Not Sure About Your Passion? Start with What You’re Good At

When it comes to choosing a career, passion is often seen as the ultimate guide. But what if it isn't passion that leads the way? Perhaps it’s the role passion plays in our decisions that’s worth exploring.

Understanding Your Strengths Before Passion

In my experience, few people truly know what they’re passionate about from a young age. Some do. The mother of my children, for instance, knew from the age of 12 that she wanted to be a nurse at Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. She followed that path and has enjoyed an incredible career. Another example is a friend’s son-in-law who has always wanted to be a vet and is now a successful one. These stories, however, are rare exceptions.

For the majority, career decisions often start by understanding what they’re good at, not necessarily what they’re passionate about. When you focus on your strengths and how they can be applied in the workplace, you create a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment. Over time, that fulfilment can evolve into passion.

The Power of Mastery

Being good at something tends to encourage us to repeat the behavior. The recognition and self-satisfaction that come from mastering a skill can create a powerful feedback loop, driving us toward more of the same. This can be the first step toward discovering your passion.

Whatever your talents are—and we all have unique ones—becoming aware of them is the key to taking the first step in your career. Mastery leads to rewards, whether they are intrinsic (a sense of accomplishment) or extrinsic (acknowledgment from others). These rewards often ignite passion.

Passion Through Progress

If you’re uncertain about your passion or unsure how to make it pay, start by focusing on your strengths. Develop a deep awareness of what you’re good at, and make career choices that leverage that knowledge. Passion is often a byproduct of excelling at something and seeing the impact of your efforts.

Have you ever discovered a passion through your strengths or career choices? Or have you had to pivot and find new ways to incorporate your talents into your life? I’d love to hear your stories and insights—share them in the comments below! Let’s learn from each other’s experiences and continue to grow together.