Qualifying Ourselves

When shifting directions, new opportunities, and exciting ideas present themselves, sometimes the notion of following passion vs. working in a realm that you're "good at" collide. 

Illustration by Jack Cunningham

In the world of design and with the title of being a "creative" there is a silent expectation that you will always create. You will shake the current ideas and look at it in a way that could yield a better or different option. Often tied into this expectation is that you're following your "passion." It's difficult to be financially successful at times, so what drives you must be passion and not the cut of a check. This is where realizations crop up, and the notion of "passion" can be lost. 

Passion vs. Performance 

The simple notion of eulogy > resume seems straightforward, but when you're in the mentality that you need to attain "success," your own well-being and passions are compromised. A resume is often void of quirks. Your first grunt job could pay well, but what if there's no room for growth? No desired future. It's not a way to quality yourself, yet we often compromise so much to believe that it is. 

But we all already know that. We're constantly trying for new ways to present ourselves so that we come across as more authentic compared to the Times New Roman size 12 double-spaced standard. The real point to be made here, is don't obsess over the "passion." Instead, focus on what you're good at and the passion will come naturally. I used to think that I wanted to be a doctor growing up, it became a sort of "idealistic passion." When I started to apply myself more and become educated about what it actually meant to be a doctor, my small facade of passion quickly dwindled. 

When I started cooking at a young age and my strange flavor combinations became more and more pointed and palatable, I realized that not only was I excited or passionate about cooking, I was good at it. I could serve a purpose and be effective. Passion keeps the drive for the things I'm good at alive. If I was passionate about public speaking, but actually terrible at it, then I'm useless. Passion without a purpose or a result is a wasted effort. Being valued for what you're damn good at should never be taken as lesser. If you're good at accounting, excellent at making a soufflé, a genius when it comes to jeopardy, don't dismiss it because it's not your "passion," acknowledge that you're useful and that is valuable. Stay passionate, and stay useful. It's the perfect combo.