How to change or build your career

This I have to agree with completely. Well done!

This is truly wise and helpful. I have delivered 10,000 babies. The transition is looming and I have been anxious and fearful going away into some twilight. Thank you, as I try to navigate a place not well-defined by peers in the previous era.

Sounds about right. But most people won't commit to mastering something they don't have a "passion" for.

Wow, Derek. I am seeing Cal's book/its message every where today.

I started reading it 2 days ago, then:

1. Mike Rowe's awesome response on "follow your passion": http://yellowhammernews.com/faithandculture/alabamian-gets-schooled-mike-rowe-dirty-jobs/
2. Now your article.

I am half-way through and can't wait to finish this book.

Also, great article as always.

Saludos from Chile,

Amit

I like the Tarzan analogy. But does the book answer how not to be pegeon holled into a career category you don't enjoy, like "compliance", "accountant", etc?
Yep ☺ — Derek

Nice article Derek, I like to think about mastering a few skills/industries and be a jack of all trades in others. Also, getting really good at something you don't mind doing will make you become passionate about it.

I like the idea that following a 'passion' sounds to big, too romantic; as if it's unattainable for the common man. I think you have recommended Cal's book to me before. I guess it's time to stop lollygagging and read it! :)

In addition to the five things listed regarding "GREAT Career", You want it because it fits you.

I read something similar recently in an article about an interview with Mike Rowe, the "Dirty Jobs" guy. His take was similar, in that we hear "follow your dream", or "pursue your passion" without taking a common-sense look at whether we are really good at the thing we're passionate about. He referenced the American Idol tryouts as a good example, and he used his own experience of wanting to become a craftsman like his grandfather. It turned out he just didn't have the talent for craftsmanship. It wasn't pleasant to discover the truth, but it redirected him toward something he was really good at, and a job that paid the bills. He still has passion for fine craftsmanship, but he learned that pursuing a career in it just wasn't a smart thing to do. His take was, "Do what you're good at, and take your passion along for the ride".
Wonderful succinct conclusion. Well-put. Thank you. — Derek

Derek...this reminded me of another person you turned many of us onto...Josh Kaufman. He did a wonderful treatise about mastery called "The Craftsman's Creed." http://joshkaufman.net/craftsmans-creed/ I keep it on my desk. Thanks again.

Great one! Thanks for mentioning this and giving the link. — Derek

There does come a point in corporate America though where you hit the ceiling, & you cannot grow or move forward & no matter how valuable you are, nothing happens because of politics. Unfortunately (as in the company I was previously with) this kind of non-advancement of skilled players so the fat cats in power can remain redundantly comfortable eventually causes companies (and governments) to deteriorate, rot & eventually fail because they are no longer relevant.
So, there really is a point where some have to let go, but unfortunately, things like financial responsibility to wife & kids, associated contextual obligations & other factors may lock you in unless your hand is forced (like getting "downsized")
So, yes, mastery is more important & practical than passion, & probably more sustainable, but if mastery is hindered by surrounding circumstance, would mastery be relative? & if mastery of a limited skill only provides limited options not transferable to other action, wouldn't it be wiser to start one in an unfamiliar place?
I believe sometimes reinvention is just as important as mastery, & passion is exactly that, "passin'"...

The book has some great insights about this: that it's not just ANY work, but which career paths are most suited to become great careers. I couldn't repeat the whole book here, but definitely worth reading for his research and insights, if really interested. — Derek

Great and funny because I just watch "Cal Newport speaks at World Domination Summit 2012' on Youtube three days ago. Thanks for the follow up.

On the subject of focusing on the craft, not the passion: I recently got a £15,000 Arts Council grant to workshop my musical, and the weekend before it started my producer was baffled because he was excited but I wasn't! I said I was focused on paying back my investors. Thank you Derek for keeping me on track earlier this year.

Passion is for amateurs. Commitment is for professionals.

This is really good advice. I completely agree. I have been in IT for a very long time and I am looking to get into the security profession. I am trying to use IT as an asset to move into this new endeavor.

Hi Derek,

I love this for so many reasons.

First, I've known that quote, "Be so good they can't ignore you" as being said by Steve Martin and it's one of my favorites.

I think passion and a sense of purpose can light the fire, but it's definitely dedication to practicing our crafts and doing the work that help to feed that fire and keep us going over the years, esp. when things get tough.

Success leads to more success and that's motivating! :)

Thanks for sharing your insights, Derek. Your generosity of spirit is inspiring. Your philosophy on building a professional life reminded me of Malcolm Gladwell's iconic book, Outliers, where he documented the 10,000 hour rule as a pathway to mastering a craft. Awesome article!

After teaching for years now in different schools & colleges, I gotta say the emphasis on "what do you want to do?" instead of 'what CAN you do?" and "what will you do?" has gotten more than a bit old.....how can you have passion about an idea? Passion (and feeling good about it) comes from doing....

Nicely drawn up, Derek. I'll pass on Cal's book to a few of my passionate but unemployed friends....

I actually haven't read that book, but if I were to only recommend one book on the subject it would be Mastery by Robert Greene.

That book touched me very deeply.

Regardless, I like to take things from different perspectives so thanks for the recommendation.

Yes, Exactly.

Thanks Derek.

Hi derek
I've never found my passion,and quite honestly I think most people haven't. I still own my appliance business and I own dozens of rental real estate. And do I love doing this, I thought about it and the only thing I really like is making money , not the aggravation that comes from either one of my businesses .
Other than the satisfaction of making money I really can't find a true passion.
Your thoughts on this ?
Passion is over-rated. ☺ You sound happy, so it doesn't seem to be a problem! No need to search for something you're not missing. — Derek

Hi Derek, thank you for this post! A subject dear to my heart. From different angles. Have you ever read "The Slight Edge" by Jeff Olson? It is about how success, as defined by you, in any area of your choice, is achieved by the consistent repetition of seemingly insignificant actions in the moment. Success, as you define it in any area is not a quantum leap, it's the culmination of your repeated actions over time, with a good attitude, faith and desire, I'm over simplifying. And I agree it's your commitment to what you love that will intensify, unfold and reveal your passions. I can't speak for quitting a job per se cause I haven't had one in years, I haven't seen the purpose in building someone else's dream, if it is at my expense. Now working on building others dreams where we all win.

Cool. Thanks for the recommendation. I hadn't heard of it. — Derek

Good info.

Awesome! This makes me think of how our grand parents and great grand parents used to pass on a family business or family tradition. It worked great because son, father, grand parent all had the same “career capital” so the family unit became experts at their craft and irreplaceable in their community. There’s something beautiful about that.
!! Great example! Yes! Multi-generational career capital. I hadn't thought of that. Thank you. — Derek

Hi Derek,

here is a very useful starting point:

"If you want to see further, stand up on the giants' shoulders" by Isaac Newton.

Hence, here are some giants about the subject:

1) Find your passion.

"Never give up searching for the job that you’re passionate about," he says. "Try to find the job you’d have if you were independently rich. ... Forget about the pay. When you’re associating with the people that you love, doing what you love, it doesn’t get any better than that.” by Warren Buffett.

http://www.businessinsider.com/warren-buffett-becomes-a-mentor-to-young-women-2013-5

2) "Interestingly, it sounds strange, but I've never been interested in business. I've just been interested in creating things that I could be proud of. The by-product of creating things is that you have to pay the bills, so somebody has to add up the numbers at the end of the year to be sure that the bills are being paid, but a good entrepreneur isn't really thinking about pounds, shillings, pence or dollars. They're trying to create this beautiful picture - something which people love - something which will make a difference in their lives and something that they can be proud of. The end result can be that the bills get paid and you build a billion dollar business. But if you think, 'How am I going to make a billion dollars?', you'll never be successful. Your principal interest has got to be creating something that will really make a difference to people's lives."

by Richard Branson.

3) "Somehow, I always thought of my career as a series of projects, not jobs. Projects... things to be invented, funded and shipped. Sometimes they take on a life of their own and last, other times, they flare and fade. But projects, one after the other, mark my career. Lucky for me, the world cooperated and our entire culture shifted from one based on long-term affilitations (you know, 'jobs') to projects." by Seth Godin

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2014/07/thirty-years-of-projects.html

4) "Men are only great when they act from passion" by Benjamin Franklin, and what a strange coincidence, his face is still on $100 banknote!!!!

All the best!

Fab

PS they haven't lived in ivory towers like university professors but they have lived in the real business world, what a strange coincidence!!

Derek: Thanks for the reference and your insights - I look forward to reading the book. Your comments resonated for me as a songwriter and a teacher of songwriting at Berklee College of Music (your alma mater, so you'll know the educational environment I'm describing).

Berklee is a full four-year college and has even introduced graduate programs (at its Valencia, Spain campus and soon here in Boston). But it began as a kind of "musician's trade school" and something of that practical focus and spirit remains, not entirely a bad thing in my opinion. Students show up who know they're passionate about music itself - I think that can be something you know early on. But their experiences here, and the structure of the degree programs and the music core, I think, encourage these young musicians to think flexibly about what role they will play in the music field. I've seen young musicians arrive as traditional fiddle players and leave as great songwriters, aspiring pop divas who discovered music therapy. What we emphasize is precisely skills and knowledge--on the theory that out in the industry, success might be achieved through any number of surprising twists and turns, unforeseen opportunities and chance collisions of fate and acquaintance. It's the skills, the craft, and love of the fundamentals, that will see you through these transformations and shifting expectations - like Tam Lin hanging on to his lady love as her enchantment turns her to firebrand, thorny bush and salamander.

Viewed this way, putting your time in on the craft and skills of music, even if you wind up doing something completely different, is no more wasted time than learning liberal arts - or rather, OTHER liberal arts! - in a four-year college. You learn critical thinking, learn to listen, learn to interact responsively in ensembles, learn discipline and self-critique. If passion for the material itself draws you to do this work of mastery the time is well-spent.

I'm curious for your thoughts about how these ideas connect in artistic areas such as songwriting - where originality, authenticity, and emotional intensity are so closely identified with success. There's a paradox in attitudes towards songwriting, among both among non-songwriters such as fans and aspiring songwriters themselves. No one is surprised that it takes years of practice to become a competent violinist or ballet dancer. But with songwriting, there's a reverential belief that great ideas just drop from the skies, that certain writers have it and others don't, that great songwriters are great because they somehow feel life more deeply than mere mortals. I find that this attitude, another version of the misplaced bromide to "follow your passion," can paralyze new writers. Working on craft in songwriting can be almost viewed with suspicion. The songwriter is exhorted to dig deep and sing their inner truth, but not to put in the time just learning to love the way words (in both sound and sense), notes, chords and rhythms play against each other. Because we're so intimidated by the expectation that every song must be a cri de coeur, we don't spend enough time with our hands in the clay, the stuff songs are made of. Is this an echo, do you think, of the same unhelpful "follow your passion" mythologizing?

Sorry for the long rant! - Mark
VERY interesting point. I think about this a lot. One of my favorite quotes: “If you can learn music, you can learn anything.” — Derek

I have been working at a Early Child Care Center. I am working on Mastery. However, I often get discouraged when I compare my path and that of others in terms of compensation. I am exhausted as I strive for improvement in all the departments. I think in terms of customer experience, staff moral and student achievement.

The daily work is exciting once I am there but often I wonder about transitioning my human capitol towards a better com

It's an interesting concept. I agree completely that being the best one can be, is really a fabulous mindset.

But I also have spent a zillion hours (and too many dollars) hearing what many gurus believe to be the "answer." What I have discovered is that every one of these people I label as guru, is usually telling people their current beliefs, based on their own unique perspective that comes from what they themselves go through. I just don't know if it's ever possible to be objective about what will or can work for anyone else.

The terms "Passion and Purpose," have great meaning and emotional attachments for a lot of people, including me. And in my experience, (which has nothing to do with anyone else's), my emotional triggers are the keys to helping me understand how to get from here to there, (or how NOT to). And discovering those things that make me feel good or bad... without getting addicted to my drama of eliminating the bad or "Pollyannaing" the good... gives me a deeper sense of connection to what I dream of being.

As far as changing careers go, I put forth this thought. The 10,000 hours of study and sifting in any subject, changes one's positive belief in themselves so that the next field of study requires a substantial amount less time to get to the same level of craftsmanship. Once a person knows HOW to learn (through trial and error) there are fewer dead ends chosen. Then again... is time ever wasted?

My best analogy isn't about careers... it's about relationships. I have really learned a lot about how I want to live and what kind of relationship I function best in, by throwing myself into them haphazardly. Now I believe I can discern what's best for my growth, by understanding that every situation I find myself in, was my own doing, so that I can continually refine how I want my life to unfold.

What about people who, before they have much experience or expertise, feel very passionate and strong about a particular area or interest? I do believe that, for some reason, some people have an undeniable inkling or affinity for one thing and they pursue. I don't think this is most people, but I do think it is some people. Those who don't have this should follow your and Cal's advice. I agree his book is excellent and I appreciate the research and evidence based tack he took to a topic that is usually discussed and assessed through quite an emotional lens --- sometimes to people's detriment.

This was great Derek. I've forgotten how much practice and study it took to become a professional musician and neglecte my music and song writing for several years and you resurrected me.

Thank you, B

Awesome, thanks for sharing! I <3 So Good They Can't Ignore You, and I recommend it to a lot of friends and they kind of just ignore me. Hopefully coming from here I'll be able to persuade them.

Thanks, Derek, this article is very timely for me as well.

What's funny is, I was seeking out what my passion and dream was today and I was suffering over it. This brought me back to my feet. Thanks man.

Derek,
I really needed to hear this! Thanks for posting. With the music business changing so quickly, I often wonder what I need to do next, often forgetting to just be the best out there possible. Thanks, G

As always, great stuff you've written here, Derek - not to mention timely, too!

I will definitely give this book a look. Thank you for the recommendation!

In the meantime, have a wonderful week, and I look forward to reading your next post.

Derek - love your inspired thinking. But this is a slippery slope. I've seen lots of physicians, attorneys, dentists, carpenters, and gardeners work for years on improving their craft only to find they never developed any passion or sense of purpose. Passion and purpose have to be explored along the way - they won't just show up as a result of time and effort expended.

While very useful and interesting there are some built in assumptions that might not apply everywhere. Being the best or near best of something guarantees nothing. Its good in competitive sports such as basketball and chess but if you are the best Zeppelin repair man or typewriter repair person, no one wants you so none of the perks will be forth coming. In some fields being the best might be of no use because there aren't enough people who can recognize it or are even aware of anything. Writing, art, poetry, music, and many more fields recognize skills which have nothing to do with the underlying craft at times.

Knowing rich people is probably the skill which no one ever talks about in school which counts the most. Who you know is the measurement of likely success, getting the job, getting the opportunity to present, getting access to people who can actualize an idea. Too bad for people who are putting all of their time into getting better at their craft!

But often there is a reward for being good at things.

Fun is to say "Be so good they can't ignore you" and write down things which it works for big time, a column for grey area and a column for where it is absurd!
☺ VERY good point. Thanks Steve! But also think of “the craft” as the whole picture: so in any given field it would include the politics, an understanding of what it takes to be successful, and all that. Not only the pure artistic craft. — Derek

Excellent. Agree completely.

Great advice! I received good pay,room to grow,freedom in my job to go after what I thought would get the biggest returns and most of all respect from my peers. I always went a little bit at a time out of my confort zone to keep up within my field and to keep growing. It's kind of like saving money for a rainy day. You learn a little more everyday and then pretty soon you become the "Go To Guy". It doesn't happen right away but believe me it does happen. And I didn't have a clue of what I wanted to do for a living let alone a career. I just kept trying to get better in the field I was in.

Complete agreement (again)... I posted something similar a few weeks ago based on "Somm" and "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" - two films that show craftsmen driving their careers via Shokunin (http://twistedpuppy.com/wp/shokunin/). The best thing is you can do this more than once - learn a new skill, shift your landscape. You did it yourself, DS!

Being process oriented, this is how I view things. I enjoy the ride, as you can't predict the outcome all of the time, and you can't control all of the variables.


These days, the notion of a traditional career as previous generations knew it- you work for the same company at a decent pay grade, with benefits and a pension at 65 is an endangered species.

Now more than ever, more people need to think like an Artist or an Entrepreneur.

Excellent article Derek. I work in the TV production / video profession --- I've been dong this for 35 years, and the people I see excel are those who specialize in certain aspects of the business: editing, shooting skills, writing, technical, etc. If you're really good at one or two aspects of the business, you'll always be in demand.

I've had to reinvent myself two or three times over the years, and even in my 50's, I realize you CAN teach an old dog new tricks --- as long as he's willing to invest the time, energy and learn.

Love your articles.

Jim Duff

nice article Derek

Thanks for sharing :-)

Thanks so much for the aritle. I really liked what you said about learning all you can and putting in the work to get a career that is valuable to yourself and others.
Thanks so much
Hadassah

One of the most successful managers I ever worked for had a picture on his wall of a flower growing out of a crack in the sidewalk. The caption read "Bloom where you're planted." No matter what position he was in he always threw himself into it totally and excelled.

Wow! Nice metaphor. I love it. Thank you. — Derek

Most people assume one's purpose in life is a job/career that should pay reasonable remuneration. Perhaps this is partly a result of everything in this era becoming commodified, so even a life's purpose will have monetary value attached to it. A few hundred years ago if you asked somebody what their purpose in life was they might say to avoid temptation and go to heaven, but the idea that their job/role in life was their purpose might seem strange.

Very charp key points. It is very true after all techniques, experience and mastering craft you need to loose yourself into creative passion. Musically Anaya

Super Derek!
So agree with how things transition.. the farther one moves into a preferred love of something how much deeper the passion becomes.
always really appreciate your blogs Derek. :-)
Rachel

This is very insightful. Thanks for sharing!

Hello Derek,
I will pick up the book and read it. I, because of special circumstances cannot change my career but the book sounds interesting. I am however finishing Dance of death by John Fahey. It shows what hard work can do for your career, It also gives some insight into how "goals" differ in some people. Mr. Fahey was happy to make music and sell enough of said music to make a merger living. He felt that was success. Always wanted things his way and if they weren't he moved along. For such minimalist goals he ended up being one of the most famous guitar players of our time.

And what about the 'hell yeah' an when you don't feel that anymore? (Loved your book btw as it really resonated with me.) I've honed the skill, grown the biz, but am fed up managing the people! Help!

Love the energy and the nuances of this. Thank you Derek. And so good to hear from you.

I wanted to reply after reading the first two sentences because I had just finished up a shoot for someone and felt great about the effort and result. My exact thought was to "make it so good they can't ignore you." But I thought I was channeling Steve Martin. I guess he got the quote from Newport. Thanks for a great post. I also keep reminding myself of the thought: the patient is bleeding. What are you going to do?
Cal Newport got the title from Steve Martin. ☺ — Derek

Still and always will be first and foremost a Musician, Singer/Songwriter/Artist here!
Currently trying a new venture in the early stages still so haven't reached yet that mountain of profit! An opportunity will come more to light this week at week's end! This was very helpful and beneficial to me. Thank you Derek!

Baran

Great advice for the most part.

Thanks Derek! If I only had this post 6 months ago before quitting my job :-) Nevertheless, never been happier in my life though!
I do not agree with "not following your passion", although I can see "the business mind" at work there, and thus respect that way of thinking too.

inspiring as always Derek. I really like your philosophy.
The only bit of advice I could add is to be aware of your chosen craft's longevity. Start transitioning before it dies. Much like an expert TV/VCR repairman, I found my 25 years of learning and expertise in my "craft" suddenly worth half of what it had been several years ago. Soon it will be nonexistent. I keep the mental discipline to work another craft, but most of the technical skills wont translate well. I don't mind starting from scratch. I've done it before. Although this one caught me while I wasn't looking. I must be getting old.

I have read the books that talk about doing what you love and the money will follow. If I followed my passion wholly, I would be in the ditch. As a poet, I've continued to hone my skills having been asked of late to join a workshop with famed writing teacher Clive Matson after reading a poem I wrote based on the writings of Immanuel Kant.

When I write a poem that I know is good, people, as you say, cannot ignore me. In the meantime, I just finished paying off my house. Sadly, someone also stole my car.

Life is about doing what you should. I am at a crossroads regarding my next steps in securing a financial future. I am 54 years old. I was walking home from public transit and my kidneys almost erupted given the bowl of Pho I had. We have limitations in the midst of our dreams. I think we have to address both.

The advice I got was from an immigrés is that you work your ass off: "Your savings is your freedom." He advised that I purchase a condo while working as a waiter. I've worked there 21 years. I used to think these restaurant jobs were so I could go to school. Eventually, I couldn't take any more classes given the opportunity cost. I have skipped law school and a MFA in English Literature. They have become prohibitively expensive.

"If you want to write," Professor Edgar C. Knowlton said, "write. You don't need to get an MFA."

So, here I am focusing on writing. I put away the canvases, the photography, and whatever else I might be good at and am focusing on writing. I went to a reading tonight and I'll go to the workshop tomorrow, where I will read again. My life is that. I memorize menus for work and for the time being, I just try to get where I need to be without sweating too much.

the purpose to serve God ore the absolute Good must always be first -then you can become better and better at it...

Very useful thoughts! Easy to forget but of course so true! Getting greater at what I am good at. These thoughts go very well together with what Seth Godin is sharing here: http://youtu.be/RZ_D2BNqRzU

I liked what you wrote Derek. For many years I've had a belief that it’s very hard for everyone that is working to find that super perfect job and company were you go to every Monday on "pink clouds" and your job makes you “be all you can be”.

Of course people like Richard Branson, Warren Buffet say that passion is way to go and so on because they have had the option (and money) to take that route….but aren’t there jobs that it’s hard to be super passionate about. Who will do them in the end….?

I have a childhood friend who is working with welding containers for a living. He honestly said that his job is not that nice and fun but it made it possible for him to quit early every Friday and during the weekend take his family to their cabin in the mountains to ski/hike (or just be together). Of course he was a top performer but his reason was factors outside of profession that made him work hard and be more effective (off course he wants to keep this job).

Might it be so that true passion is reserved for other things in life; family, your hobby, commitments outside of work? Is it possible that you can love you work but you don’t have to be in love with it?

For myself I have one rule about what you do for a living….think about how you feel when going to work on Monday morning. If it’s ok you probably have a decent job/position….if you have a knot I you stomach too many Mondays in a row you probably should change …..

Thank you. I've read the book a few months ago. It changed how I see my business completely.

This is absolutely a wonderful book! But in addition to that and some other authors mentioned below like Josh Kaufman there is one more: "Anything You Want" by Derek Sivers sive.rs/a :-)

As always, thank you for a valuable piece of thought. It's just on time, as usual. As a dude who's thought his passion was this, and then that, and then this again, I've realized what's important: taking care of the people you love. So to do that I need fuel, which is money, I need to make a positive impact on them by leading by example, and that's loving the life I have, and a big part of loving the life I have is loving what I do in the morning and what I do at night before I go to bed. And to love someone is also important: but I figure I can't do that until I've grown into the man I envision or at least until I'm at peace with the journey I'm on to get there... Youe article makes sense to me as in the beauty is in the journey, not some solid end point like "this is my passion, take it or leave it." I'm all about the passion, don't get me wrong, but I'm mainly about the hard work. Because to get good at anything, including and especially your 'passion', it just takes hours and hours. And sometimes you don't know what you're going to be passionate about until you've lived and tried and failed and got up and gotten forced and forced someone and stumbled onto something by accident. Whatever it is, it takes work and followthrough. Cheers.

You never disappoint! I find value in everything you post and have shared your Ted Talk (how to start a movement) with colleagues and clients. Keep it coming!! Thanks!

Thanks Derek,

best regards
jan

As always great post.
I knew you were going to refert to ‘So good they can't ignore you’ as soon as I saw the title of the post :)

I started reading it yesterday after looking at your book recommendations :)

Interesting and relevant article. Love what you say about the idea of "following your passion" being misleading advice, and that it ignores what makes a career successful. I took on a part time job that led to a full time job in a side-field, a field that I am passionate about, but it required letting go of ten years of hard work in the music field - where I was just starting to build my own capital, and actually beginning to feel some level of expertise. However, there were some skills I was lacking. Taking on this full time job has not only taught me those precious skills, but given me the opportunity to save up a tiny sum of money (a couple thousand) that I can apply to my music business. The downside, and the part I struggle with, is that the job is a totally different field - which means I basically changed my career inadvertently. And I now have to plan to leave, in order to return to the original plan. I have in many regards disliked being a full time employee at the expense of my creative life, and at the expense of ten years' investment in a most difficult field. I'm grateful for the skills I have learned. I think the trick is knowing when you have exhausted yourself doing something that is not your real passion. Am I passionate about my job? yes. Is it my passion and is it using the skills that I spent years and a college education developing? Not quite. Not enough. Knowing when to leave a job I think is part of this, determining when your gathered "capital" enough.

My oh my. This is the exact advice we tell young bandmembers and our artists, especially the younger ones that think they'll be stars without having to put the time in and just want to be great at what they do. Well stated, well organized and 100% accurate. Definitely going to use this to share and cite in our future conversations. Thanks, Derek!

Derek, thanks!. After submitting this, I will download the book to read more. My experience, having attempted to switch career fields, would make me re-arrange your 5 aspects of a good career to read (1) emotionally rewarding, (2) positive impact, (3) room to grow, (4) good pay, (5) freedom and control. Pay and freedom/control are important, for sure. But, in keeping with your last blog on mindset, I have found that positive mental health, personal growth and positive impact on others have dominated my career motivations over the years despite the waxing and waning of my income stream. Success in those areas lasts.

Very true, with every hour spent with our craft the product becomes honed as well as expanded like an ever morphing career sculpture.

Great article. I felt the same way after reading many books about finding your passion. I remember fretting over not finding my passion for many years. I decided to sprout where I was planted. Additionally, many folks' passion will never pay the bills.

Bullseye!

I'm sending this to several people annoyed with their jobs or paralyzed by fear of the unknown. Thanks Derek!

I fell into the trap of thinking passion is the only thing that matters in your career. It actually made me doubt sometimes if my passion is strong enough to accomplish some things in life. I'm glad to see that's not the case. Thank you for the great article!

Just sent this to my daughter in University who keeps telling me she has no passion and that I am wrong in insisting she needs to just keep looking till she finds it. She is going to love this. I am waiting for the "See-Mom-I-told-you!" retort any minute now. Thanks Derek! You have me converted and made a new fan in the next generation! So happy you are writing again. I know you have been for a while but just wanted you to know how much i appreciate your insights. And I will read the book. Hope you are still enjoying your life and where you are on your journey these days.

I've climbed the ladder of success twice only to find it non-fulfilling and empty. I felt that I wasted the corporation's money and my time. My work was important to others, but I felt empty. Einstein once said: "If we judge a fish by it's ability to climb a tree; It will go through life thinking it is stupid". I disagree. A life without dreams is not worth living. Einstein also said: "The ability to dream is more important than knowledge". I'll probably die indigent and destitute with a guitar around my neck while drunks say I'm the greatest.

Great article again. It really takes a lot of patience to discover true passion :)

Hi Derek,

I used to think the message from Cal Newport's book was the right advice, however I think it is missing something. While I agree that advice such as "find your passion" and "work out what your true calling is" can lead to paralysis by analysis, I do think that having a sense of mission or purpose is helpful. I don't know if you have read Drive by Dan Pink but I would highly recommend it. He delves into what truly motivates us and references the self-determination theory to conclude that we need a) autonomy, b) mastery and finally c) purpose for a really fulfilling career. It is very powerful to feel a sense of belonging or contribution to something bigger than yourself. It is also a strong motivator to wake up and know you are working towards a defined goal rather than plugging away for 10 years at which point you can trade in your expertise for something better. I don't think that is a sustainable strategy, especially if you look at the number of people changing jobs these days; people won't stick around in something they don't enjoy for very long. I know Cal mentions picking something you think you would like to master but for most people that still involves working for someone else on lots of projects that don't excite you. My favourite thing you have ever written is about only doing things that you can say "hell yes" to and I would guess that not a lot of people in the world ever said "hell yes" to the career they are in now.

I think we would be better off educating young people more about how to create their own income at an earlier age so they have more freedom to choose what to work on.
Agreed. This book shouldn't be the one-and-only point of view about careers, but I think it offers a crucial insight. The book “Drive” is amazing. Here are my notes from it: https://sive.rs/book/Drive">sive.rs/book/Drive">https://sive.rs/book/Drive — Derek

This is what I teach at CU Denver in our music business program and what I do as a musician ... it's the mastery of the craft! My only observation is that Cal spends a bit too much time on debunking 'passion' and not enough on the step-by-step moves you/we need to make... it's a very hard thing for musicians and artists in general to get. And sadly I think it is reenforced at a lot of the music conferences where I speak. (that... you have to have passion thing) What I value is direct information that helps me move forward...like this article - thanks Derek! CD

Excellent, thought-provoking article! Hard to see how any reader would fail to get something useful from it! I like it!

Thanks Derek for this very insightful message! Very timely for me :-) This article helped me a lot, saved me from making a big mistake if I have not followed your advise: "don’t just quit and throw away all the career capital you’ve built up!" and "Think of ways you can use the value you’ve built up to make the transition to another field." Thank you very much for this article, I will remember this forever!!

The grass is always greener.......where you water it.

No matter where you are.....BE there. Do your best....act AS IF it's your passion......

BE OPEN W ANTENNAE EXTENDED.

My attitude is if you really want something bad enough or (good enough)smile, perseverance is the key. I believe you can "Win Anyway " if you keep your mind on your goal line and persist until the goal is accomplished.

Yes, yes, YES! Absolutely on target Derek. Thank you for this!

You don't have to be great to start, you have to start to be great. http://www.mediawebapps.com/upload/quotes-1776.jpg

I created this track, http://www.reverbnation.com/ambientjazzelectronica/song/19846618--not-all-dope-is-real, after I realized a friend had no clue for who she was, a trust fund baby, now looking for a job.

Your articles/books all these years since I've known you have changed my life, Derek, and the way I manage my artist, Brett Mitchell. Just wanted you to know that. I will always be grateful.

I'm not sure I agree, and I must admit that Derek's piece as a whole reads uncomfortably like an ad for Cal's book...

The best two bits of advice on this subject that I got recently were:

#1 forget about managing or developing your career and concentrate instead on taking a conscious journey of exploration - use all the management tools and techniques you fancy but remain open to serendipity;

#2 instead of looking for a job where you're doing what you want to do or even what experience tells you you're great at (both are limiting), seek out and home in on work opporunities where you have to spend as little time as possible doing stuff you don't want to do.

As usual, Derek always helps us see the other face of the same coin. Wow, amazing. I never thought about passion and true calling this way before. Thank you Derek !

Hello Derek,
Nice to hear from you. I did a gig with my drummer Kevin McCarroll yesterday. We played at Tilba Valley Winery. Your comments are golden thanks. It is just a long grind. I find somebody eventually comes to listen to you on a job and bingo the phone rings with a job for you out of the blue. Let's face it. Music is a hard game.
In long troughs one feels like giving up. I am 76, been playing since 1950.
For some reason jazz has a bad name. I don't know why. It is happy, sad & intense.
I am making 1 (one) cent a month out of DD at CD Baby now. A long way from the halcyon days of Derek. Good luck to you Derek.

Glad to see that The gravity of the ideas in this piece mention "The Path of Mastery". It includes the matter of passion and purpose which are 2 ingredients that make life worth living. (spice of life) Let me say that I enjoy your articles which encourage investigation and are not necessarily a list of your beliefs. Oh yeah, we trumpet players find we must face all these challenges in simply studying the instrument.

Hmmm! I like the way you said that!

Kinda' reminded me of this: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Ah, once again, you have posted something that I needed to see, right now. I am at the crossroads and am evaluating my path. Thanks Derek. You rock. :)

I shared this with my students at Berklee today in our Career Planning Seminar for Professional Music. We watched your animated videos as well. Thanks for contributing to our curriculum! It's great to have alums like you giving back your knowledge and experience to our current students.

Great message ! I am a learning MUA and I just finished my first course and I was feeling kind of disapointed that I didn't magically learn or improve that much with my hands but then I did my friends makeup a few days ago and realized that I did actually learn things ; how to be more precise and I am now trying to come over the fear of doing others makeup especially applying eyeliner (my weakness) on others. I thought of all of this whiles doing my friends makeup and I realized, because I stuck through my course I now have learned things and there for I will be improving as long as I keep doing peoples makeup! So I will continue and I am now thinking about what my niche is. As you wrote find a niche and master it. I thinky niche will be Glamour makeup! Thank you ! I am thinking about buying that book. But I have a baby and I'm in university so not sure if I will have time to read it:(

Good Stuff, Man. We have to live in reality until we make our dreams come true.

Most definitely not a good idea to quit and change horses midstream. Transition rationally based on clear thinking, not irrational emotion. On the other hand, if you are doing something that fills you with dread or hate your employer, don't suffer stress and anxiety. Get out for your own health. Clearly you were not doing your passion anyway.

Thanks Derek! This comes as a true inspirational gift at a time when my book and music royalties have been way below a living standard and my teaching exhausting me and also not enough income for my living goal standard.
I have everything from this list, except number 1!
Think of what makes a great career:

good pay
room to grow
freedom and control
postive impact
emotionally rewarding

Brian L. Emmel

Thanks so much I love what you do with your life by passing on helpful info. This article is GREAT I've believed and done a lot of this my whole life and IT WORKS! Blessings p.s and thanks for CD BABY That is BAD ASS! BLESSINGS

My calling since I can remember-
m.youtube.com/watch?v=1mWLqQ_cySo

Derek, thank you for this.
I'm in a really fabulous place around my passion, but 20+ years ago I would so NOT have identified this place as a goal or passion. To some extent my career was a ship tossed upon the waves -- I learned things at each place my ship landed, but it was being steered by others e.g. bosses, the organization, etc.
Then one day I realized a common thread woven into the random assignments I'd been completing, and that thread turned into a rope, which turned into a core set of skills, which turned into something I began evangelizing, which eventually turned into a passion as I realized the impact that my teaching/ evangelizing/ wisdom was having for others. The movement was ever so gradual, one shift and one experience at a time.
Just like you suggest, passion and purpose come to you. Mine came to me—eventually—and then I had to notice it was there.
So to all you write, I add this: look around you and notice if you might already be sitting in the middle of your passion and purpose, yet not be aware of it because you're looking "out there" for something else.
Just like happiness (which is one of my passions).

I've been studying and making music for fifty-seven of my sixty years on this earth. I've recently moved to a new country with a different language and have the opportunity to apply my acquired skill set in todays marketplace. The process of starting over with the foundation I've already laid is exhilarating to say the least. It feels like fewer people are committing to long term paths these days of instant gratification. When I listen to recordings I made forty years ago compared to recordings I'm making now and I think about my intentions then and now I'm grateful for having stayed the course.

Great great...did I say great? Yes, GREAT post Derek! Wish I read this post 12 years ago when I first started doing music for a living (actually that was the first and only time I met you in person- at a CD Baby event at the VooDoo Lounge in San Francisco). Since then, I learned what you've shared in your post...the hard way in some cases. Thanks for doing what you do.

This is a great article. Thanks for putting it out there so succinctly. I remember the day I set aside all my other talents to pursue and perfect just the one skill of writing. My second book just came out - Golda Meir ~ True Grit. If you would like an ecopy just let me know. No strings attached for a review - just thought you might like to read about this amazing woman. Ann

The power of your words .... always great! Nothing else to say.

Thanks DereK; It's funny how all these years your article made sense out of non-sense. I am still a believer in passion and have made some poor choices based on this belief. What I understand from your article is to make the best of what you have build (with mastery) and passion and success will follow. Jolly Good... JL

Thanks Derek. I've put a hold on the book at the library. Keep those e-mails coming.

Ok
I clicked on "Start up investors and what they want".
Felt like I just turned on the CNN NEWS

first thing on the list Energy...So lets just start there because that's the big one isn't it?

Let me take you on a thought about Energy................. answers through questions....Think over each question.

Did we send a man to the moon?
How much gas was used on that trip?
How long did that trip last?
What harmful emissions came about from that trip?
How many "days" did they float in space with all the power running?
How much power did that old technology consume?
Where did all that power come from?
How many hours did they walk on the moon?
How much energy did that Moon Rover use?
How far did the rover travel?
How many miles is it to the moon?
How much energy does it take to get there?
Where did all the energy come from to support a trip to the moon?
What did we know then that we don't know now?
How old were you when that trip happened?
What percentage of learned technology's on that trip are applied everyday energy needs?

Name a job that doesn't destroy this world or people in anyway shape or form?
Name a job the completely screws up the environment.
What was easier?

Can our government ever make burning carbon based fuels illegal?
Will it?

If we can go to the moon/Mars with out gas / Propane / turbine generators why can't we go to the Earth.

We have the solution.
The solution is unapplied.

Robert

Often, especially shy people, are only willing to risk embarrassment or speak eloquently so as not to undermine their cause, when they feel passionately about something. As in romances, sometimes our passion is for something that we are ill suited to pursuing, but that explains why we suddenly need less sleep, work late, and get up at 5 a.m. just to work some more, because we can't rest until we have completed or mastered another phase in our existence. Maybe I think passion and hard work are inseparable bed fellows, and I do think passion and hard work can lead to more passion and certainly expertise, but expertise can be as boring as it is satisfying; there is then the possibility of a rebellious period(lame example: lets end this sentence with a preposition just to be difficult) until a new goal inspires the passion to master it.

I am very fortunate to have fulfilled all of those aspects. I hope everyone else can do the same.

You know you're right.

This a great post, truly inspiring !!
Very well done,
Thanks a million!

Derek,
I think we disagree about what "passion" means. For me, passion is the drive that keeps me developing the craft. It is the need to press ahead even when things are going slowly. Without passion, I would have NO career at all. Dreams and passion are essential in my world. They don't have to be objects of immediate gratification, just present.

Thanks to you, I really am beginning to get the reason I keep going out and getting gigs. Singing and playing guitar is the only thing I've never quit. Never thought it was a passion, I'd rather be in the garden, practicing seemed more of a chore, but I'm gonna keep it up, because I love to perform. Thanks for all your help!

You and everyone who responded are fantastic...you're all so smart!!

I hate to disagree so deeply, but I think my man has it wrong. Passion is what drives creativity. It is the passion that shines through your performance, even if you are not at the same level academically as the musician next to you, the emotional content of your art is all important. Art and music suffer when it becomes mechanical. No one will argue that one should not strive for perfection. But artist who do so run the risk of depending on discipline over emotion. In reality the greatest musicians are often the poorest. Success, in the 21st century depends on so much more than being proficient.
It has to do with dealing with the business, and then dealing with the public. There are phenomenal athletes who will never get out of the sand lot.There are great musicians who near perfection that will never get the gig.

Thanks Derek always on point always career capital ,craft got it

Made my day, Derek! "Living your passion" on resumes and in the workplace has made looking for a supplemental part time job a ridiculous, empty quest. Your post gives language to a reality I've been experiencing first person. I will definitely check out Cal Newport's book, "So Good They Can't Ignore You!"

Great piece Derek! Thanks for the challenge!

Well, yes and no. Yes, getting really good at something is the path to having a great career at it, but--what is the thing to invest all that time and work in? How do we find that--or does it find us? This is where passion and talent come in, and this also speaks to the fixed/growth mindset issue. Some parameters of ourselves are fixed, and some can change. One problem is being able to tell in what ways we can grow, and doing all we can about those, and not accepting limitations we don't really have--yet not using a lot of time and energy trying to get better at things that we just don't have the basic ingredients for.

I love the suggestion to leave passion and purpose out of our vocabulary as they can be overwhelming and full of responsibility and guilt when we perceive that we are failing at these ideas… Just do the best where we are in the moment ,taking this moment as a stepping stone towards our dreams… Blessings

Derek: I read Cal's book and had him on my Business Builders Radio Show. I love this guy! The book is outstanding! I also mention Cal and his work in practically every presentation I make. You did an outstanding job outlining how to change or build your career.

Great topic and synopsis, Derek!

As one who has recently returned to contractor status after a 3.5 years in a job, I can tell vouch for what you stated in this post. And, your post has wet my appetite for the book. So...I'll head right off to Amazon to place a hard copy order. Thanks!

cj
--

I think "follow your passion" is ambiguous.
· For people who can't do well on something as a career. "Follow your passion" is more like an excuse to quit the thing they don't like. But not an instruction that will always lead them to a better place.
· For people who can do well on something and are going to move on with that. "Follow your passion" gives them the courage to try or do it.
So I agree that "Passion and purpose are emotions that come after expertise and experience."

I loved, loved, LOVED this:

"Words like “passion” and “purpose” are dangerous because they sound huge and romantic. If you think you haven’t found your passion yet, you’re probably expecting it to be overwhelming — to hit you like lightning."

Far too many of us suffer from this, waiting most of our lives to discover what was there all along. Pick something you like, get really good at it and then all of a sudden that need for being struck by lightning disappears. You are suddenly living the reality of what you thought would always be an elusive (unrealistic) strike by lightning.

Thank you for this.

There is much truth to this and overall the summary is all well and good - except that this scenario seldom holds true for women…unfortunately, when women master something, they are usually not rewarded with the best job openings but instead appointed to some adjunct position whereby their mastery of craft and skills set can be utilized by a man who is. Sorry to say, but so it (still!!!) usually is.

Thank you - with over 30 years of working for myself and doing the work each and everyday, this perspective is spot on and every young person needs to understand it. Plus it is well written, like only you could have done.

Derek,
I’m trying to remember how I got on your email list (maybe something with CDs) but I know that’s it been a few years now. Today, regardless of how our paths crossed I’m so deeply grateful for the connection. I’m in tears as I write this because this article has touched such a deep place within me. For years, I’ve been trying to find “my heart’s desire” and my awareness of it has eluded me.
By profession, I am an IT person. I worked my way up from Programmer Trainee to Project Manager. I did my “work” well but I often found myself unhappy and unfulfilled within the structure of the day-to-day corporate world. I always wanted to be excited and enthusiastic about working and not just working because I need a paycheck or health insurance or a 401K.
When my last job ended, I “swore” that I would make it on my own and not return to the corporate world. That was 4 years ago and I have been floundering ever since.
The timeliness of your article has given me an indication as to why I have been stuck and unable to move forward and hence the tears; Tears of sadness for having been so hard on myself for not conforming to the social consciousness and belief that “I must work for an employer” and for not “knowing or feeling” my passion and tears of joy that I opened your email and didn’t just trash it and tears of relief for the relevancy of your article to my life at this moment.
I will most definitely purchase the book and get on with building my career. Words cannot express how grateful, relieved and thankful I am at this moment.
Thank you!

☺ Now THAT's a compliment! Thank you! — Derek

I will have to pass on reading this book, though I thank you sincerely for telling me about it - to judge from it's title, this is the structure of my career tactic.

Will definitely pick up the book. I`m sure its whole message is in the title lol just hoping it will occupy more of my mind for a longer amount of time if I read it :)

There's no doubt that being good at what you do can buy you a certain flexibility - but that won't necessarily bring you happiness. It's a question of what feels meaningful. You might be the best at what you do, but if the work you do does not feel meaningful you will not be happy. I've seen people who've just started in jobs change people's lives every day - caring for the terminally ill, nursing, elderly care - they have a profound impact and that is incredibly rewarding (if not well paid) - some aren't even particularly good at what they do (due to lack of experience), but make up in terms of committment and compassion. Having read Cal Newport's book I have the feeling, as some others have mentioned here, that he has a missing ingredient - perhaps that's "meaning". You can be really good at what you do, but that won't necessarily buy you happiness or even job satisfaction. I know plenty of people who are VERY good at what they do, but who live unfulfilled lives. Cal makes some very good points, but it's not the complete answer.

it is wonderful to see a live example of a person who execute the ideology which i wished that i could.but i had no guts.word passion always put me down because i don't know my passion.i was thinking to get a carrier counseling because i don't know my talent.ha ha... but now i am with my ideas to execute them not with finding me in me anymore.

The "follow your passion" slogan comes up a great deal which a lot of times can become stressful. The pressure of doing it because you have to and not because you love it and just want to do it can be tough . When you master your craft, following your passion has turned into you leading your passion exactly where you want it to go. Your life. Your rules. You can say when and where. Thanks for the insight.

Hi Derek,

I believe you can find your passion. Even if it is an area where you're not completely passionate you can find mastery and satisfaction. However, I feel if you can overcome your fears and pursue the area you are passionate about, when you achieve your "success" it will have a greater meaning to you if it is in an area you have a passion for.

I think you perhaps dismiss passion because of how it has been employed in our culture where is seems like one big groovy vibe. It ain't. Passion has nails, blood, suffering, and staggering. I know that I had a passion to write my book about the college transition but the book beat me to the ground. I am glad that I did it but I wouldn't dare describe it as a lot of fun. http://www.lulu.com/shop/eric-bierker-phd/on-the-edge-transitioning-imaginatively-to-college/paperback/product-21715068.html

Mr. Sivers
Wow Wow Wow
My son Gene III who by the way is a musician and music producer, purchased your book and after he finished reading it, challenged me to read it. He told me it would change the way I think. How right he is thx you!!!

These are some great, very pratical points to consider. What came clear to me in reading this is something I already know about myself. Its not about unrealistic expectations for finding "passion" so much as it is I am just plain interested in waaay too many things to have enough focused attention to develop most of my interests to the level of a master, firstly. And secondly, am not disiplined enough to adhere to a consistant, long-term, fully-packed, daily schedule to master just a few of any of my interests at a time. The solution seems to be to pair down, or reduce, my list of interests to an even less amount of activities, but it is hard to make these decisions.... so what do i do instead? Often I get stuck considering all these required decisions and end up NOTHING!

This is my life pattern, over and over!!

For IT-related readers: if you wonder what you should learn and what might be out-of-date too soon (before you can learn everything about it), I recommend Dan Appleman's video "Learning technology in the information age" on Pluralsight (http://www.pluralsight.com/courses/learning-technology-information-age). Base line: learn something that you can rely on for several years, i.e. fundamentals. You can learn something else as well and become an expert, but be aware that it may be obsolete with the next version.

Inspiring !!

Hi, I just found your blog and I love it. And I like your style.

Thanks.

Derek: Your advice applies to entrepreneurship as much or even more than career building.

It can be a rural or a city community – It can be any close knit group that allows for the creation of a movement. In this case a movement to more income and wealth for everyone. Movements need communities.

And a movement needs a leader and just as important early followers – do we have the courage to stand out and even be ridiculed – see 3 minute TED presentation below; a short very powerful lesson. How to start a movement with Derek Sivers
http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement?language=en

In this case it’s a movement to more income and wealth; family and community sustainability; and, a cushion against economic corruption and collapse, failed fiat currency and the self-serving interests and actions of governments, banks & corporations.

Please contact me from your email address to receive the steps; these steps are simple, legal, ethical and effective.
If you have questions or concerns about this, then let’s talk. All change starts with a conversation or should. And trust doesn’t happen in a vacuum.

Further, I personally hate pressure. So if you told me – even after you’ve joined – “George, I can’t do anything on this for 2 or 3 months.” My reply will always be “No problem.”

This is long term. It’s more important we agree on what we are doing, where we are heading and the path we are taking; not how fast we travel or how crazy we can drive each other.

Dr. George drgeorgem200@gmail.com 902-657-0345
Founder & CEO, Total Health Circle International - THCI is dedicated to establishing networks of sustainable communities as economies of integrity. And as viable alternatives to the current corrupt economy that Catherine Austin Fitts refers to as the tapeworm economy – http://www.solari.com/ Although Catherine’s comments refer to the U.S. Economy, I think we can safely say that the tapeworm is worldwide.

Only Communal Creativity Can Solve the Mess We’re In says physicist-turned-futurist Peter Russell.

So Derek's advice is critical. Movements need communities. I hope we meet some day. George

I'm gonna have to disagree.

This is very mundane, like one did engineering or business at college and he just sharpened his skills every single day till he's 40 only to find out that he has a thing for interior design.

Read several books in the past and very convinced that all things come inside out but you're suggesting the opposite.
Nature has its way to develop and so does we.

Excellent advice! Hits home.

I always have this thinking that passion is just a thing that exist in the mind not knowing that it can be build over time by constant practice. Good blog Derek!

I love the post. The advice is practical and inspires me to dig in and dominate a niche.
Thanks

look like good book to read

i even dont sure why i am doing this, i mean, seriously? i am leaving my personal email in a totolly unknown website. But, really i am inspired by your summary of the book. i wanna know can i read it in electronic edition(e-book). i will be obliged if i can get reply for you, i mean, a real person~~ Thx!

Probably the most useful post I've read in ages. What makes a career fulfilling; you've completely nailed that there. Looks like I've found my next read - Anything You Want was my last. Enjoy and be happy :)

This is the best advice I've seen condensed in one place. Looking back at my various careers, your principles ring true. For students, I would add that they should take challenging courses (STEM) that impinge on their "comfort zone" and learn to write - and write well. I intend to read Cal Newport's book. Thanks, Peter

I enjoyed reading your other articles but I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this point. Fixed mindset or not, I do believe in passion and purpose. And I do believe they can be fluid. You can change industries. Its equivalent to having a transferable skills set.

I agree, "you can only EARN a 'great career' by building your expertise and experience" but that doesn't always mean you love what you do or that is fulfilling although it should. People focus on a craft because they are either consciously/unconsciously passionate or are looking for "The Big Score" whatever they believe it to be.

I left a great career for a new passion but a similar purpose (helping people). I started my own business and a new career to help support the business. It is clear to me that the new career isn't in complete alignment but that it is allowing for growth. The new career has left me in emotional and mental anguish although I've brought added value to the lives of many clients (based on 3rd party surveys).

Yes, there are days you feel unfulfilled, disconnected, and dispassionate but you keep moving towards your goals. I know attorneys and finance folk who had great and follow their passions; to change their lives and live a life they felt would be more satisfying.

I myself am in that boat. That said, I am strategizing so that I can get past this current moment of disenchantment; in order to continue pursuing my purpose and passion.

Thank you. My partner is constantly saying this and has stopped me from giving up when I felt so bad at what I was doing. I'm getting better and better each year and making more money too.
You've written some common sense wise words!!!

thank you derek. this really resonates. i'm very grateful for your gifts.

very good information.thanks for sharing this with us.It is very usefull for change or build career.

I wonder if this is circular.

If skills trump passion, how do we go about determining WHAT we should make a commitment to getting really good at?

In an effort to guide ourselves from square one, do we not ask ourselves: "What am I most deeply interested in learning?" or, in other words, "What do I have enough PASSION for that leads me to believe I should concentrate on going to depth with this skill?"

Thoughts anyone?

Derek, I partially agree with the article you wrote. Let's see I am a Pharmacist by profession and been practicing since 1996 and I am very good at counseling and working with people. Suddenly Life got change and lost my license and reinstate back after few years. Now I have skills and mastery but I can not get the Job. Why ? because of the system. Now I have always have a passion to become a Great Trader.I spend lot of time on reading and coaching but never get success in it. IN order to survive I start my own business which I am doing ok. So What should I do ? follow my passion which is in Trading or Just be patience and wait for to get job one day.
Please let me have your input.
Best Wishes

Thanks Derek.

Inspiring enough as it relates to me in my current situation... thanks for the guiding words...
make sense...
thank you once again.

Valuable summary! I will read the book based on your comments. Many years in business present opportunities to see all types of professionals in action. I'm always impressed by those that take ownership of they skills and careers with purpose to deliver great value. All The Best!

“Passion and purpose are emotions that come after expertise and experience. The way to get them is to commit to the path of mastery, get great at something, and do great work.

So instead of looking for passion and purpose, just keep mastering whatever work you’ve started, becoming more and more valuable in your field. Passion and purpose will follow a great career.”

This is very enlightening! thanks derek!

Hi Derek,

For me "be so good" is in the future, meaning: now I'm not good yet.

That mentality blocks me. And made me dream of one day I could be an expert and finally loving what I do.

What matters is to "just do the work".

Put dreaming at night and just do the work during the day. Sometimes I forget the simplest advice.

For the earnest question posed by comment # 174,
in my opinion it's like comment # 9, in that you won't learn to sail while you are dead in the water. As you work, things you like will be revealed, and you may be surprised.

lately I wonder if I should take a pay cut to be a book shelver, part time, to learn if I would like to be a librarian. I used to have some silly vague ideas about that career.

I think it's OK to not know your passion yet, provided that at whatever job, or project, (thanks, Seth Godin) you are doing, you do your best, not just enough to get by.

comment # 28, especially the last (long) paragraph may resonate with you, as again the lesson is to try hard, in this case at learning the craft, not for some mystical inner art (I came up through journalism, deadlines don't care about art)

As for book learning, writer James P. Hogan, on a dare, once proved he could get interested in a book chosen at random. I suspect part of his secret was he "did his best" to read word for word: I've noticed a lot of people on the web skim, but I doubt they feel any passion or can remember what they read the next day.

It is wonderful

Dear Derek,

I'm Phillip Dang, and i'm so exciting to "talking" with you, man.

I have been read your book about tricks to start a business everytime i got a break (more than 10 times, i guess), and you're explored my mind about your own "perfect world", CD Baby!

I'm a Vietnamese, living in Ho Chi Minh city, just started my business about one month (after three months of plan-build), a gift-service named "Megiv".

My purpose of this business is rebuild a connection between people, family, friends, sometimes even love - because most of people in my country, from a children to an old man, are living in a social media, where people just react, contact with their community (friends, family, sort of society relationship) on internet in a unmindful way and the real connection is fading.

And in that circumstance, i need to do something to heal those bad realtionships, i think not many people want their relationships get worse, they just dont know that social media has ruined their reality connection everyday.

So i came up with an idea about a gift-box that everybody want to know what's inside it (everyone loves gift, right? xD), and I'm gonna suprise them, make them happy, or even laugh out loud, and mostly create (or improve) the relationship between a sender and a receiver by 5-7 useful items in differents life-category that all have a use-value and emotional-value.

And when the relationships are getting better, the world we live on will become more worthy. That was what we always look foward, after money, cars, e.t.c, isn't it Derek?

I bet that you're not gonna get it 100% clearly because of my bad discription, but WOW...this's certainly a first and longest comment i've ever write. I still have so many things to talk with you, man!

I wish you have a good health and a wonderful life, as the way as you are. You're giving me a huge inspiration, Derek!

I'm looking forward to hearing from you, take good care.
Phillip.

What an absolute ledgend, such an interesting person (from what Iv read) and an inspiration. Just stumbling across this page whilst finding it near impossible finding a co-working space in Koh Lanta, nearly at breaking point has completely made my day :) thank you 🙏🏻

Derek

I jumped to your FAQ from your recent posting. Following the passion never felt authentic to me. i became a chartered accountant at 22 for God sake. But I did try really hard, won awards and leveraged into an investment banking job , worked really hard and became better than average/very good at it! etc I've continued that pattern in new chapters in my life and whilst it requires grit and massive focus, it does deliver success (defined as an abundance of material, emotional, and spiritual achievement). I'll buy Cal's book for my upcoming vacation. Best Ian

The key points you shared articulate what I have done, without any specific intention. I worked at an international company for 24 years as a market researcher. For the last 9 years of my career, I wrote a newsletter every single month, summarizing the key market research findings in a simple and engaging way, that could be understood by anybody on the street. 9 times 12 issues. They got very famous in the company, with a large distribution list. I left the company a year ago. And out of blue, I wrote a book on the physical, mental, psychological and social impact of digital screens like mobile phones, summarizing research findings from various studies. It came out two weeks ago in Turkey, from a top publisher, endorsed by the top psychologist. Gave two interviews for top newspapers already.

Hi Derek,

Thanks for such interesting article. It really had me to rethink about what skill should I build relentlessly to be so good they can't ignore me.

I like what you said about working at something. But Derek do you think that we have gifts that can be a passion before working at it. Tell how you feel about that please.

Thank you for the article.

Forget that question I asked of you. I get it because sometimes I don't want to practice. There are so many things pulling at me. Organization helps greatly, so that after the rehearsal is done I feel so good.

Thank you

Insanely timely for me right now. It's indeed very easy to get confused by the lofty ideals of "passion" and miss the steps towards building mastery. Thank you, Derek!

I’ve come back to this post again nearly a decade later because both my husband & I are going back to school in our 50s. We both have multiple degrees but after serving decades in the military, we have educational funds we can use. So while our teen is entering high school this fall, we’ll likely both start graduate programs in areas that we always wanted to work.

9 years later, I’m going to take this advice and keep on going in my career as a content creator