Finding passion in your Career: when it helps and when it hurts

What is Passion?

Passion is a concept that many of us struggle with—especially when we're told to 'follow our passion' but don't feel a strong, singular calling. As a career coach who moved from the gaming industry to helping quiet leaders, I've learned that passion isn't always the answer.

From a young age, we're asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" - as if we should already know the one thing we're meant to do.

We're told to "follow our passion" - but what if you don't have one? What if you change your mind? It can feel like failing at life as if you're missing an important piece.

I've always seen myself as someone with interests but no particular "intense" passion that would have the potential to take over anything else in my life. The idea of finding my passion made me feel like a failure.

But I have to admit that I have always been "passionate" about things - liking doing things right, well. Often putting way too much effort into something that maybe didn't need as much.

From Gaming to Coaching, my journey to finding passion in my career

I worked in Games for over a decade, and a lot of people around me chose this career out of passion for games - they made games during the day and played games at night.

I fell into the industry by chance. My heart wasn't in the games, but in doing a great job.

One day, I realised I wasn't excited anymore. The work no longer challenged me, and I wanted to do something more meaningful.

At first, I wasn't sure why I felt this way. But the moment that made it crystal clear was when I had the opportunity to give a talk and I found nothing worth talking about about my job. I was convinced it wouldn't interest anybody - and in all honesty, it didn't interest me. Instead, I gave a talk about being an introvert in the workplace and a whole new world opened up to me.

To make a long story short, I decided to change career and became a coach.

I didn't become a coach because I was passionate about coaching. I became a coach because I had a deep desire to help people walk their path a little bit more easily than I had walked mine.

My passionate side took over, and I wouldn't be able to tell you how many trainings I did, I could be one of those people who sign their emails with a collection of letters (PCC, ELI-MP, Dip CBH…) that spills over the next line.

I had never had a job that I cared SO MUCH about.

This time, I wasn't only passionate about doing a good job. I was also passionate about helping people - the outcome the job produces. I was also passionate about how I did it - so many techniques and approaches out there, all with huge benefits to add to my toolbox. I was passionate about making it work because it was my life project. It was my baby. It was who I wanted to be.

And that is all WONDERFUL.

How fulfilling is it, to do what you're meant to do! To have a vision and give it life!

What I learned about passion and running a business

BUT our greatest weaknesses stem from our greatest strengths.

Because I cared too much, I let my passion guide me. That meant I made mistakes: For example, I invested in what I wanted, not what I needed. I poured money into training after training because learning felt good—but it wasn't helping me build a business.

But my business didn't grow. I finally realised: I didn't have a certification problem. I had a sales and visibility problem.

The coaching market is full of coaches - and I'm just a coach in a sea of coaches. So, becoming a coach and building a successful and sustainable business wasn't about me fulfilling my passion and doing things the way I wanted to do them.

That means I have had to learn to see it as a business. A business that, although it is mine, isn't just about what I want. It is about what my clients want to buy and the value they see in buying it.

It is obvious, but as a starry-eyed newbie with a passion and desire to do my thing, I had somehow been blind to it.

Once I opened my eyes, I had to put a whole other hat on - and find the balance.

As a massive introvert, I didn't like networking. As a private person, I didn't like to post on social media.

So obviously, I chose to start my own business… which required both.

But people need to know that I exist so they can decide whether or not they want to work with me.

So I made compromises and found ways to make it work for me AND my business.

I have had to put a container around the passion because the passion isn't the business. The passion is the spark - and the icing.

But in between, I have got to approach it from a rational perspective, question my choices, make compromises, and ask for feedback.

You can still burn out, even if you deeply love what you do. Passion is no protection. On the contrary, you have to be more watchful.

Of its impact on you: Are you over-committing? Are you always tired?

And of its impact on others you work with.

Not everyone you work with will share your passion. That doesn't mean they can't do great work.

Are you letting your passion take over the conversation? Are you making room for other perspectives? How much do you expect from others?

I had a client who shared that she struggled to get people motivated to adopt a new process. She was passionate about it because, to her, it made more sense, it was obvious it was needed, and she made it her project. But the team were not changing their ways.

"So why weren't they changing their ways? Was it resistance? Was it laziness? No—it was something she hadn't even considered." "The new process actually made them lose money."

She didn't know because she wasn't making room to discuss the process, it was obvious and they were being lazy. Once we started to explore what was in it for the team, she identified the issue and worked to address it with them.

They say to do what you love, and you'll never work a day. But the truth is—you'll work harder than ever. The key is making sure that passion works for you, not the other way around.

It's all about balancing passion, purpose and reality

Where in your work - or life, can you see where passion might be running the show? And what would change if you took a step back?

"If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins." - Benjamin Franklin

"The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival." - Aristotle

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Cecile Hemery helps quiet leaders navigate professional crossroads and find meaning, impact and recognition in their work. Drawing from 15 years' experience in the Tech and Gaming industry, she helps leaders who feel stuck in their comfort zone focus and stop second-guessing themselves so they can be seen as confident leaders and grow in their careers. 

Through her company Walayance, she enables professionals to find their authentic leadership voice while staying true to themselves. 

Cecile is a Professional Certified Coach accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF PCC).