You've probably heard it a million times: Follow your passion, and success will follow.
Sounds nice, right? But let me be real with you—this advice has never worked for me. And I’ve been in the game for over 20 years.
If I had chased every passion I’ve ever had, I’d either be broke trying to become the next Gordon Ramsay or living out of my car after attempting to get rich quick in real estate. I love to cook. I love the idea of making big money in real estate. But neither of those passions paid the bills.
And let’s be honest—our passions change! What you’re obsessed with today might not even interest you in five years.
The Truth About Success
One of the biggest factors in success? Time.
It takes roughly 10,000 hours to truly master something. That’s years of commitment. I had to ask myself—was I willing to spend a decade perfecting my chef skills, while trying to build a family and stay sane? Nope.
I mentor young professionals trying to figure out their careers, and I’m also guiding my two sons as they navigate life after high school. You know what I tell them?
Don’t chase your passion—chase what you’re good at.
I love what economic professor Scott Galloway says, "Your mission is to find something you’re good at and apply the thousands of hours of grit and sacrifice necessary to become great at it."
Figure out what you’re good at. Maybe you’re great at problem-solving, connecting with people, or understanding technology.
Develop those skills. Become so good that you stand out.
Master those skills over time. The more valuable you become, the more opportunities will come your way.
Find a growing industry that needs what you offer. This is the magic step. If you can solve real problems in a field that’s expanding, you’ll never have to worry about job security.
Let’s say you love photography, but you’re really good at organizing and planning. Instead of struggling to make it as a full-time photographer, what if you became a high-level project manager for a marketing agency?
Marketing agencies constantly need people who can manage creative teams, organize content, and keep everything on schedule. You could land a well-paying role, build a strong career, and guess what? You’d still be surrounded by creativity and photography—without the stress of trying to make it your sole income.
And you’re financially secure, you can buy the best camera gear, travel to stunning locations, and shoot photos for fun instead of scrambling to pay the bills.
Let Your Passion Be the Reward
The best part? Once you’re financially stable, then you can pour time and energy into your passions—without the stress of trying to make them profitable.
So, stop stressing about “finding your passion.” Instead, find what you’re good at, get even better at it, and use that success to fund the life you want.
Now, what skills do you have that could take you to the next level?
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