Should you follow your passion or take it with you when looking for a new career?

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 14:23:50 -0400

https://www.prageru.com/courses/life-studies/dont-follow-your-passion
This is some of the best advice you will ever receive. I wish I had said it first, but at least I can pass it along. Personally, I followed opportunities, many of them, in my 50 year working life that spanned several careers: Civil Servant, Service Member, Advertising/PR Man, Computer Salesman/Applications Teacher/Programmer/Applications and Systems Architect. My salary went from $1.25 per hour to a healthy six figures per year. Like the man says in this video, I took my passion with me. I was passionate in every job. It worked. It really worked. BTW, passion is also good in the bedroom...

Don't Follow Your Passion

Should you follow your passion, wherever it may take you? Should you do only what you love...or learn to love what you do? How can you identify which path to take? How about which paths to avoid? TV personality Mike Rowe, star of "Dirty Jobs" and "Somebody's Gotta Do It," shares the dirty truth in PragerU's 2016 commencement address. Check out Mike Rowe's latest projects! www.mikerowe.com

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 6 at 2016 2:38 PM

SSG Pete Fleming — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 14:38:06 -0400

In this economy you need to find passion where you are... because the next job might hard to find.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2016 2:46 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 14:46:53 -0400

CPT Jack Durish Definitely a different outlook on following your passion.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jun 6 at 2016 8:48 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 20:48:14 -0400

Outstanding advice. The problem with following your passion is that "you don't know what you don't know." My life took many interesting turns and went in directions that I never imagined. Its much better to take advantage of opportunities as they come up and take your passion with you.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jun 6 at 2016 8:58 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 20:58:58 -0400

My Dad told me: "there is always work out there to do if you want to do it. It may not be the job you like, but no matter what it is, always do your best. Pretty soon that job you want will come up." I've found this true, and I've also been in the position to be doing what I wanted. Great thread.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2016 10:28 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 10:28:37 -0400

Interesting video and site. Can you recommend any others within the site ?

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jun 8 at 2016 10:57 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Wed, 08 Jun 2016 10:57:47 -0400

I agree. Don't do what you love. Love what you do. If you have a passion for your job, no matter what it is, your performance will reflect. I will admit, I didn't choose my MOS. Needs of the Marine Corps placed me in it and I was so mad. But I learned my job. I grew to love my job. Now I'm one of the top performers in my MOS (not to toot my own horn) because I tried to learn every facet of my MOS and I've always expanded on my knowledge. Even after I got out, I was able to land a job in my MOS because of my performance and knowledge base. If you put your passion into the work you do, people will notice... even if it isn't a job you actually wanted in the first place. Who knows, it could lead to other opportunities.