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Don't Follow Your Passion (Mike Rowe for Prager University)
Preger University ^ | 6-6-2016 | Mike Rowe

Posted on 06/06/2016 5:41:12 AM PDT by servo1969

There are only two things I can tell you today that come with absolutely no agenda. The first is "Congratulations." The second is "Good luck." Everything else is what I like to call, "The Dirty Truth," which is just another way of saying, "It's my opinion."

And in my opinion, you have all been given some terrible advice, and that advice, is this:

Follow your passion.

Every time I watch the Oscars, I cringe when some famous movie star--trophy in hand--starts to deconstruct the secret of their success. It's always the same thing: "Don't let anyone tell you that you don't have what it takes, kid!"; and the ever popular, "Never give up on your dreams!"

Look, I understand the importance of persistence, and the value of encouragement, but who tells a stranger to never give up on their dreams, without even knowing what it is they're dreaming? How can Lady Gaga possibly know where your passion will lead you?

Have these people never seen American Idol?

Year after year, thousands of aspiring American Idols show up with great expectations, only to learn that they don't possess the skills they thought they did.

What's really amazing though, is not their lack of talent--the world is full of people who can't sing. It's their genuine shock at being rejected--the incredible realization that their passion and their ability had nothing to do with each other.

Look, if we're talking about your hobby, by all means let your passion lead you.

But when it comes to making a living, it's easy to forget the dirty truth: just because you're passionate about something doesn't mean you won't suck at it.

And just because you've earned a degree in your chosen field, doesn't mean you're gonna find your "dream job."

Dream Jobs are usually just that--dreams.

But their imaginary existence just might keep you from exploring careers that offer a legitimate chance to perform meaningful work and develop a genuine passion for the job you already have. Because here's another Dirty Truth: your happiness on the job has very little to do with the work itself.

On Dirty Jobs, I remember a very successful septic tank cleaner, a multi-millionaire, who told me the secret to his success:

"I looked around to see where everyone else was headed," he said, "And then I went the opposite way. Then I got good at my work. Then I began to prosper. And then one day, I realized I was passionate about other people's crap."

I've heard that same basic story from welders, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, HVAC professionals, hundreds of other skilled tradesmen who followed opportunity--not passion--and prospered as a result.

Consider the reality of the current job market.

Right now, millions of people with degrees and diplomas are out there competing for a relatively narrow set of opportunities that polite society calls "good careers." Meanwhile, employers are struggling to fill nearly 5.8 million jobs that nobody's trained to do. This is the skills gap, it's real, and its cause is actually very simple: when people follow their passion, they miss out on all kinds of opportunities they didn't even know existed.

When I was 16, I wanted to follow in my grandfather's footsteps. He was a skilled tradesman who could build a house without a blueprint. That was my passion, and I followed it for years. I took all the shop classes at school, I did all I could to absorb the knowledge and skill that came so easily to my granddad.

Unfortunately, the handy gene is recessive. It skipped right over me, and I struggled mightily to overcome my deficiencies. But I couldn't. I was one of those contestants on American Idol, who believed his passion was enough to ensure his success.

One day, I brought home a sconce I had made in wood-shop that looked like a paramecium. After a heavy sigh, my granddad gave me the best advice I've ever received. He told me, "Mike, you can still be a tradesman, but only if you get yourself a different kind of toolbox."

At the time, this felt contrary to everything I believed about the importance of "passion" and persistence and "staying the course." But of course, he was right. Because "staying the course" only makes sense if you're headed in a sensible direction.

And while passion is way too important to be without, it is way too fickle to follow around.

Which brings us to the final Dirty Truth. "Never follow your passion, but always bring it with you."

Congratulations, again - and good luck.

I'm Mike Rowe from mikeroweWORKS, for Prager University.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: mike; prager; rowe
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To: servo1969

“Which brings us to the final Dirty Truth. “Never follow your passion, but always bring it with you.””

I’ll have to remember that for my grandkids.


61 posted on 06/06/2016 8:39:59 AM PDT by aquila48
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To: servo1969

Bump


62 posted on 06/06/2016 8:43:47 AM PDT by TexasTransplant (Idiocracy used to just be a Movie... Live every day as your last...one day you will be right)
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To: servo1969

Maybe the advice for success should be... “be passionate about what you’re good at”

It’s easier to talk yourself into liking something than to create a talent that you don’t possess.


63 posted on 06/06/2016 8:53:18 AM PDT by aquila48
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To: servo1969

As always, good advice from Mike.


64 posted on 06/06/2016 8:58:20 AM PDT by gattaca (Republicans believe every day is July 4, democrats believe every day is April 15. Ronald Reagan)
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To: Don Hernando de Las Casas

My circle;

Pipe Fitter buddy that does commercial service work made $115,000 last year.
Pipe Fitter friend number two made $95,000 last year.

Difference was one made 10% over scale while the other made 5% over scale.

Father in law made $85,000 last year as a Boilermaker and was off about 3-4 months but while he was working he did several 70-80 hour weeks for plant shutdowns.

Another friend made $85,000 as a Sheet Metal Worker.

None of these had a college education but all of them did go through apprenticeship training when they started.

I was a Operating Engineer. I repair heavy equipment.
I left my employer years ago and have my own independent shop.
I do not draw as much money as I used to make but I am building equity in my business.
Last year I was employed I ran the shop and made $130,000

All of the trades on the west coast make nearly the same as those of us in the Midwest.


65 posted on 06/06/2016 9:00:52 AM PDT by Romans Nine
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To: lurk

“But he was in pro opera.”


Huh ???????????

.


66 posted on 06/06/2016 9:03:03 AM PDT by Mears
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To: wally_bert
I made a gun rack in 5th grade.

I tried to make a sailboat in shop class. Halfway thru it I had to throw the piece of crap away and make a lamp........

67 posted on 06/06/2016 9:08:21 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco (My only regret in life is being too young to get to know my grandfathers before they died)
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To: Mears

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/well-that-was-unexpected-mike-rowe-sings-opera-live-on-cnn/


68 posted on 06/06/2016 9:11:36 AM PDT by Jamestown1630 ("A Republic, If you can keep it.")
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To: Jamestown1630

Well I’ll be damned-—I did not know that.

Thanks.

.


69 posted on 06/06/2016 9:15:28 AM PDT by Mears
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To: servo1969

Reminds me of an interview that Johnny Depp gave shortly after he had portrayed Ed Wood on screen.

“The fascinating thing about Ed Wood was that he did not allow a near complete lack of talent to deter him from pursuing his dream.”


70 posted on 06/06/2016 10:54:40 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: dp0622

Wow, great self examination there. Bravo. Some people never take the time and see where things went wrong. They just plunge into something else like it.


71 posted on 06/06/2016 2:44:07 PM PDT by Yaelle (Tinkerbelle glittering up the runway for Trump Force One!)
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To: Don Hernando de Las Casas

The Idol contestants that were stunned to find out they couldn’t sing always amazed me too. Did they never sing before any family members? Did the family members lie to them? How can you assume you’re a great singer?


72 posted on 06/06/2016 2:46:18 PM PDT by Yaelle (Tinkerbelle glittering up the runway for Trump Force One!)
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To: Yaelle

Some people will always say “Bless your heart” and not really say what they think. Then there is Simon Cowell..... who will

Malcolm in the Middle. The parents are dancing like Fred and Ginger but at the end you hear dishes getting smashed as they really cannot dance. (spanglish)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9e-rn8F90E


73 posted on 06/06/2016 3:33:26 PM PDT by minnesota_bound
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To: Yaelle

Believe me, I took a 20 plus year beating before i realized what i was. darn. but better than never i guess :)


74 posted on 06/06/2016 3:43:32 PM PDT by dp0622 (The only thing an upper crust conservative hates more than a liberal is a middle class conservative)
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To: Yaelle

Precisely. But it goes even deeper than that. Suppose for a moment that Susie has a good voice. How does she get it in her head that she IS the next Taylor Swift and she WILL win the competition, and her life of fame and fortune is assured? That is pure madness... To KNOW that you are a superstar and that it’s all over but the coronation.


75 posted on 06/06/2016 6:06:00 PM PDT by Don Hernando de Las Casas
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To: Don Hernando de Las Casas

Yes, it is crazy. How dare they think they will win? How are we raising people with zero common sense? I’m sure some people, maybe Adam Lambert, for instance, actually thought there was a good chance of winning. But very very few. Most of the winners did not feel that way.


76 posted on 06/06/2016 6:47:13 PM PDT by Yaelle (Tinkerbelle glittering up the runway for Trump Force One!)
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To: Zathras

I hope that you are right. My only son graduated a month ago summa cum laude with a bachelors in mechanical engineering with a minor in math with special emphasis on robotics. He starts work tomorrow with a small robotics company to gain experience hopefully to continue in the direction of his passion.

The funny thing is that when he was three he had nightmares about robots. Never anything else, just robots. Funny thing isn’t it?

You can tell that I can’t stop bragging.


77 posted on 06/06/2016 7:01:34 PM PDT by DeSoto
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To: DeSoto

Sounds like a great kid, with a great accomplishment.

SCL, BSME.

Keep bragging.


78 posted on 06/06/2016 7:04:05 PM PDT by exit82 (Road Runner sez:" Let's Make America Beeping Great Again! Beep! Beep!")
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To: exit82

Thanks, I am bragging a lot. My wife gets exasperated when I stop total strangers in stores to tell them.

I guess that I gotta back off some. 8<)


79 posted on 06/06/2016 7:13:52 PM PDT by DeSoto
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To: akalinin

BTT


80 posted on 06/06/2016 7:17:51 PM PDT by farming pharmer (www.sterlingheightsreport.com)
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