Utilizing the long weekend effectively, I'm reading this book, So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport. In this book, the author (interestingly Asst. Prof of Computer Science at Georgetown University), argues that skills trump passion in the long run with a lot of examples. According to him, the craftsman mindset “focuses on what you can offer the world” and the passion mindset “focuses on what the world can offer you.” The former is built upon the importance of consistent practice and developing your skills to do the work you want to do, while the latter believes that once you find what you love to do, you will magically succeed at it.
I find this idea very interesting. In my work, I come regularly across folks that are not happy about the job and need some advice. I used to point them out to folks that have become invaluable by the sheer amount of value they seem to be adding to the organization. I now have a better vocabulary to articulate.
Closely observe someone you think love their job and check the route they followed, was it obvious up front, following a long held passion or was it a longer, more circuitous path? Did they follow their passion or become a craftsman? Chances are most people have become a craftsman because it is hard to tell what your passion is when you start out, much less find a career around it.
The problem with "passion mindset" is that it keeps people looking outside of themselves and what they do, always looking for and expecting to find some "right" job that would provide them satisfaction, a sense of accomplishment or even help increase the value of their resume. As it is indeed difficult find such projects on a regular basis, they're never happy, never committed to doing what is necessary to excel at the work they have. Many leave their current jobs in search of their ideal job and will soon realize that it is just the case of grass being greener on the other side, if they remain stuck in "passion mindset"
The "craftsman mindset" looks at the world differently. Instead of "What can the world offer me?" it asks, "What can I offer the world?" The craftsman wonders how he can get really good at what he does, creating value with his work. They are always learning, getting better, always practicing, and quickly becomes a "go-to person. Such people while enjoying work are also constantly seeking feedback to improve and often harsh in their own assessment and Over time has become passionate about his work. The point Calport makes is that Passion didn't the person to it, it was a result of it.
What do you think? Have you seen examples where people having mastered something, have become passionate about it? Most importantly are you working with Passion mindset or Craftsman mindset? What type of people you've seen are enjoying their work - people with passion mindset or the ones with craftsman mindset in your experience? I'd love to hear.
