{"id":186364,"date":"2020-05-21T07:00:33","date_gmt":"2020-05-21T11:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.virtualvocations.com\/blog\/?p=186364"},"modified":"2024-06-17T18:48:07","modified_gmt":"2024-06-17T22:48:07","slug":"being-passionate-about-your-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.virtualvocations.com\/blog\/telecommuting-job-search-help\/being-passionate-about-your-job\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Being Passionate About Your Job Isn\u2019t Everything"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Updated May 2024<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does taking a job where you aren\u2019t passionate about your work make you a failure? Should you really follow your dreams without regard for anything else? Maybe not. If your career isn\u2019t what you were passionate about at 18 or 21, don\u2019t dismay. You\u2019re in the majority.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, why is the mantra we force on today\u2019s children pressuring them to follow their passion? It\u2019s time to reevaluate whether or not being passionate about your job is really the be-all end-all. <\/span>Check out these 11 reasons why being all about your work isn\u2019t everything:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. If at Odds, Purpose Supersedes Passion<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Passion and purpose sound interchangeable. However, understanding the difference between them could have a major impact between a fulfilling career and one that doesn\u2019t meet your expectations. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We grow up being told to follow our dreams, but when responsibility strikes and bills come due, work is typically how we pay them. Whether that work is something we are passionate about is another story. A recent Forbes article<\/a><\/span> found only 20% of U.S. workers are truly passionate about their work. So is it still possible to have a fulfilling career if you aren\u2019t passionate about your work? It is! In fact, although a combination of purpose and passion is ideal in a career choice, purpose is a better predictor of a meaningful career than passion. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research supports that focusing on a combination of passion and purpose when choosing work, while also stressing the stronger power of purpose over passion. Still, purpose on its own is more powerful than passion. Purpose holds up to the test of time and focuses on others. It\u2019s our reason for actions and choices, always asking \u201cwhat can I contribute?\u201d In a TED Talks symposium, writer Leah Weiss<\/a> discussed the ability of power to boosts our capacity to make an impact. It\u2019s a steady goal that transcends self and provides meaning. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if \u201cdo what you love, and the money will follow\u201d proves to be false in your case, don\u2019t fret. <\/span>Instead, find purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Real-Life Examples to Relate to<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A school custodian, for example, is likely not very passionate about cleaning. However, they may view their purpose as keeping children and teachers safe from easily-spread germs and sickness. They may not enjoy their actual work, but they see a need for it and therefore feel valuable.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An engineer may have gone into her work with dreams of developing prosthetics. While she may currently be a public health engineer, responsible for water and sewage pipes, she continues to do her best because her purpose is to provide clean and safe water to her city.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For others, their primary purpose comes in the form of why they\u2019re working at all and are more financially focused, such as providing for a family or supporting a spouse in the military. A man who is passionate about coaching high school football may continue his career in sales instead in order to ensure a nest egg for his family. While he may be interested in trying his hand as an assistant coach a couple evenings a week, he stays in a career where he does not prefer the work and works hard because his purpose is to ensure his family\u2019s well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Career Passion is a Cultural Concept<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cWork has become a status symbol.\u201d – Harvard Business School Assistant Professor Jon Jachimowicz<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps that\u2019s why in a 2019 Pew Research Center<\/span> survey<\/span><\/a>, more than 60% of U.S. teens ranked having a career they are passionate about as their top priority, even higher than income and marriage. Strangely, this is uncommon in other parts of the world. Some blame the fact that people are starting families later and the decline of religious affiliations. What most experts agree on is that as the outlook on the value of one\u2019s work has increased, American involvement in hobbies and any other personal activities outside the office has dropped dramatically. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Passion is Not Fixed<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As Americans, we often encourage our children and each other to \u201cfind your passion\u201d or \u201cfollow your dreams.\u201d Unfortunately, these well-wishing phrases are based on a false assumption our passions are inherent from youth. However, <\/span>recent research<\/span><\/a> by Stanford University now suggests that people develop their passions rather than find them. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a university news release, Gregory Walton, one of the researchers on the Stanford study, explained that a fixed view on passions could become problematic.  The study sought to evaluate whether interests, often known as passions, are fixed, inherent qualities, or if they take time and effort to develop.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the study, researchers learned that individuals who believe passions are fixed are less willing to explore new endeavors. Thus, they’re less likely to grow in any other area of their life. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. Working Outside Your Passion Protects It <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every job has drawbacks. That\u2019s part of why we get paid to do it. Work is work. However, by choosing to work in an industry we feel passionate about, we risk our relationship with that activity becoming more of a chore than a love. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being passionate about your job if you’re an artist may lead you to art school and a career. Intent on working in your industry, you land a job. The city is doing an outdoor redesign and has commissioned you as a street mural artist. It\u2019s exciting, and you\u2019re pumped to gain exposure and have the public view your work. Of course, due to traffic and other obstacles, you can only paint during the mid-to-late afternoon in the intense summer heat. You\u2019ve had some compliments, which is encouraging. Then the city changes its mind on the theme of the design, and you have to start over. As the harsh winter afternoons arrive, each day feels more like a burden. Then one day, you go to paint for enjoyment, and you realize you don\u2019t love painting anymore. You need change<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Situations like the one above occur far too often. Even the most enjoyable jobs will have difficult seasons and negative aspects that are all part of the role. Keeping your passion as a hobby protects it from becoming something you no longer enjoy.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5. Passion Does Not Equate Talent<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re sitting in your sophomore nursing class and realizing you don\u2019t understand a word, being let go from your accounting position for sloppy bookkeeping, or one of the unfortunate American Idol contestants, the fact is simple: You may pursue something because of passion. However, that doesn\u2019t make you talented in it. If you aren\u2019t skilled in your passion, this isn\u2019t saying don\u2019t persevere and do your best to succeed. Still, your profession needs to pay your bills. If you cannot improve enough in your desired area of expertise to hold down a job, you should probably start considering other possible careers. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6. We Live in an Era of Mismatched Job Markets and Passions<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every year, thousands of teenage boys make plans for a career in the NFL or the NBA. Many are top-notch, highly skilled athletes that would be passionate about their jobs. However, the limited amount of roster spots force these young men to eventually pursue other directions. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As unfortunate as this seems, teen career goals do not match the current or projected job markets. <\/span>A recent study<\/span><\/a> by the Office of National Statistics Education and Employers Taskforce demonstrates just how large the gap between aspirations and reality is. Among the top career aspirations for 16-to-21-year-olds was \u201cArtistic, Literary, and Media (e.g. writer, actor, producer).\u201d However, it noted only 1-2% of 22-to-29-year-olds actually work in those professions. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this research focused on teens, it\u2019s likely somewhat representative of the adult population as well. Naturally, adults have to adapt and account for realities. However, adult dream jobs or passions may very well look similar to teens. Adults have just realized that survival matters more. If the job market isn\u2019t offering spots in coveted roles, they must adapt or fail.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7. Toxic Environments Are Not Worth The Trade-Off<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve ever endured a bad boss, had coworkers that made you feel disrespected or uncomfortable, or repeatedly witnessed unethical behavior or terrible attitudes in the workplace, you know passion isn\u2019t worth a hostile, negative, or morally questionable office environment. Preference for a type of work is important. But many people who have tolerated unhealthy working environments would gladly forego a job they are passionate about for an environment characterized by positivity, safety, and respect.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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8. Relationships and Culture Matter<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Trust and Relationships Create Meaning<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, relationships with those around us can create greater meaning in the workplace than doing work we feel passionate about. The University of California at Berkeley published a <\/span>neuroscience article<\/span><\/a> in its science-based online publication \u201cGreater Good Magazine\u201d  explaining how oxytocin, the social bonding hormone, can make a job more meaningful. Researcher Paul Zak and his team found that the more trust people are shown, the more oxytocin is released in the brain. When high levels of oxytocin are present, people work better together.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese laboratory studies showed that when trust between team members is high, oxytocin flows and work feels less like, well, work, and more like doing interesting things with friends.\u201d Paul Zak, director of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies at Claremont Graduate University (as published \u201cGreater Good Magazine\u201d).<\/span> Zak is also an ardent proponent for finding purpose at work \u2014 an opinion he developed from his research. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Positive and Innovative Company Practices<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Employee satisfaction and productivity are direct results of company culture. Even if it’s for a job that they are less passionate about, innovative practices and perks can draw people in. The chance to join businesses with novel ideas is enough for some. Here are a few examples: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n