Skills over passion?

[KushShah9492]

I've heard this advice at least a million times "FOLLOW YOUR PASSION" . While initially motivating, I found it highly deceiving and considered it as a diversion as to what I should actually be doing. It might hold it's own fan following, but following your passion is not always rewarding (monetarily or otherwise). Ofcourse there might be some cases where following the passion was actually fruitful, but they're extremely rare. In the long run however, you need money to take care of yourself, your family, etc. IMO, passion might get you started, but skills are what would keep you going. Passion may not get you where you want to be, but skills can help you get there. The reason I'm writing this is because there are a number of people(especially teenagers or wantrapreneurs) who take the PASSION FOLLOWING so seriously that they might forget about other skills required to get good at your job, grow your business and move in the right direction. I just wanted to make them aware of this factor and take responsible action rather than impulsive ones.

I might receive a lot of flak for this, but I'd like to know what everyone here thinks about this.

 

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[SEBASTlAN]

You're on the right track. Passion is wildly overrated.

 

[Madame Peccato]

Humans love learning, so you'll find yourself passionate about the skills you are getting good at.

Passions are great as long as they stay that way: passions.

 

[fastlanedoll]

It's a two-way street.

Skills can be acquired.
Of course, some people are NATURALLY better at something, but to what extent, is it actually hard work paying off, and not natural talent? No-one can answer that for sure.

Without the passion, you won't be motivated to get good at the skill.
WIthout passion, you won't full actualize your natural skill set because you're not motivated to do it.

It's a mix of both.
Kinda like 'should I go to college' question.
It's not one or the other.

 

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[Success Soldier]

I've heard this advice at least a million times "FOLLOW YOUR PASSION" . While initially motivating, I found it highly deceiving and considered it as a diversion as to what I should actually be doing. It might hold it's own fan following, but following your passion is not always rewarding (monetarily or otherwise). Ofcourse there might be some cases where following the passion was actually fruitful, but they're extremely rare. In the long run however, you need money to take care of yourself, your family, etc. IMO, passion might get you started, but skills are what would keep you going. Passion may not get you where you want to be, but skills can help you get there. The reason I'm writing this is because there are a number of people(especially teenagers or wantrapreneurs) who take the PASSION FOLLOWING so seriously that they might forget about other skills required to get good at your job, grow your business and move in the right direction. I just wanted to make them aware of this factor and take responsible action rather than impulsive ones.

I might receive a lot of flak for this, but I'd like to know what everyone here thinks about this.

Following passion sounds great of course...if you have the financial stability to do it.

The trade I am in, I got in mainly for money (high skill labor). I did want to get better at it and dived so deeply in to it that now it became my passion. I think you need to follow a good mixture of something that will make you money and you have slight interest in it. You can develop passion over time.

 

[Tom H.]

Read Cal Newport's books oh the topic.

I think there must be some element of passion in skill acquisition, I am passionate about programming and I'm a skilled programmer, but it could also be that you become passionate about things after you acquired enough skill to enjoy what you're doing.

 

[Bruno Calisso]

I agree with everything that has been said previously, it's common sense and we tend to think afterwards like "oh, passion is just a cliché, it doesn't matter", let me give you a not so common opinion.

Last year I decided to learn a new and useful "man" skill/hobby (nothing to do with making money), I was thinking about construction but ended opting for auto repair because I love cars. Now, several months after starting learning mechanics I'm still as hyped as when I started, why? Because I love it! Therefore I am able to learn this skill with 100% more commitment than if I was learning construction which is kind of indifferent for me.

Having passion for what you do makes your process MUCH easier and your life more enjoyable.

Same thing with business, most wanna be entrepreneurs are in it for money, and that is the reason they're stuck, there's nothing much they love to do besides wishing they could make money.

You need to love the process of learning the something (skill) that will give life to your business otherwise you're losing your time man.

 

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[Ismail941]

Demarco said: Passion does not help in marketplace.

It’s a wishy-washy and narrated in mainstream narrative.