I've been reading a book for a business class titled So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport. The book's main argument is that "skills trump passion in the quest for work you love". If I wouldn't have had to read it for this class I would have thrown it in the trash after the first 10 pages.
Chapter 1: "Don't follow your passion" with a bolded quote on page 6 " 'Follow your passion' might just be terrible advice ".Reading what this man had to say literally made me antsy. Like when you are in the middle of an argument about some fiery topic and the other person is just making a fool out of themselves and you just want to stop them before they go any further; but you know the courteous thing to do is to wait your turn and listen to what they have to say. You might be thinking to yourself "Oh, she's THAT girl!" (not saying that I'm not) but this topic is a bit personal for me.
When I was in middle school I took a photography elective where we learned how to take pictures of flowers and cats. And after 3 months I thoroughly enjoyed taking pictures of flowers and cats. I started taking pictures of everything! Literally! I also started the selfie trend.... but we won't post those photos online.
A few years later I was a sophomore in high school and I was chatting with a friend on Facebook (I was too socially awkward to do that kind of stuff in person). This friend and I share the mutual interest in photography and this friend proceeded to explain to me that I had no skill as a photographer.
Okay dude.... let me remind you that I take pictures of flowers and cats and I could honestly care less what you think of my dinky photos! But, if you know me, when someone lights a match near me it starts a flame. So I decided that I was going to show this kid up!
I recruited my beautiful friend Kendall, stole my mom's nice Canon Rebel, scouted out the perfect locations, and on a beautiful July afternoon in 2010 I shot my first photo shoot!
Not only did the pictures turn out great, but I had so much fun that I wanted to do more! I posted the photos on Facebook for
Because it was so much fun I started asking other friends to let me take their pictures! After a while people started requesting my time and my talents (!!!!). My mom eventually convinced me that I was spending so much time on this new hobby that I needed to start charging people. I reluctantly asked $25 per photo shoot.
5 years later I've done over 80 paid photo shoots and supported myself financially in the pursuit of a college education.
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| Kendall kept me around ;) |
You can find more of my portfolio here.
So when I started this book that told me that following my passion was a terrible idea, I was a bit offended. When I started taking pictures I had no marketable skill. In fact, now looking back at those photos that I was so proud of, I am a bit embarrassed.
But the other day I read this article written by Mike Rowe; that one guy who does dirty jobs for a living. He tells a great story about an 8 minute timer and a pencil. You can read it here.
The point that Mike is trying to make is that "a trillion dollars of student loans and a massive skills gap are precisely what happens to a society that actively promotes one form of education (or heeding the advice of following your passion) as the best course for the most people. I think the stigmas and stereotypes that keep so many people from pursuing a truly useful skill, begin with the mistaken belief that a four-year degree (or simply following a passion) is somehow superior to all other forms of learning".
Reading further into the book I have learned that while pursing a career it is more important to focus on what you can offer the world rather than what the world can offer you.
I am not quite so upset with the author anymore. Instead of feeling attacked about following my passion for photography, I feel endorsed for the fact that I worked hard to gain a skill. And at this point in my photography career I recognize that I still have a LOT of skill to learn. I feel like I am at a fork in the road. At only 21 years old I can choose to continue strengthening a skill in photography, or I can choose to pursue strengthening other skills. I am currently attending a business college and studying a social media marketing program; I love it! It is an unexpected discovery into a whole different field. Who knows, maybe I can do both!
So I won't throw that book in the trash after all. If anyone is interested, you can find the book here.
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