“Follow your passion.”
Less than 20% of people have an identifiable passion, meaning the vast majority of people don't. Of course we think we’re supposed to because in high school there was that one verbose guy who was "passionate" about the ocean so he became a marine biologist. Or that one girl from college who talked about knowing she wanted to be a chef ever since she was in 4th grade. Oh yeah, and then that one teacher in 8th grade who told us over and over again to just follow our passion and turn it into our career. The list probably goes on.
But if you're anything like me, or more than 80% of other humans, whenever you heard these messages you freaked out a little inside because you had no idea what you were passionate about, and maybe still don't.
The message “follow your passion” is literally unproductive because it’s telling the vast majority of people to spend their energy fretting that they don’t have a passion, which is a waste of time and it's solving the WRONG problem.
For most people, passion is developed (not innate) when they combine doing things they’re good at along with their values and motivations.
So rather than find your passion, I say understand what you’re best at, what you value, and how you’re motivated. In doing so you’ll develop passion.
“You should know by now.”
Maybe back in the day having one or two careers was the status quo, but not anymore, plain and simple. People nowadays are averaging between 5-7 different careers throughout their working life, and around 12 different jobs from ages 18 to 50 years old. Many reasons account for this, including people’s desire for increased salary, upward mobility, flexibility with their work schedule, and because it is normalized in the workforce to have many different careers. In fact, lots of employers see hybrid professionals as assets with valuable knowledge, experiences, perspectives, and skills they can bring to the table.
Our careers are living and breathing, just as we are. As we learn, iterate, and evolve as professionals, our careers should, too.
So, have no fear if you don’t know what is next, you’re just in a liminal stage, which is completely normal to prompt discomfort AND an exciting time to be thoughtful about your next iteration/evolution.
“Find your one dream job.”
There are many, many paths that can give you your “dream job” and NOT just one. There are many versions of your career that can all be just as satisfying and rewarding.
Your dream jobs may be the ones that allows you flexibility to pursue life outside of work, or ones that give you enough money and stability to be comfortable, or ones that give you deep purpose.
Bottom line, it’s different for everyone and everyone has the choice to choose which paths are most satisfying for them.
“Be the best version of yourself.”
Ugh, there is something implicitly condescending about this statement to me. It suggests that there is only one version of yourself that is best, and at all costs, be that one person.
This is hokey at best and creates unproductive pressure on people to be the same one dimensional persona all the time. It also suggests that there is only one best version of yourself rather than acknowledging and celebrating the multi-dimensional person you likely are.
So, just be you in all your complexity and contradictions, notice what gets in your way, and build your career vision the conditions that will feed the many different identities you have, rather than suffocate them.
“Fake it until you make it.”
This one really gets me. It’s basically reiterating the unproductive message that if we don't know something, or aren't perfect, or need help, then we are weak, not smart, and/or unworthy.
The funny thing is the opposite is true. When you are willing to name and own when you need help, you are inviting learning and growth, which will make you more effective. Also, expressing vulnerability builds trust and team relationships, and models to yourself and others that vulnerability is a key leadership behavior.
So, what to do instead? Acknowledge when you don’t know, get curious and learn whatever it is you don't know, ask for help when needed, and model vulnerability as an effective and important leadership skill.
What are some of your least favorite pieces of career advice?
I'd love to know.
Are you ready to take your career to the next level? Schedule a free strategy session for a custom road map: https://www.careerupgradecoaching.com/book-schedule-with-erin