Building towards one’s passions
Posted on: September 27, 2012
I liked the insights that this article, Solving Gen Y’s Passion Problem, provided on why the phrase “follow your passion” might be a problem.
On the surface, “follow your passion” sounds like good advice, particularly if it is offered by someone successful or at the pinnacle of their career.
But that is all that is. Advice. It is neither descriptive or prescriptive. There is no HOW to do this and it remains an ideal that younger workers may hold on to only to be disappointed with the rigours of work.
I think that very few can actually follow their passion because some do not know what their passions are. Most learn in school to trade passion for grades. Some that do may not know how to clear the obstacles in their way.
But the few that do know their passions and have the energy to do it should be encouraged to follow their passions.
The majority, however, need to taught how to build their passions. What might such lessons look like? Not a conventional curriculum, of course, but components might include:
- Learning from risk and failure
- Staying hungry while you feed
- Smiling through tough times
- Cooperating if you must, collaborating when you can
- Learning to learn
- Breeding creativity
And there is much, much more.
Some parents might buy into this idea. The sad thing is that I can already hear some of them asking if these are enrichment classes or available in tuition centres…
