Too Many Passions? 9 Ways to Determine Which One Should Be Your Career
Article by YEC
It can be difficult to find your way when you have a million interests tugging at your soul. They all seem like waiting opportunities, but which one is the right path for you?
When you try to single out just one passion to build a career around, you may feel like you are giving up other key interests. You may also struggle with whether to chose the best possible option of all the ones available or something less fulfilling but more likely to work out.
So, how do you make a decision? To figure that out, we asked members of Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) for some advice on how to find your calling when you have a wide range of interests competing for your attention. Here’s what they had to say:
1. Focus on What Keeps Coming Back
“Take notice of the interest that keeps coming back most often. For instance, if you’re really interested in painting and playing the guitar but you find yourself reaching for the paintbrush more often, that might be a sign it’s your true calling.” — John Turner, SeedProd LLC
2. Jump In
“The only way to know which passion you should pursue is to try them all. Pick one and go for it. If you don’t enjoy it, move on to the next one. If you find one you like, do the others as side hustles or hobbies. In today’s world, there are plenty of opportunities to dabble in multiple activities.” — Zach Binder, Bell + Ivy
3. Try Month-Long Experiments
“There is no need to find your ‘one true calling’ if you enjoy learning about multiple topics. But if you really want to explore your passions, schedule a month of deep focus on one topic. Meet with people in the industry or role. Read every relevant newsletter and book. Wake up early and work on the topic. After 20 or 30 days of intense study, give yourself permission to double down or drop it.” — Aaron Schwartz, Passport
4. Stay Patient
“Passion isn’t something you can just learn one day. When someone is passionate about something, it happens naturally. If you’re not passionate about any of your interests, you should consider just relaxing and learning more about yourself over time while discovering new interests. Let passion find you.” — David Henzel, LTVPlus
5. Ask Others
“Ask others in your circle what they think you are best at and most enthusiastic about. What do they consider your biggest strengths? Which interest causes your eyes to light up when you talk to them about it? This feedback is valuable when you are not sure yourself.” — Serenity Gibbons, NAACP
6. Do Nothing
“If you’re unsure of your true calling, there’s one surefire way to find it: Take some time to do absolutely nothing — no work, no hobbies, just complete, aimless freedom. Whatever activities or interests seem the most appealing to you in this period of time are probably things you’re passionate about, and it would be smart for you to pursue that path in your professional and/or personal life.” — Bryce Welker, Beat The CPA
7. Stay Agile
“If you have not yet discovered your particular niche, focus your career on a wide range of interests. By exploring multiple interests, you will gain more experience and could possibly find your calling during the process. If not, at least you will have a wide range of experiences and be better positioned to remain agile until you find your true passion.” — Matthew Podolsky, Florida Law Advisers, P.A.
8. Do Your Research
“If you have many interests but no clear passion, maybe it’s time to dive a little deeper. Take your time to research and experience the full range of your interests. If at any point you think to yourself, ‘I’d rather not do this,’ then it’s probably not your calling. If you’re finding the information fascinating, then focus on that and see how passionate you really feel.” — Anthony Saladino, Kitchen Cabinet Kings
9. Look Elsewhere
“Sometimes your general interests are simply not meant to be your passion. If you’re not devoted enough to invest full time in one of your interests, perhaps it’s time you start researching other topics and niches in order to find something you are truly passionate about. Some people spend their entire lives looking for something that inspires passion. Don’t give up.” — Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner
A version of this article originally appeared on SUCCESS.com.
Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.
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