Should You Mix Passion and Work?
Summary
- Never create work solely around your current passion; assume that your interests can evolve, especially when it doesn't generate income.
- Embrace the inevitability of initially being unskilled at new endeavors; discomfort is part of growth and learning.
- Anticipate that many tasks will be challenging or unenjoyable at first, but competency will develop with practice and time.
- Acknowledge that gaining expertise in something can lead to status, which in turn can make the process more rewarding, creating a positive feedback loop.
- Develop a mindset where you find satisfaction in becoming skilled at something, even if it was not your original passion.
Video
How To Take Action
I would suggest starting by shifting how you think. Don’t just choose to work on what you’re passionate about now. Your interests can change, and some things don’t earn money right away. It’s smart to focus on skills you can improve on, even if you don't love them at first.
A good way of dealing with new challenges is to know it's okay to be unskilled at the start. Remember, everyone starts somewhere, and learning can be tough. It's normal to feel uncomfortable at first. But, it's in these tough starts that you grow.
When you're working on something hard, expect that you won't like some parts of it. But keep at it! With time and practice, you’ll get better and it’ll start to feel rewarding.
It's important to know that as you get good at something, you might also earn respect from others. When people see what you can do, it feels great. That good feeling can keep you going, even when the work is hard.
Here’s what you specifically need to do: make a plan to practice regularly the skill you want to improve on, even if it’s not your favorite thing right now. Set small goals so it doesn’t feel too big or scary. Stick with it, and over time, you’ll notice the change. You'll start feeling the happiness that comes from getting better at something. This will make it all worth it because your skill can turn into something you’re passionate about later.
Quotes by Alex Hormozi
"Never create work around your passion because then it'll become work"
– Alex Hormozi
"What you're going to be doing every day is the thing that you're currently really interested in"
– Alex Hormozi
"Whenever you're doing these new things…you will suck at them"
– Alex Hormozi
"Eventually you will get good at the things that you suck at"
– Alex Hormozi
"You'll enjoy the fruits of status more than the pain of doing the thing"
– Alex Hormozi
Full Transcript
I had a different Mentor later in my life who said never create work around your passion because then it'll become work and he was a guy who's a very successful business guy and I think about that actually more than I than I share because it's just complete and utter because it assumes that what you're going to be doing every day is the thing that you're currently really interested which also doesn't make you money and so your behavior has to change and whenever you're doing these new things one they'll be new which means you will suck at them which means you'll probably not like them but it's also part of it and so like I would prefer to take the extreme opposite position of everything will suck and eventually you will get good at the things that you suck at and then you'll enjoy being competent at that thing which will then probably give you status and you'll enjoy the fruits of status more than the pain of doing the thing and in so doing create a positive feedback loop that you'll actually keep sticking with it
