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Instead of ‘finding your passion,’ try developing it, Stanford scholars say

news.stanford.edu

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Re: Instead of ‘finding your passion,’ try developing it, Stanford scholars say

#21

Post by klum »

rdlecler1 wrote: post #2

It makes for a nice aspirational graduation speech, but as many PhDs will attest passion doesn’t matter much if society doesn’t value your passion and you need to put food on the table.

It seems to me a lot of the people making a living out of art or other "commercially challenging" occupations have cultivated a passion for the business part of it as well.

I don't mean that in a cynical sense. If you view business and making money as a "necessary evil", a taint on the face of your pure artistry, then you're probably going to be miserable trying to make a living. I prefer to think about it as finding a way to create value for others through what you like to do.

Re: Instead of ‘finding your passion,’ try developing it, Stanford scholars say

#22

Post by throwaway0255 »

I've found that usually when people say they're "passionate" about something, what they're really saying is that they have a deep yearning for the high social status they would attain if they were great at or well-known for that thing.

Also, that they believe their status is higher because they're passionate about that thing, and they wanted to remind you of that.

Half the time it's something they don't even devote very much time to, and aren't even that good at.

That might be why these "follow your passion" speeches are so effective. Everyone in the audience can have a different high-status activity in mind, and the word "passion" is like a global variable that maps straight to whatever every individual believes is the best way to achieve high social status. So you get the whole audience, and everyone can start daydreaming in unison.

Re: Instead of ‘finding your passion,’ try developing it, Stanford scholars say

#23

Post by nift »

SyneRyder wrote: post #15
mengledowl wrote: post #6

For those that are interested in this concept, Cal Newport wrote a fantastic book about this concept of developing a passion rather than "finding" it in his book "So Good They Can't Ignore You". Very highly recommend.

Also, it's currently on sale on Kindle (looks like $2.22 on the US store, $2.99 on the Australian store). I'm not sure what I think of the book yet, but people I respect have rated it highly.

Doesn't seem to be on sale for kindle anymore? When I go to the Amazon US it costs $10.52.

Do you have a direct link?

Re: Instead of ‘finding your passion,’ try developing it, Stanford scholars say

#24

Post by kinleyd »

mengledowl wrote: post #6

For those that are interested in this concept, Cal Newport wrote a fantastic book about this concept of developing a passion rather than "finding" it in his book "So Good They Can't Ignore You". Very highly recommend.

Thank you - this sounds like a little gem.

Re: Instead of ‘finding your passion,’ try developing it, Stanford scholars say

#26

Post by nishantvyas »

rdlecler1 wrote: post #2

It makes for a nice aspirational graduation speech, but as many PhDs will attest passion doesn’t matter much if society doesn’t value your passion and you need to put food on the table.

Problem is, "Find and follow your passion" social expectation from very early in life. In reality, 1) "finding passion" early is hard; Before one turns 12, brain is not fully develop to logically understand the true likes then from 13-19 it goes thru a huge amount of hormonal, emotional and physical changes... what's left is an average 19 year old teen with I'm "not sure my major" in college, let alone the passion.... 2) "follow passion", again the twisted notion where one's work should absolutely be their passion too... otherwise it's just a "hobby" and hobbies are supposedly not helpful....

If one finds their likes early, become really good at it and if that skill pay really well... your are top 0.1% in your field.... for the rest... build a skill that lands you a job then experiment with different hobbies... when you find a hobby you really like hopefully by age 30-35... turn that hobby in to passion, you still have 30-40+ year of average lifetime remaining....

Re: Instead of ‘finding your passion,’ try developing it, Stanford scholars say

#27

Post by SyneRyder »

nift wrote: post #23
SyneRyder wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also, it's currently on sale on Kindle (looks like $2.22 on the US store, $2.99 on the Australian store). I'm not sure what I think of the book yet, but people I respect have rated it highly.

Doesn't seem to be on sale for kindle anymore? When I go to the Amazon US it costs $10.52. Do you have a direct link?

Yup, still showing for sale on Kindle here for $2.22 US, also tried visiting via a US VPN:

https://www.amazon.com/Good-They-Cant-Ignore-You-ebook/dp/B0...

But I'm in Australia, so it's possible it's an Australia-only sale, even though I'm looking on the US site.

Edit: Also, here's the direct Amazon Australia link: https://www.amazon.com.au/Good-They-Cant-Ignore-You-ebook/dp...

Re: Instead of ‘finding your passion,’ try developing it, Stanford scholars say

#28

Post by ljw1001 »

im3w1l wrote: post #8
wazoox wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup. And see the terrible situations is all and every vocational and artistic occupations. Competition is so fierce that almost everyone has to work basically for free and sustain themselves by doing menial job on the side. You could argue that most of them would be better finding a life occupation they're at least merely interested in instead, but providing decent living, and keeping their passion as a hobby. (I've…

I can't help but wonder if a planned economy would be better, someone who said "you're good enough, pursue this we will support you economically", or said "sorry you didn't make the cut you'll have to develop a passion for something else".

I completely disagree with this idea, but down-voting it is kinda lame. A little more openness to different ideas would be a good thing here (and everywhere).

Re: Instead of ‘finding your passion,’ try developing it, Stanford scholars say

#29

Post by bachmeier »

SyneRyder wrote: post #27
nift wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn't seem to be on sale for kindle anymore? When I go to the Amazon US it costs $10.52. Do you have a direct link?

Yup, still showing for sale on Kindle here for $2.22 US, also tried visiting via a US VPN: https://www.amazon.com/Good-They-Cant-Ignore-You-ebook/dp/B0... But I'm in Australia, so it's possible it's an Australia-only sale, even though I'm looking on the US site. Edit: Also, here's the direct Amazon Australia link: https://www.amazon.com.au/Good-They-Cant-Ignore-You-ebook/dp...

Price at the US link is $13.99. Australia link says they won't sell me the Kindle version.

Re: Instead of ‘finding your passion,’ try developing it, Stanford scholars say

#30

Post by ljw1001 »

grosjona wrote: post #13
rdlecler1 wrote: post #2

It makes for a nice aspirational graduation speech, but as many PhDs will attest passion doesn’t matter much if society doesn’t value your passion and you need to put food on the table.

What happened with the tech industry is that venture capitalists generated so much hype around tech startups that it attracted a huge amount of people who were only passionate about money. Thanks to their fake smiles, polished looks, well tuned voices and flashy, well-rehearsed pitches, these people were more successful in the industry (on average) than people who were actually passionate about the actual technology.…

I think this process also works in successful companies, to their detriment. Google, for example, is wildly successful and people who work their make a lot of money, so it attracts people whose main motivation is to make a lot of money (personally).
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