Thoughts from the Deep End: “Pursue Your Passion” is Not The Best Advice

We live in a culture obsessed with “following your passion,” as if the universe will rearrange itself to reward you for simply being enthusiastic. Scroll through social media for five minutes and you’ll see the same message on repeat:

“Do what you love and the money will follow.”

“Chase your passion, not your paycheck.”

“Find the work that sets your soul on fire.”

Beautiful sentiments.

Terrible advice.

Let’s be honest: the pursuit of passion is one of the more nonsensical ideas of our time.

Sure, it sounds noble. It feels inspiring. And yes, it’s generally better to choose work you don’t hate. But the hard truth is this:

Not every passion is profitable, practical, or remotely connected to what the world needs.

When “Passion” Hits Reality

What if your lifelong passion is reading comic books?

Could you turn that into a career?

Possibly — if you’re comfortable owning a comic book shop, living modestly, and spending your days alphabetizing back issues while arguing about who the real Batman is. (Spoiler: still Michael Keaton.)

And what if your passion is something dangerous, addictive, or illegal?

Do you “follow your passion” straight into rehab or a courtroom?

Clearly not.

Even harmless passions can lead to absurdity.

You may love something that the world will never pay you for, no matter how much you post about it on Instagram.

And yes, I would have included “playing video games,” but apparently you can now earn seven figures doing that with a headset mic and a Red Bull. So the exceptions prove the rule: but your odds are microscopic.

Speaking of Odds…

There are roughly:

• 3,000 companies on the NYSE

• 3,500 companies on NASDAQ

That’s about 6,500 publicly traded companies — and exactly 6,500 CEO jobs.

Your chances of becoming one of them?

Somewhere between “extremely unlikely” and “statistically laughable.”

And starting a new business around your “passion”? Your odds improve somewhat, to about 50% chance of making it for five years.

Yet somehow, "follow your passion" gets tossed around like it’s the most responsible life strategy you could choose.

A Better Path: Make a Living First

Before you chase passion, you need something much less glamorous:

A reliable income.

A roof.

Food.

Basic stability.

There is nothing romantic about being passionately broke.

After that comes something far more realistic and far more rewarding:

Commit to learning and growth.

Why?

Because your childhood passions won’t necessarily become your adult passions.

Your adult passions won’t necessarily become your midlife passions.

And your midlife passions might not have even revealed themselves yet.

You may discover in your 40s, 50s, or 60s something that truly energizes you — something you never would have imagined at 22. And if you’ve spent those decades building a sensible career, living within your means, and stacking financial options?

Now you can pursue that passion — without the stress of wondering whether passion pays the electric bill.

The Big Idea

I’m not anti-passion.

I’m simply anti-being ruled by passion.

Follow it? Sure.

Explore it? Absolutely.

Be inspired by it? Wonderful.

But let wisdom, not emotion, drive your decisions.

Passion can enrich your life.

There is no need to rule Passion out. Just don’t let Passion rule.

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