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Harvard Research: To Be Successful, Chase Your Purpose, Not Your Passion
“Follow your passion” is one of the most frequently repeated bits of work advice. It’s also one of the most frequently criticized, and for good reason.
Experts suggest that, for most of us, hard work makes us passionate for a field rather than the other way around. We develop passion for what we do over time, rather than starting out with a clear, defined passion for a particular career path.
But if passion is a trailing indicator that you’ve found the right field for you, that still leaves those at the start of their careers with a tough question: If you don’t follow your passion, how do you choose a career?
A Harvard Business Review post from Harvard Business School professor Jon Jachimowicz offers a simple, research-backed reply. Focus less on what makes you feel passionate, and more on what you truly care about.
Why purpose beats passion.
When we think about passion, we think about the joy you get when you’re rocking out with your garage band, indulging in a beloved hobby, or volunteering to cuddle kittens at your local shelter. Those are all, of course, great things to do. But Jachimowicz insists happiness is a lousy career guide, and his research proves it.
