield you from seeing the harsh realities of the business landscape.
When you're nestled in the Golden Bubble of Bliss, it's easy to turn a blind eye to the imperfections and potential pitfalls in your passion project. Your product or service might have its quirks and shortcomings, but within the comforting glow of the bubble, you might think they're insignificant or even charming.
The Golden Bubble of Bliss can narrow your focus exclusively on your passion, neglecting the broader perspective. Your unwavering devotion to your ideas may make you forget that your customers have their unique needs and preferences, which may not align entirely with your vision.
Resisting change is another issue when you're cocooned in the Golden Bubble of Bliss. Why would you want to alter anything when your world is so delightful? Yet, business demands adaptability. Market dynamics shift, and innovations emerge. Without the willingness to evolve, your bubble might burst when reality sets in.
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of the Golden Bubble of Bliss is its impact on failure. Failure can feel like a piercing needle threatening to pop your bubble of joy. It's akin to being in a fairy-tale love story where heartbreak is an unimaginable plot twist. However, in business, setbacks are part of the journey. Embracing failure as a learning opportunity is essential for growth.
So, while you're dreaming of that Rolls Royce on your vision board, remember that the path to success might be a little less glamorous than you imagined. But it can be equally, if not more, rewarding. Find a way to blend your passion with the practical, and you'll be well on your way to achieving your career goals.
