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Why You Shouldn’t Follow Your Passion
Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of Scott Galloway’s work. Galloway, an entrepreneur who has sold multiple companies, each for over $100 million, has one piece of advice that really resonated with me: don’t follow your passion. Here, I’ve combined some of his ideas with my own thoughts.
In the past few weeks, I’ve met people with careers based on passion—professional rappers, water polo players, obstacle course runners, and more. Despite being top talents in their fields, many barely earn minimum wage in their countries. Surprisingly, they found more success outside their passions.
Macquarie University data shows that only 10% of artists can sustain themselves solely through their art, with half earning less than $200 a week—just 20% of the legal minimum wage in Australia. This pattern is pervasive:
- 96% of books sell fewer than 1,000 copies.
- Around 90% of artists on Spotify have fewer than 1,000 monthly listeners.
- 96.5% of YouTubers earn below the U.S. poverty line.
- 60% of new restaurants fail in their first year, and 80% close within five years.
- 97% of artists make less than the U.S. poverty line.
- Fewer than 10% of actors earn a full-time income from acting.
- Only 1.6% of college athletes make it to professional sports.
These passion-driven fields attract immense competition, making success difficult. Few dream of becoming a funeral director or QA engineer. (Apologies to the one reader who might’ve dreamed of it!)
Passion Follows Skill
Galloway suggests that passion often develops from competence. Instead of starting with what you love, build skills in areas where you have natural aptitude. As you excel, you’re more likely to feel passionate about your work.
Personally, I was passionate about physics until I realized my options were limited to academia or being a weatherman. So, I pursued marketing and product management—fields I eventually grew to love.
I’ve had this conversation with my brother, who once said he wasn’t a “math person” and thought I liked math because I was naturally good at it. I told him, “It’s the opposite. I like math because I’m good at it. If you build your proficiency, you might start liking it too.”
Economic Security First
Passion can be a luxury, one that becomes accessible when you achieve financial stability. Focus on financial independence early on, allowing yourself the freedom to explore passions later. This newsletter, for example, is a fun side project for me, but it actually costs me around $300 a month despite a large readership. It’s not my full-time gig, so I write for the joy of it and don’t stress over catering to my audience.
Don’t Use Passion as an Excuse
Some people use “passion” as an excuse to avoid difficult work. But hard work is often necessary for success, and if you cling to passion as a reason to stay comfortable, it can limit your potential.
Seek Out Market Needs, Create Value
Instead of following a personal passion that may not resonate with others, focus on providing value to the marketplace—solving real problems or meeting demands. This approach can make a career or business both fulfilling and profitable.
For instance, I noticed a demand for tech education outside major markets like Australia and the U.S., particularly in places like Nigeria, Rwanda, India, and the Philippines. The need was clear: affordable, quality education. Suddenly, I had a business, a team, and investor support.
Stay aware of market needs, both for business and career. If there’s a high demand for data analysts, consider whether that’s something you might excel at. A good lens when you’re young is to focus on what you’re good at and what society needs. While it’s ideal to pick something you enjoy, passion can grow with skill.
Remember, as much as you might hate this advice: work hard, then discover passion.
Good luck,
Ajay
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