Looking to turn your passion into a profession? Think again!

It is a widely accepted notion that converting your passion into your profession is the most wise thing to do. It is pretty natural to think that if one is going to be spending several hours at work, he might as well do something he is genuinely interested in. 

Although numerous research studies have shown that getting into a profession which also happens to be your interest leads to better job satisfaction, growth and work performance, it is time we think of pursuing a career that is not our passion but will prove to be a conduit to it.

While there are definitely upsides to combining your work and your passion, like all choices, it comes with some trade-offs as well. According to some research, transforming hobbies into work can actually undermine your enjoyment of these activities. Pursuing a passion outside of work can be less risky. What can be considered wise is, looking for a job that gives you the security, income, time and energy to pursue your passion.

For instance, if time is your scarcest resource, look for a job that offers schedule flexibility so that you can structure your work around your interests. Similarly, if money is the issue, look for a job that allows you to pay for the life you want to lead.

Pursuing passion outside of work

Converting your interest into a profession might increase the chances of it becoming just another mundane thing draining your energy. For instance, if you are passionate about the News, you might consider pursuing a job as a reporter, but chances are that you will end up working long and non-traditional hours, which would not only drain all your energy but make your passion feel more like a burden to you. Similarly, if you plan to turn your passion for cooking into a profession, you may end up running your own restaurant while going through the emotional rollercoaster of constantly worrying about its commercial success.

The approach of looking for a profession that aids you in pursuing your passion, gives you more freedom to explore a passion that you might be nervous about committing to as a career, since you’re free from the pressure of turning it into your full-time career and making a living out of it.

Personal-professional life balance

Segregating your passion and profession in different watertight compartments can help you balance what you love and your nine-to-five professional life. It can help you build healthy boundaries which will allow you to unwind and become a part of communities who share similar interests like yours. You can get to know like-minded people who might offer you a clear insight into what your day-to-day would look like if you ultimately do decide to make your passion your job. 

There are other benefits to keeping work and passion separate. Some research suggests that transforming hobbies into work could snatch away the satisfaction that you would have gained from these activities, as your interest gets sapped by the pursuit of external rewards like compensation. This particularly holds true for creative passions, such as writing, art, or music. Your interests might also evolve and develop over time, so you may not want to lock into a career path based solely on your current interest, as it might be more of an issue in the long term. 

What should you look for in a job?

Passions can define us as individuals and help us in making our lives more satisfying and meaningful. But passion doesn’t necessarily have to define our work. Looking from a different perspective, passion can be considered as something that can be pursued through work, outside of it, in ways that are most fulfilling for us. So, what exactly should you be looking for while considering a profession for yourself? 

We suggest asking yourself: “Will this job give me the resources — meaning time, money, and energy to pursue my passions?” Follow up with questions like, “Which industries will allow me to pursue things I’m interested in? How do the constraints of these industries align, or conflict with, my other goals — like my desire to have a family, spend time on my hobbies, build wealth, or choose where I want to live?”

Like discussed above, if time is your scarcest resource, finding a job that offers schedule flexibility and predictability is one way to gain more time for your passions. Luckily, flexible work arrangements are being increasingly embraced by companies across the globe nowadays. Would you want to take a mid-day break to go play a badminton match? Perfect your latest cake recipe? Dance? Or just practice an instrument? When considering flexible work arrangements, think about how you can structure your job around the hobbies, art, or activities you are passionate about.

If money is your biggest concern, make sure you look for a job that allows you to pay for the life you want to lead. If you pursue expensive passions, then your job is one way of making sure you can afford them.

Finally, when it comes to energy, it’s less about the actual job you hold, and more a matter of how you view your job. Those who pursue passion outside of work often find that those personal interests energize them to go to work and do their jobs well. But, at the same time, your job shouldn’t just be completely draining; instead, we recommend you see your job as an integral part of your passion pursuit.

Without the security, flexibility, and income it provides you, you wouldn’t be able to pursue your passion at all. Seeing your job as the fundamental basis that enables you to pursue your passion will help you value your job — and can give you the energy to excel at it.

The takeaway 

Although passion is a crucial factor to consider while choosing a job, it's not the only factor. Instead of asking, “How can I find a job that I’m passionate about?” try asking, “How can my career be a conduit to passion?” 

Reframing the question this way liberates you and helps you think objectively so that you can honestly weigh the pros and cons of pursuing your passion through work.

You can also play devil’s advocate and ask: “Do I need to pursue my passion through my work? What would it look like to pursue this passion outside of work? Would it be equally fulfilling?”

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