[jonnathanson]

A lot of great points raised, but there's still something to be said for working in a field you enjoy. Forget the semantic dance around the meaning of the word "passion" for a minute.

Let's take the author's hypothetical example of the person who's really into composting. Maybe this person isn't "passionate" about composting to the point of stark-raving obsession, but pretty much anywhere just shy of that mark is feasible. This person is probably better served working in the gardening industry -- maybe as a landscape designer, or an executive at a home & garden brand, or starting up a community or zine or product line around gardening, etc. -- than in, say, the auto industry.

What determines whether or not this person should actually pursue his "passion" for composting in the professional arena? The degree of love for the subject, certainly, but also risk tolerance and perseverence. Those are the two critical, but oft-overlooked factors that the "follow your passion!" self-help gurus gloss over.

The hard truth is that not everyone's cut out for following his or her passion. Some have the drive, the obsession, the work ethic, the aptitude, and the right mix of circumstances to make it happen. Some don't. The real trick isn't testing how strong your passion is; it's testing how strong you are.

[ahoyhere]

There's a huge difference about being "into" composting... and enjoying talking about composting, teaching composting, selling people on composting equipment/techniques, writing about composting, etc.

This is an important distinction. If you're "into" composting but those other things above disinterest you, it's easy to try to get yourself stuck in a situation that you hate. Where you eventually even stop enjoying composting.

I wrote about this exact scenario: http://unicornfree.com/2011/dont-follow-your-passion/

[jonnathanson]

I don't deny that it's an extremely important distinction, and perhaps I should have gone to greater lengths to clarify as much.

At the same time, I feel that the article set up a bit of a false dichotomy by focusing too heavily on the extreme end of the "passion" spectrum. It's not a black-and-white choice between "mildly interested in" and "slaveringly obsessed with." There is a pretty broad spectrum in between those points. "Into" was probably a casually bad word choice on my part, but again, I'd really suggest that we stay away from a semantics debate here.

To re-clarify: I agree, more or less, with a great deal of the article and its broad analysis. At times, however, the author gets too bogged down in a dissection of the semantics and usage of the word "passion," leading him astray.

[jonnathanson]

For what it's worth, I really enjoyed your linked piece. Particularly your point here: "You can love something and not know the slightest thing about it."

Exploring that all-important point a bit further, we can arrive at this scary conclusion: You can love a given topic, but not necessarily in the way other people love it. I'd venture to say that plenty of failed passion-followers have dashed their ships aground on those rocks. Loving something, and serving the customer, are two very different and often conflicting things.