Is following your passion the best career move? In the Wylde blog this week we’re looking into the pros and cons of following your heart and pursuing a career in the field you are most passionate about. Whilst on paper, the immediate urge is to answer this with a yes – the saying goes something like ““Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life,” – Does this actually mean going down a career path directed by your passion, or does it simply mean you should find a work-role that you enjoy?
At Wylde we are a tight-knit and experienced team of designers – our knowledge spans from architecture, interior design, workplace consultancy, to project management, art-working and graphic design to name a few, and we’re certainly passionate about what we do. That being said, it is a very trepidatious road to pursue a career (let alone set up a company) that is lead by your passion because you are so incredibly invested in it.
Perhaps the key to success in this debate is – can you monetise your passion? If the answer if yes, it’s still important to work out if by the time you have dedicated your time, energy and resources to monetising your passion – will you still feel the same way about your passion?
Another point worth considering is that people’s passions seem to change as they grow older and its seems that we’re not actually as passionate about the things we were was convinced we were passionate about when we were in our late teens or twenties and first stepping onto the career ladder.
We believe as a team of creatives, that it’s crucial to utilise each other’s strengths and passions. There’s one thing starting a venture based on your own personal passion, but at some stage you will expand and need a team that may or may not feel the same way about the business as you do. This is why it’s vital that there is a level of communication and flexibility within the workplace that helps individuals feel supported and enabled in their roles, whilst also motivating and inspiring them to explore opportunities.
The general consensus seems to be that you should explore opportunities and gain experience across a wealth of industries or passions before you can make an informed decision about whether to pursue a career path based on it. There is nothing lost from having experience in different sectors and the skills that are learnt across all different industries are often transferrable and end up being an asset to you and what you bring to the table.
Of course, there is something to be said for making a successful career out of your passion – and this doesn’t mean getting rich from it. The value and fulfilment that can be gained through doing something you love is unrivalled. Just make sure you don’t fall out of love with it – because take it from us, it’s hard to switch off and your job becomes part of your personality!
Here we are, doing what we do best (although we don’t seem to have all the photos of us with our heads down at our desks or travelling to and from sites!)
