It’s time to take the passion monkey off our backs—seriously!
Steve Jobs famously told graduates in his 2005 Stanford commencement speech:
“You’ve got to find what you love. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle!”
That quote has fueled an entire generation’s obsession with chasing their “one true passion.” But in 2025, let’s be real—does that mean you should drop everything, ignore practical needs (like rent, food, and personal growth), and hold out for a career that magically fulfills your soul?
Not according to research. Studies suggest that developing your passion(s) is far more important than relentlessly searching for a single “calling.” When we pin our entire sense of purpose on one thing, we risk feeling lost when that thing changes—or doesn’t pan out the way we hoped.
In other words, life isn’t a straight path—it’s a series of possibilities.
Author Cleo Wade put it best in her TED talk:
“Why are we putting the pressure on ourselves to have one purpose or one passion?”
Your 9-to-5 job doesn’t have to define you. It can—but it doesn’t have to be the sole source of purpose or joy in your life. Sometimes, a job is simply how you pay the bills, and that’s absolutely okay.
So here’s the truth: You can like what you do—maybe even love what you do —without sacrificing the rest of your life. You can have multiple passions, and your career is just one piece of the puzzle.
Want to explore how to find joy in ALL areas of your life? Check out my podcast, Passion and Work – Is It Possible?, for a simple exercise to help you do just that.
Till the next time, keep it real.
Karen
