Passion Isn't Enough for Success! Then, What Is?

Aşırı Düşünme
Mar 8
4 min read

Follow your passions!" How inspiring that call sounds, doesn’t it? We all want to believe that if we follow our passions, we’ll be happy and successful. This advice, which we’ve heard since childhood, seems to whisper the formula for a perfect life. But what if we’re being misled? What if following your passions isn’t as reliable a path as we think? This is exactly where we need to talk about why this romantic idea doesn’t always work in the real world.

Before I came across a book I recently read, I too believed that following my passions was the ultimate advice that would save my life. And I acted accordingly. The result? Countless disappointments and failures. Yet, I never questioned it because I had never considered that there might be another way.

There are people who can’t withstand the harsh winds of life, tossed from one place to another. Even if we don’t want to, we sometimes get swept up in those winds. When the storm subsides, we notice our battered selves and search for something to hold onto. We cling tightly to a branch struggling to grow between steep cliffs. But what if that branch breaks? That’s where a great danger awaits us: "The Tribe of Those Who Lost Their Shadows."

What is a Shadow and Why is it Important?

The shadow is the "mission" that underlies every decision we make throughout our lives, shaping who we are. It walks with us in our thoughts and actions, questioning the validity of our decisions and whether they align with our ethical values. If we lose this mission, anxiety, unhappiness, and anger become inevitable. A human is not just a mere being; what gives them value is the power to act for a purpose.

So, how do we find this mission that makes our lives valuable, happy, and meaningful? More importantly, how do we stop walking toward it step by step and start running?

Is Following Your Passions Really the Right Path?

We all work to achieve financial independence. Without earning money, realizing our dreams isn’t very realistic. But many of us want both a good source of income and to be passionately connected to that source. Is that really possible?

When we look around, most people are dissatisfied with their jobs. Far from getting closer to their dreams, they feel increasingly distant, trapped in a boring and monotonous cycle. This is where the idea of "following your passion" often collapses at the first major obstacle.

Let’s take an example: Maya has been working at an advertising agency for 12 years. She wants to feel free, more creative, and happier. After much thought, she realizes her greatest passion is yoga. She’s worked with professional yoga instructors for years and knows she’s really good at it. She decides to open a small yoga studio and start her own business.

Maya does extensive research, completes a 1000-hour yoga training, gets her certification, rents a studio with her savings and a small loan, and runs an effective advertising campaign to quickly gain clients. The start is fantastic! But then she faces an unexpected crisis: a pandemic. Businesses shut down, people can’t come to the studio. Maya can’t hold on for long and has to return to her old job. However, with the experience she gained, she finds a new path by starting an online advertising agency.

This example shows that following your passions doesn’t always lead to success. Life is full of factors beyond our control. That’s why, instead of relying solely on passion, thinking like a "craftsperson" might be a more realistic approach.

Thinking Like a Craftsperson

Rather than chasing passion, asking, "What can I offer the world?" grounds us in a more solid foundation. While our passions motivate us, they can also make us overly aware of the aspects of the work we dislike, leading to disappointment. On the other hand, developing our skills and working in areas where we are useful makes us stronger.

To have good things in life, you need to be truly good at something. That’s why the most reliable path is to "think like a craftsperson" and master a skill to make a difference. But there are important points to consider here:

If your job doesn’t set you apart through your talents and experiences, and you don’t feel strong enough to stand out from your competitors, it might be wiser to try another field.
Working efficiently, meaning consciously seizing opportunities, is crucial. Instead of reacting reflexively, you should add a strategic approach to every move.
The process of mastery is long and difficult. Research shows that it takes at least 10,000 hours of work to become truly good at something.

In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell says that great success isn’t just about talent; it’s also about being in the right place at the right time. Factors like Bill Gates having unlimited computer access as a child or Mozart’s father encouraging his focus on music shaped their successes.

Everything done well brings joy, but reaching that point requires hard work. In our field, we can’t get stuck at the limits others have reached; we must be more conscious, disciplined, and courageous.

Remember, challenges and the length of the journey only scare dreamers and the timid. For those who carefully design their lives, it creates an opportunity. If you truly want to succeed, instead of chasing your passion, think like a craftsperson and focus on skillfully developing your talents.