Myth debunking 101: Follow your passion to get career success and growth

“Follow your passion to taste success” is a piece of advice every individual comes across at least once during their professional journey. While a passion can become a successful career path for some, the applicability of this mantra is not universal. And sometimes not practical.

Various factors determine career choice and

career success. Hence, it’s important to break this misconception and help freshers make an informed decision.

Factors beyond passion that form the recipe of success
Simply having a passion for a specific pursuit doesn’t always ensure one can ascend the ladder of success or financial security in that area. Various complementary factors play crucial roles here, says Pranay Prakash, CHRO, Baazi Games, a games tech organisation.

In his opinion, persistent diligence, innate talent, functional expertise, receptiveness to new opportunities, innovative thinking and adept social skills are some of the other significant factors. These elements intersect with each other and form a cohesive framework to assess the complexities of career advancement and financial growth.

Prakash recalls the situation of one of his friends who exhibited an inclination for traditional art forms, expressing a strong desire to pursue them as a career. But the practicalities of life led him to pursue consultancy instead, and he eventually entered a corporate setup. “Our regular discussions over the years have deepened our insight, highlighting the significant influence of financial stability on one's aspirations. It became evident to us that despite his passion, his progress was hampered by the absence of adequate financial backing,” he says.

The CHRO advises readers to be rational if they wish to follow their passion.

The verdict: Either leverage the passion for financial security or treat it as a hobby
If you have a passion, experts often recommend two options — either learn to monetise it or let it stay a hobby and build your career in a separate area of work.

Prakash says mere passion isn’t sufficient. One must possess the acumen to discern how their passions can be financially advantageous. Plus, he says people should be open to making tweaks and adjustments to their passions or interests to translate those into a money-generating product or service.

Having said that, one effective approach that has undoubtedly proven successful for him and his acquaintances is treating passion as a hobby. Therefore, his advice to youth is to find time to use the passion to nurture the soul while continuing in a separate occupation that secures a livelihood. Amid the demands of daily existence, it’s the passion that keeps you running, he adds.