2 Stanford professors explained why telling people to 'follow your passion' is a bad idea
Stanford educators Bill Burnett and Dave Evans explained why "follow your passion" can be bad career advice — and what to focus on instead.
Stanford professors Bill Burnett and Dave Evans argue that the popular piece of career advice "follow your passion" is often bad guidance. Most individuals do not possess a singular, all-consuming passion, making this advice confusing and potentially detrimental to their career decisions. During a live recording of the Prof G Podcast, Burnett expressed his belief that this widely-repeated advice is actually one of the worst recommendations one can give to someone.
The issue, according to Burnett, lies in the fact that fewer than 20% of people have a clear, identifiable passion. For the remaining 80%, the message can be alienating and leave them feeling inadequate. Eight out of ten people might respond with, "I don't know what you're talking about," when confronted with this advice. Additionally, some individuals may have numerous interests, but lack a clear way to choose between them, which can turn a seemingly inspiring instruction into a source of self-doubt.
Instead of advising people to follow their passion, Burnett suggested starting with curiosity and running small experiments. This approach, which he calls "prototyping," involves testing an interest by speaking with someone in the field, trying a project, or gaining firsthand exposure to the work. This method is particularly relevant for workers who feel trapped by an existing degree or career path.
Burnett also challenged the notion that a college major sets the direction of one's entire life. He viewed a college major as merely a way to organize college, rather than the way to organize one's life. Dave Evans, co-author of Designing Your Life, further pushed back on the idea that work should simultaneously provide income and meaning.
He argued that meaning-making and money-making do not have to be the same, and the goal should not be to discover a fixed answer to the question of purpose. Evans emphasized that there is no "figuring it out," and instead, one should "just get on with it."
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