Is Passion Overrated in Choosing a Career?

For years, we’ve heard the popular advice: "Follow your passion and success will follow." This idea has been promoted by celebrities, motivational speakers, and even career counselors. But is this always true? Or has the concept of “passion” been romanticized to the point of being unrealistic and misleading?

Let’s consider the realities of today’s job market. Most industries today demand specific skill sets, adaptability, and continuous learning. The harsh truth is that not everyone has the luxury to chase what they “love.” Many graduates, especially in developing countries, often find themselves accepting jobs that are far from their passion — and yet, they grow, succeed, and even come to love what they do.

Passion vs. Practicality

While passion can be a great motivator, it doesn’t always pay the bills. A person may be passionate about art, music, or gaming — but how many can actually build a stable, long-term career from it without significant sacrifice or luck? On the other hand, someone working in a field like software development or finance may not have had an initial passion for it, but over time, they might develop interest and expertise that leads to a fulfilling career.

Skill First, Passion Later

There’s a rising perspective among career experts: “Don’t follow your passion. Instead, master something valuable — passion will follow.” Cal Newport, in his book "So Good They Can’t Ignore You," argues that developing rare and valuable skills is a better path to career satisfaction than merely pursuing pre-existing passions. This shifts the focus from emotion to growth.

The Problem With ‘One True Passion’

Another issue is the assumption that everyone has a single, clear passion. That’s not always true. Many people are good at several things. Limiting oneself to just one “passion” can be mentally restricting and even anxiety-inducing. It sets the expectation that if you're not doing your "dream job," you're somehow failing. That’s not only unfair, but also harmful.

What Employers Want

From an employer’s perspective, passion is only a part of the picture. What truly matters is reliability, willingness to learn, problem-solving ability, and consistency. Even the most passionate employee can struggle if they lack discipline or adaptability. In fact, some of the most successful professionals are not necessarily the most passionate — they are the most consistent.

A Balanced Approach

This isn’t to say that passion doesn’t matter. It does. But it should not be the sole driver of career decisions. Ideally, one should find the intersection of:

What they are good at

What the world needs

What they can be paid for

What they enjoy doing

This Japanese concept, Ikigai, brings balance between practicality and personal fulfillment.

Let’s Discuss

So, is passion overrated when choosing a career? Or is it still a key ingredient for long-term success? Should we encourage young people to follow their dreams, or guide them towards building skills that align with real-world opportunities?

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Has following your passion helped you? Or did you discover satisfaction in an unexpected career path?

 

[Siddharth Shanmugam]

People love to say “follow your passion” like it’s the ultimate life hack. And yeah, it sounds dreamy — doing what you love every day and getting paid for it. But honestly? That advice can be kinda overrated.

First off, not everyone knows what their passion is. And even if they do, turning it into a full-time career isn’t always realistic. Like, you might love sketching anime characters or playing drums, but can you instantly make a living off of that? Probably not. Bills still gotta get paid, and sometimes passion doesn’t do that right away (or at all).

Also, passions can change. What you’re hyped about at 17 might not be what you care about at 27. So basing your entire career on one interest can be risky. People grow, their priorities shift — and that’s normal. Chasing a dream job that made sense five years ago might feel like a trap now.

On the flip side though, doing something you hate just because it pays well is soul-crushing. So yeah, you shouldn't completely ignore passion either. It’s more about balance. Ask yourself: “Can I tolerate this job long enough to get better at it?” Because sometimes, the more skilled you get, the more fun it becomes. You might not start off loving something, but as you grow into it, that passion shows up later.

Also, instead of just chasing a “passion,” try thinking about purpose. Like, what kind of work would make you feel useful or fulfilled? You might not be super passionate about Excel sheets, but if you’re helping a business grow or making someone’s life easier, that matters too.

At the end of the day, passion is cool — but it’s not the only thing. It’s like the cherry on top, not the whole cake. Choosing a career should also include stuff like your strengths, income goals, job market demand, mental health, lifestyle, etc.

So no, passion isn’t useless, it's more like a double edged sword, too much of passion may lead to the individual being blinded by a dream of the perfect future thereby destroying themselves in the process or it may just turn out to be so that too little passion may end up making them lead a menial life with mediocre job and a life full of regret. It’s just overhyped when it’s treated like the only thing that matters. Go for it if it makes sense, but don’t beat yourself up if you’re not “living your passion.” You can still build a solid, fulfilling career — even without it being your ultimate dream job.