Steve Jobs was wrong – why ‘follow your passion’ is terrible advice

Seen that video where Steve Jobs tells students to follow their passion? It’s been viewed, shared and tweeted by millions. Millions who haven’t thought it through.

Jobs made that speech as a relatively young man.

Later, when revising his biography, he told the writer to explain why he said that then but why he say it different now.

From what I read, his argument was that at a very young age you don’t know what your true passion is. You’re probably still living at home. Your life is still quite sheltered. There’s a lots of twists and turns ahead.

Looking back, he thought it better to try many things. To be curious. To explore. To be willing to wait. To be patient.

Then, maybe, you can follow your passion.

But there’s something else.

You may have more than one passion. For example, I’m still torn between writing screenplays, bees, running. I’d love to do them all.

Here’s my take.

Your passion isn’t that important.

Following your passions seems a little self centered.

Here’s another angle on it.

Instead, turn it around and help others follow their passion, or whatever is important to them.

Take yourself out of the picture for a moment.

Meher Baba said true love is when you put another’s happiness before your own.

Now, if you look at your day in terms of helping others, in small, discrete, unseen ways, it enhances your life.

It also sidesteps this selfish need to have a passion as though it were a badge of honor.

Maybe we’re afraid to admit we’ve no passion. It makes us look lost while others seem to have found their calling.

But have they?

What do you think?