In order to succeed, you need to “follow your passion.” We all have heard this phrase. But I feel uncomfortable with this. I know people who have become extremely successful not because they followed their passion. They simply pursued an opportunity, put their head down, overcame a lot of obstacles, and eventually became successful. Their road to to success was not easy, though. But they persevered despite the strong headwinds. This is why I think passion in business won’t take you to the next level. I reasoned that:
Being an entrepreneur is not easy. And when people associate passion with entrepreneurship, their mind would think that this is something that comes easy and naturally.
Scott Galloway, author of The Algebra of Happiness, says “follow your passion” is given by people who are already rich! Instead of following your passion, Galloway says to find something you are good at, spend thousands of hours, and apply the grit and perseverance, and sacrifice to become great at it. He adds, that once you become you are good at something, it becomes your passion.
Ben Horowitz of, a16z, says to “follow your contributions, not passion.” With your background, talent, skills, where can you make the biggest impact to the world? Horowitz then adds that your contribution then becomes your passion.
Find an opportunity. Find where you are good at. Find where you can contribute to the world. That will become your passion.