[WINii] Is Following Your Passion Overrated?

Hi WINers!

WINers who know me personally know that I’ve struggled with burnout several times in the past few years. I spend so much time working, I’ve developed almost a compulsion to find THE meaning and satisfaction from my career. I’ve been asking myself: Should my career be my passion, or is it healthier to separate my sense of identity from my job?

In today’s newsletter, you’ll meet Joelle, who decided to step away from chasing her dream career. When passion collided with reality, she made a bold pivot into tech.

Plus, we’ll dive into why "follow your dreams" might not always be the best advice—and explore what to do instead.

Let's go! 👇

✨ Running Down a Dream

Should you follow your passions? And if you do, will it solve all of your problems?

Joelle Nivens discovered her passion early. When she was getting her doctorate in archeology, she hit her highest career goals…but her life satisfaction was at an all-time low. It turns out her dream career in academia wasn't sustainable, and it took her years to work through the burn out.

Joelle then pivoted her career into tech, shifting her research focus from neolithic to modern day human behaviors. Her chase to a more stable career was met by the onset of the biggest tech layoffs the industry has seen.

In a recent episode of MoneyBites, Joelle shares all about her money journey (courtesy of her grandma's lesson on always keeping cuss money) and how she's navigating a UXR career in big tech.

Check out my interview with Joelle here! 👇

🎧 Listen on Spotify 

✅ Dream Job Reality Check

For some, following their passion leads to the best possible outcome. 

However, the advice to "follow your passion" isn't one-size-fits all. Here's the truth about letting your passions run the show:

• We humans change and evolve throughout our lives. That means our passions can change, too. While some people discover their passion early and it lasts their entire lives, other people experience much more fluidity.

• You can be perfectly satisfied in a job without being passionate about it. According to recent statistics, 65% of U.S. employees report being satisfied with their jobs, but only 20% said they're passionate. 

• Fulfillment in life doesn't just come from work. Our relationships, hobbies, and so much more give us happiness and enjoyment. 

Ready for a career change, but don't want to chase a giant dream? Here's what to do instead:

• Instead of following your passion, follow your competence. Identify what you're best at and what comes easiest to you. Then, look for jobs that match.

• Develop a broad skill set to give you more career options. When you broaden your skills, you'll be able to break into different industries and experiences.

• Stay committed to discovering your interests and passions, but marry them with practical career goals. This allows you to find a job that gives you satisfaction, but maybe with a lot less burnout.

Want more evidence that following your passion might be bad advice?

In this video, best-selling author Cal Newport makes the case that passion is found by first building a rare and valuable talent and using it to take control of your career path. 

Check it out here! ⏬

Did you take a leap and go all-in on following your passion? If so, do you have any regrets?

Hit reply and tell us about it!

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Minki
Founder, WINii
Making wealth building actionable for women in tech. Empowering a million women to become millionaires!