<p>A few years ago, I was working with an executive coach. After helping me solve a few issues in my business, she became intent on pushing me to “find my passion”. She gave examples of other clients: one is flying his own private plane, another is sailing around the world and a third went to India to study Eastern mysticism. I finally had enough, and asked: “Is there anything wrong with ‘just’ going to work every day in a satisfying and rewarding job, spending time with my family, and going on a few nice vacations a year?”</p>
<p>Sometimes passions combine with careers. But for most people… it would be fortunate to simply have a nice job the allows time and money to pursue passions.</p>
<p>“Is there anything wrong with ‘just’ going to work every day in a satisfying and rewarding job, spending time with my family, and going on a few nice vacations a year?”</p>
<p>Nothing wrong with this at all.</p>
<p>In one of those still-to-be-opened boxes from our recent move is my copy of “Fire Your Boss” by Stephen Pollan. An important point that he makes is that it is OK to separate your work life (where you earn the money that makes the rest of your life possible) from your non-work life (where you do the more emotionally fulfilling things).</p>
<p>One might even contend that having a “passion” for your work could make things tough during the most active years of parenting. </p>
<p>People who are truly passionate about their work tend to spend much more than 40 hours a week doing it or doing things related to it – whether or not this is required. And they tend to devote much of their attention to it even when they are not physically on the job. </p>
<p>Those who merely work to earn a living may find it easier than those with a passion for their work to switch from work mode to family mode when they’re performing child-related responsibilities or just spending time with family.</p>
<p>This is exactly what I think, too, Marian. But unfortunately S is in exactly this situation. We have tried to get him to work with school’s career services center and mental health counselor to no avail. His GPA is such (2.5) that grad school is not an option. And although he had professed he simply wanted to get out of school, now faced with graduation in 2012 and no internships under his belt, he says he has no idea what he wants to do job-wise – and isn’t doing anything to figure that out. Any attempts to talk to him about options or help him develop a plan of attack result in him starting a fight in order to end the conversation. I’m very frustrated. And scared. I’m sure he is too, but action of some sort is the only thing that will improve the situation for him, and he seems completely paralyzed and resistant to attempts to mobilize/empower him. Any suggestions? Please?</p>
<p>The OP asked “do we talk with our young people about this?”</p>
<p>At 19 and a sophomore, I don’t know that my son is certain what his passion is because it’s difficult to place “passion” into the actual task/position of a daily, 40-50 hour a week position. His school would like a “major” declared by end of this year (sophomore). He is at this point declaring an education focus. He THINKS he might like school administration. He is CURIOUS about law. </p>
<p>Our “talk” is to encourage him to get that education degree. Teach for a bit. Make enough to live on. Decide then - when he is in the day to day grind where he wants to take it - a Master’s in education? Law school? Whatever, he will have a skill, a job (hopefully), experience and maturity to decide the NEXT step. </p>
<p>Agree that the 4 years of bachelors should be exploratory if a student is not sure, but also I do believe that “someone” has failed - maybe the student, maybe the parents, maybe the school if some guidance hasn’t happened in those 4 years to get the students to picture themselves in some sort of full-time position when they secure their diploma.</p>