Dive into your Career

118 - Why the advice to "Follow your passion" can be unintentionally discouraging instead of encouraging

Gina Visram Season 8 Episode 11

"Follow your passion"

Follow your passion

You ever heard that advice? 

Yes? 

Did it help? Hinder?

How do you feel about this idea?

In this episode of the Dive Into Your Career podcast, we take  a look at whether advice to "Follow your passions" is received in the positive way in which it is usually intended. This episode is inspired by a chat I recently had with a parent of a teen... a parent who said that as her child doesn't really have a sense of what they want to do in the future - the idea of following your passion feels more overwhelming than helpful. 

This got me thinking...

I mean, I have had conversations about this topic in real life but it is the first time raising the topic on the Dive Into Your Career podcast. 

When I was a teen, that advice was helpful for me, partly because I had a good sense of what I liked and didn't... and felt capable of leaning into my direction of interest (Spoiler alert: That career I was determined to do then is not the career I have now). 

But what about the students who are good at everything academically? 

Or ones that aren't currently self-reflective and aware of their interests

Or ones who don't know how interests can translate to jobs

Whether the phrase "Follow your passions" has positive or negative connotations for you in terms of your career development, this will be a useful episode - as it gives more context and technique around that notion. 


Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
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