The Passion Trap
Poll a thousand successful people. They all love what they do. So the world concludes: do what you love and you'll be successful. Ben Horowitz says hold on.
Maybe they love it because they're successful. Maybe being great at something makes you love it. The causation might run backwards.
It might be the case that if you're successful, you love what you do. You just love being successful.
Three Problems with Passion
First, passions are hard to rank. Are you more passionate about math or engineering? Video games or K-pop? Good luck choosing. But what are you good at? That's easier to figure out.
Second, what you love at 21 won't be what you love at 40. Third, and this is the killer: you might not be good at your passion. American Idol proved that.
Just because you love singing doesn't mean you should be a professional singer.
The Me Problem
Horowitz saves his best shot for last. Following your passion is selfish. It puts you at the center of every decision. What do I want? What makes me happy?
But the people who build great lives don't ask those questions. They ask: what can I give? What am I built to contribute?
Following your passion is a very me-centered view of the world.
Follow Your Contribution Instead
Horowitz's advice is simple. Find the thing you're great at. Put it into the world. Help others. Make something better.
What you take from the world will never matter as much as what you put into it. That's not a greeting card. That's a career strategy.
Find the thing that you're great at. Put that into the world. Contribute to others. Help the world be better.