For many people, making a living online conjures up thoughts of passive income, location independence and simply loving what you do. Through that the concept of “finding your passion” has become synonymous with the world of online business. Many of us believe that we must find our passion in order to be truly happy and successful.
However, I do not think that you need to find your passion in order to quit your job, launch your own successful business and (most importantly) be happy with your life. Not only that, but I think the way in which people are often urged to find their passion actually serves to cripple their chances of reaching their goals.
In this post I want to explain why I think trying to find your passion can ultimately be a fruitless task and offer up an alternative solution to leaving work behind.
The Fallacy of Finding Your Passion
Achieving your online business goals is certainly possible but when you’re at the start of your journey it can all seem like a distant dream. I get that. I was in your shoes less than two years ago and the self-doubt and fear of failure that I had then are still very tangible in my mind.
I was reminded of these emotions quite recently when I received an email from a LWB reader:
I am following your site and am a fan of it. I have a little suggestion (or question as you may take it). It is lovely to even think about following one’s passion and making an income out of it. But there are countless who do not know what they want; what their passion is. If you touch upon that topic and provide some insights it would be awesome.
I always try to accomodate reader requests and it just so happened that I thought this was a topic in dire need of covering anyway. In fact, the above message highlights what I think is wrong with “finding your passion”, which is that there are many people out there who do not know what their “passion” is. Because they can’t figure out their passion they believe that they can’t be successful and so they simply don’t try. Their journey is over before it has even began. Sound familiar?
It is all too easy to be paralyzed into inaction until you find your so-called passion. Until that point, what’s the point in even trying to make a start? Surely you’d just be fumbling your way in the dark?
Well consider this — for the most part my passions don’t pay my bills and yet I have never been happier. The first thing you should understand is that it’s okay not to know what your passion is and you can still succeed and be happy if you don’t (tweet this).
What is Passion?
The word “passion” is used — perhaps misused — an awful lot. Before we go any further let’s first define it:
Passion: a thing arousing great enthusiasm
To put it another way, a passion is anything you can get really excited about. And that in itself reveals the first failing of the whole “finding your passion” movement — we all have many passions. Here are a few of mine:
- Cooking
- Guitar
- Singing
- Cricket
- Learning
That’s a pretty diverse range of passions, right? And yet I would be doubtful of making a good living from any of them. This is the same issue that most people come up against — they know what they are passionate about but they can’t figure out a way to make money from it.
This is the point at which “find your passion” advocates jump in and propose to find a way to create a business around your passion. Whilst I have no doubt that it can be done (some of the time), it is a tough route — you’ll probably be trying to push the proverbial square peg (your passion) into a round hole (success). Why not instead put down the square peg and try the round one? You’ll find it’s a much better fit.
Don’t “Find” Your Passion — Work Towards It
You may have read a recent post of mine: Why You Shouldn’t Chase Your Dreams. It could’ve actually been entitled “Why You Shouldn’t Chase Your Passions” and essentially been the same post.
Trying to find your passion and be the best you can be from square one is a hell of a tough call and is bound to end in frustration. It’s like someone aiming to become a sub-10 second 100m sprinter when they’ve never even run 100m before.
Even if you are hellbent on finding your passion, focus on the steps between here and then. Your next step is not likely to be the one that gets you to where you want to be, but many people seem to think that it has to be in order to be worthwhile. All the next step should be is a step closer.
Even then, it doesn’t have to be a step closer to your passion. On the contrary, I believe that the easiest path to success and happiness is in freedom. Would I rather spent 12 hours a day in a job that I absolutely love, or 4 hours a day in a job I enjoy with the rest of the time available to do whatever I want (including but not limited to my “passion”?). I know which one I would go for, because at the end of the day, freedom is more important to me than my career being my “passion.”
So when it comes to leaving work behind, you have two options:
- Make your work your passion
- Make your passion(s) something you can do because of your work
Option two is by a distance the path of least resistance, because if you get yourself into a position where your work commitments are minimized, you have the power to do just about anything.
Look at me as an example. At the moment my work entails a lot of writing and not a great deal else. I like writing and I do have a passion for certain aspects of what I do (such as creating posts like this), but for the most part I only like and enjoy what I do (please understand that I use the word “only” with a heavy dose of irony).
I wouldn’t include the words “great enthusiasm” in a description of my feelings towards my work but I have come to realize that some kind of overwhelming excitement in what you do for a living isn’t the skeleton key to happiness. There are so many other meaningful things in life and the obsession that your work must be your passion can distract you from them. I am sure that many people have discovered this when reaching the pinnacle of their passion and have been left bitterly disappointed.
Your Passions Should Be Everywhere
Your life should be made up of many passions that you choose to explore and indulge. If your work can be a passion of yours than all the better, but it is not a requirement for happiness and success.
Every step I have taken so far — first towards leaving work behind and now towards increasing my income — has not been a step towards a particular passion. Wanting to quit your job, have more freedom and make more money are not seen as “passions” in the context we are exploring (although you could argue that they are), and yet they have been the main guiding lights for me over the past two years or so.
I believe that my aversion to chasing any particular passion has helped me a great deal in getting this far. At no point have I looked to make work some kind of joyous spectacle that has me leaping out of bed in the morning. Instead I have leveraged my business to create a lifestyle that makes me extremely happy. Plus I enjoy the work, which is certainly a majorly beneficial factor.
It’s Time to Begin a New Search
So if you have been in vain search of your passion, perhaps now is the time to reevaluate. Put finding your passion aside for one moment and consider the path of least resistance to leaving work behind. How can you most easily get into a position where you have the freedom to work less hours (should you choose to) and build a passive income business that will ultimately empower you to spend your time as you please? In my opinion that is the key.
In terms of the practical advice I can offer you, my suggestions are blogging and/or freelance writing. I have used both to establish my business and generate an income that exceeds my outgoings and if you have not previously considered one or the other I would urge you to take some time exploring. I would advise that you begin with my Start Here page, which shows you exactly what you need to get started in either case.
Finally, if you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to leave them below. I’d love to know what you think!
Photo Credit: Nick-K (Nikos Koutoulas), geraldbrazell and @Doug88888
Vishnu says
Hey Tom,
I have read articles that say you need to find your passion. But I think you have a very valid point here as not everyone finds an income out of what they love to do or are even lucky enough to find what they are passionate about. You have covered a very much needed topic, I believe.
I am sure there would be many who would thank you for this article!
Cheers,
Vishnu
Tom Ewer says
Glad you think it’s a worthwhile read Vishnu 🙂
Jamie Alexander says
I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer. It just depends how someone is going to make money.
I think it might be easy for you because you blog about your work. To make money you do internet marketing and write freelance articles, then you blog about internet marketing and freelance writing. I think that could possibly alter your opinion.
Take the person who doesn’t blog about their work. What would they blog about to make money if not making money online? They would need to blog about something, so let’s take fitness as an example.
If they wanted to make money in the fitness niche they would ideally need to ‘live’ fitness because they would want to come up with unique topics and bring new ideas to the table that other people weren’t doing. That would mean spending time both blogging and experimenting with fitness.
If they didn’t have a passion for fitness could they still make money? Probably, but I wouldn’t like to do it.
People who blog about their job will find it easier because they get paid to gain experience when other people need to do it in their spare time. That could be personal trainers, math teachers, or a huge number of people who can just come home and start blogging about their job.
So I’m not disagreeing with what you said and I don’t think anyone needs passion to make money, but if they don’t have passion they’re probably going to need more determination to succeed.
Tom Ewer says
Hi Jamie,
I agree with everything you said and my point still stands. Everyone’s happy 😉
Cheers,
Tom
Liz says
Omg Tom you sing?
Video. Immediately if not before.
Tom Ewer says
You asked for it: http://youtu.be/VpoGH-irMqs (not exactly my finest performance).
Moses says
I just passed by in order to save this for later read, and there’s you singing…
You’re good man! I truly enjoyed it.
I sense that this might become “your thing”, something like Pat Flynn’s wedding dance.
Tom Ewer says
Haha, I hope not! It’s been online for ages so I don’t think it’s about to go viral 😉
Jeffrey Trull says
So if this isn’t your finest performance, where’ the video of the one that is?? 🙂
Tom Ewer says
Haha — just about anything else that isn’t this! Actually, I’m recording a demo with my band this weekend so I’ll probably be releasing a few songs to my long-suffering social media followers 😉
R.C. Thornton says
Great perspective Tom, and one I wholeheartedly agree with!
The idea of “finding one’s passion” is a complete misnomer. There’s no “1 true passion” hiding in the lurk, just waiting for us to discover it. Passion and success comes from hard work and accomplishment after lengthy periods of trial and determination.
Mark Cuban put this well too…follow your efforts, not your passion.
To someone who asked me “what if I don’t have a passion?”, I would recommend just starting to work on something that 1.) they are interested in, and 2.) could generate money (presuming that the premise of this follow your passion discussion is getting a job or making money doing something we want). Don’t use “not knowing your passion” as an excuse not to take action.
Work towards mastery of something, and the passion will follow.
Tom Ewer says
Well said Mr. Thornton! 🙂
Chris Hufnagel says
Hi Tom,
I have been following your blog for a year now and have always found your posts helpful. I got my start online with the thoughts of passive income filling my head. I started building niche sites and complex affiliate marketing campaigns. While these did bring in some money I really did not enjoy it.
The one part I did enjoy was making the websites. So I started making more and more of them until finally I put my services out there. To make a long story short, I have left my job and started my own web design company helping small businesses with their websites and online marketing efforts. It has been like a dream come true and reading your articles about becoming a freelance writer are what gave me the idea, so thank you!
Chris
Tom Ewer says
That’s a great story Chris! I’m so glad you’ve told me it because it has always been my hope that my freelance writing posts would encourage people to freelance in whatever field that works for them. Cheers!
David says
I really like this post. I am one of the people you describe, not so much that I don’t know what my passions are, but that I don’t see how I could make a living out of them (though I am still looking).
I think the most important point you made is that you don’t have to be passionate about something in order to be successful in it, but it helps. It is important though in my view to not actively dislike what you do. If ever there was a recipe for making something into HARD work then that’s it!
I’m fortunate in that my day job is something that I ‘usually’ like to do, effectively I get paid to play with computers, which of course is how I manage to stick at it, even given that I frequently have to spend time away from home. Everything in life is a balance, and in this case the balance works for now. If I had to spend a lot of time away doing something I hated, then I’d have to be getting paid a ridiculous amount of money to make it balance for me; even then I don’t think I’d be able to persist with it for any length of time.
I started blogging with a view to making a living from it not by writing about one of my passions, but by writing about something interesting and relevant (if you are spending a lot of time in a foreign country writing about it is a great way to learn). I hope to move on/branch out from it for my next one, and with a bit of luck I’ll be able to make it out of something that is one of my passions, but if not, it isn’t the end of the world. I’ve learned a lot from doing my first blog, and as you say it is a step in the right direction, which is what I always intended, so I’m very happy I did it.
David
Tom Ewer says
That’s a fantastic attitude David and exactly what I preach. You weren’t sure what you were doing but you went ahead and did it anyway, and even if it’s not a roaring success you learned a huge amount from doing it. That attitude is key!
MaAnna says
I’ve had several hobbies, all of which have received international recognition (music playing in 14 countries, a book featured in Publishers Weekly, and wood carvings featured in multiple magazines). That’s all super, but i’ve barely made enough on them to cover the cost of production, and that’s fine. Hobbies that pay for themselves are bonuses. I also enjoy constant learning and really enjoy teaching and am making a living at that with full site consultation. So, I’m lucky to enjoy my work, but I know the difference in what what you have to do to turn a hobby into a business. Tried that with music and it almost ruined it for me. Was always editing as I wrote. Took the joy of creation right out of it for me.
Bottom line – I’m happy to have work I enjoy and that allows me time, energy, and financial means to enjoy my creative passions.
Tom Ewer says
A wonderful case study for this post if ever I read one. Thanks MaAnna!
Sarah Russell says
I’m definitely in the “Option #2” camp (find work that allows you to live your passions).
For me, trying to turn a passion into work takes the enjoyment out of it. A passion is something that I engage for fun – and the second I start adding deadlines and responsibilities to that passion, the fun of it is gone.
In my case, writing isn’t my passion. It’s a skill that I have that allows me to make a comfortable living in a way that frees up time for me to engage in the passions I do have. Sure, I like to write, but I don’t wake up in the morning dreaming about writing – which I think is a vital part of my ability to separate what I do to pay the bills from what I do to have fun.
If it works for other people to find work within their passions, that’s great. For me, though, this type of separation is hugely important. Thanks for sharing this!
Tom Ewer says
No problem Sarah, good to see I’m not alone in this way of thinking!
Lisa says
This is the story of life. It may not be perfect, but it’s good enough
Elizabeth Cottrell says
Hurrah to you for running counter to the popular myth about finding your passion. I have often been frustrated when coaches or well-meaning people tried to pull the answer to the “What is your passion” question out of me, and I just don’t have one overriding thing that I feel called to. Thanks for clarifying the issue for me and others who feel this way. You’ve made a great case for another mindset that can be both satisfying and lucrative and can still lead you to the discovery or attainment of those passions.
Tom Ewer says
That frustration is exactly what I’m trying to help people avoid so I am happy to have helped Elizabeth!
GnanaBoomi says
Aha! Here’s someone who acts on user comments than just skimming through them! Shall I brag that it was my comment above on this post?
Tom, thank you for touching upon it. I got your kindle book as well. Will read through both!
Thanks again.
Tom Ewer says
Brag away! 🙂 Thank you for giving me the inspiration.
Jeffrey Trull says
I go back and forth on this a lot, especially with conflicting presentations/viewpoints from last year’s WDS. I don’t think you should ever put 100% of your energy into just finding your passion, and I think it’s much more likely to be found when you’re not trying.
That said, I still believe you need to do more to make that happen than just go about living normally.
I definitely focus on making my passion passion “something you can do because of your work.” But I’d also like to feel more passionate about my work, too.
Tom Ewer says
Both is the ideal, but to avoid discouragement to those feel they have “no passion” I definitely advise making your passion something you can do because of your work. Sounds like you know exactly what you want from life Jeff!
Amber says
I love the discussion of freedom. I would say travel is one of my passions and Ian a travel blogger but I like having the freedom to just travel and not to worry about turning every day and every experience into a blog post. Sometimes I want the freedom to enjoy my passion rather than write about it.
Tom Ewer says
I love that last sentence Amber! So true.