I’m reading a book called “So good they can’t ignore you”.
The inspiration is from an old Steve Martin quote.
In the book the author talks about one of the old Steve Jobs talks he gave before he passed away.
The premise is to follow your passion.
Then the author talks about how that is basically a garbage idea.
I tend to agree…
If we all just followed our passion I would still be playing pick up ball and calling myself white chocolate….
One of my theories is that passion has a shelf life, it will only take you so far.
And we all know our passions shift over time.
Are you still passionate about the same things you were 10 years ago?
I’m not.
And if you only ever did the things you were passionate about where do you think you would be in life?
Passion can be confused with “the thing I’m into right now”
Those are not the same.
The ultimate goal would be to pursue a career that pertains to my passion.
And even that has its pitfalls.
Sometimes I think people interpret “passion” for “fun”.
I was passionate about basketball, but there was plenty about it that wasn’t fun.
I’m passionate about business, but business can be one big plate of disappointment served up for three meals a day.
I’m passionate about training and being healthy, but more days than not I would prefer not to train.
Passion and fun aside, a fulfilling life is the goal.
I’ve never met anyone who achieved that end and doesn’t have a story about hard times and doing things they didn’t enjoy.
Keep training when you aren’t passionate about it
Pursue better health even though it might take two years to get a breakthrough
Keep getting better at your job even though it may not be “fun”.
If you wake up uninspired, join the club, everyone feels that way at times.
All of that is the cost of finding what you are good at, can have passion for and is fun.
If you want to be the best at your job…
If you want to be the person admire for how much they love their career…
If you want to be the person who is fit into their 70s…
Passion is only part of the equation.
The rest is up to us to be so good that people can’t ignore it.
