4 Reasons Follow Your Passion Is Bad Advice - The Muse

4 Reasons Follow Your Passion Is Bad Advice - The Muse4 Reasons Follow Your Passion Is Bad AdviceIf youve ever told someone you dont like your job, chances are the person responded by telling you to quit ASAP and just, like, start following your passion. And, even though your current position provides status and security, the world (or at least the internet) promises that youll be happier once you start doing what you love. While this push to follow your passion makes sense- after all, no one wants to spend years deckenfries in a cubicle doing tasks we dread- we rarely hear the other side of the argument. Thats why Ben Horowitzs 2015 commencement speech at Columbia University titled Dont Follow Your Passion surprised the audience. Horowitz, co-founder of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and one of Silicon Valleys top investors, gave the unconventional advice that our futures shouldnt be shaped by what we love. Here are his reasons1. Passions Are Difficult to PrioritizeAre you more passionate about math or engineering? Are you more passionate about history or literature? Are you more passionate about video games or K-Pop? Horowitz asks. Its usually difficult to answer these questions when you truly feel equally excited about two completely different things. On the other hand, Horowitz believes its much easier to determine what youre good at. Are you better at math or writing? Most people can answer that in an instant. 2. Passions Change Over TimeWhat Facebook pages did you like back in 2010? What pages have you liked recently? If the two are completely different, then you know what Horowitz means when he says that what you care about is always changing. What youre passionate about at 21 is not necessarily what youre going to be passionate about at 40, Horowitz explains. This is true for boyfriends as well as career choices. Even if you finally land the dream position that magically combines everything you love, theres no guarantee that youll still be as crazy about it five years later. (Before you roll your eyes at how cynical this advice is, keep reading- Horowitz does provide an alternative thatll make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.). 3. Youre Not Always Good at Your PassionAs heartbreaking as it is to admit, sometimes we suck at what we love. Using the contestants on American Idol as an example, Horowitz says, Just because you love singing doesnt mean you should be a professional singer. So, while there are ways to become better at your favorite hobbies (think online classes and hands-on tutorials), oftentimes these beloved activities lead to you neglecting your real strengths. 4. Following Your Passion Is a Me-Centered View of the WorldHorowitz says that doing what you love is a self-centered view of the world because it focuses on what you take out of the world- whether thats money, cars, accolades, or something else- rather than what you put into the world. According to the Silicon Valley investor, the latter is much mor e important. Yes, you can chase after your happiness. But what are you doing to help the more than seven billion other people in the world become happier, too?Hence, instead of following your passion, Horowitz recommends that you follow your contribution. Find the thing youre great at, he says, and put that into the world. Contribute to others and help the world be better- that is the thing to follow. By pursuing your contribution, you instantly move from me-focused to them-focused. And who knows? You might even grow fonder of some of your current responsibilities because theyre helping you make small, positive dents in the universe. Photo of smudged heart drawing courtesy of Shutterstock.