The "follow your passion" advice is hurting more careers than it helps

I keep seeing this pushed in every career thread. Just do what you love and the money will come. I tried that out of college. Spent 3 years chasing my passion for graphic design. Ended up 22k in credit card debt and hating art. My buddy went into HVAC because his uncle said it paid decent. He makes 65k a year now with zero debt and uses his free time to paint. Seems like the better deal to me. Has anyone else seen this advice backfire?

2 comments

2 Comments

park.riley4d ago

22k in credit card debt from chasing a passion is rough, but I saw a guy who took it even further. He maxed out a 401k loan to start a pottery studio because he loved making mugs. The studio closed in 8 months, and he had to move back in with his parents at 34. Your HVAC friend is living the dream honestly, steady pay and still time for art. The real trick might be treating your passion as a hobby and getting a job that funds it without stress.

max_ramirez484d ago

Agreed with @park.riley, that pottery story is brutal. 34 and back with your parents after a 401k loan is tough to even think about. I feel for the guy, but it's a good warning about letting a passion run your finances into the ground. Your HVAC friend really does have it figured out, steady money buys a lot of peace of mind and free time to actually enjoy the art on his own terms. I hope that mug maker finds his footing again, but man, that's a hard lesson in separating what you love from how you pay the bills.