“Find your passion, do what you love, and keep hustling.”
~ Every self-help guru ever.
Let’s cut through the fluff: this advice is overrated.
I once chased the fantasy of a perfect job, thinking it would light my soul on fire. Spoiler alert—it didn’t. That ‘perfect job’ I was passionate about did NOT work out for me.
Passion + hard work isn’t a golden ticket to fulfillment.
If passion + hard work were enough for consistent, great results, then every single person working hard on something they love would achieve exceptional success and have excellent mental health.
But you and I know people ‘doing what they love’ who are still burning out every single day.
The thing is, doing what you love is not enough.
💡 Doing it the WAY YOU LOVE TO DO IT is more important.
Think about it:
🎨 If you’re a world-famous watercolor artist and I asked you to paint a masterpiece without watercolors, what would happen?
You’d still be doing what you love, but not the way you love to do it. You think you’d still create a masterpiece? No way!
In fact, it would cause stress and eventually lead to burnout.
Focus on HOW You Do Your Work, Not Just on WHAT You Do
If there’s something you’re passionate about in your job, that’s great.
But don’t stop there.
Consider how authentic you feel while doing your job. Work in a way that feels natural to you. Align your work with your true self for genuine satisfaction and purpose, even if the job isn’t ideal.
❌ Find what you love doing (Passion)
✅ Find how you love to work (Authenticity)
Here are three checklist items to assess how AUTHENTIC you feel at work:
1. Do your CORE VALUES show up in your job role?
If teamwork is crucial to you, avoid siloed projects; seek collaborative roles.
If innovation drives you, push for creative tasks.
Find a work environment (or negotiate for one) that aligns with your core values.
This makes work more meaningful.
2. Do you leverage your STRENGTHS at work?
If you’re good at teaching, find ways to mentor.
If you’re a problem-solver, tackle complex projects.
Ensure your strengths are fully utilized.
This makes work less stressful.
3. Are you operating within your WORK STYLES & PREFERENCES?
Are you a morning person? Do the tough stuff early before the rest of the team shows up.
Are you a night owl? See if you can wrap up work early and reconnect later at night.
Design your day to match your natural rhythm.
This makes work more effortless.
Tips for Managers
Managers, you’ve done your best to hire the top talent in the market and put them in roles they’re passionate about. But don’t stop there! Where possible:
- Match roles with core values: Find out their core values and assign tasks that align with employees’ beliefs, like teamwork or innovation.
- Utilize strengths: Discover their strengths and brainstorm how employees can leverage their unique skills, such as mentoring or problem-solving.
- Respect work styles: Offer flexibility in work hours and environments to suit individual preferences and productivity peaks.
Flow is not about finding the perfect job—it’s about creating the perfect environment for yourself so you can operate in your most natural, authentic state.
Work doesn’t have to kill you — literally or figuratively.
Work needs to be more like play.
It’s your game; play it your way.
