Why You Shouldn't Always Follow Your Passion and Why You Should Learn to Give Up!

Motivational speakers often call on Benjamin Franklin to convince you that you can do anything you set your mind to. This is always true if you want to end a sentence with a preposition, or yawn during the glib monologues of these motivational speakers. However, if you aim for something higher, you will find that you are either adept at picking your battles and deciding when to pivot and when to preserve, or you will go crazy.

Don't believe me? Consider that I follow my passion of marrying Meghan Markle and never give up. My wife would definitely throw me out if I start following that passion and, if I don't give up, I would likely get arrested for stalking Meghan.

Passion drives us to greater heights when we undertake stretch goals and I believe in leveraging every ounce of passion when going gets tough. However, I don't believe in *always* follow my passion. I periodically consider persevering or pivoting based on cost-benefit analysis that includes any new information. (I am saving details on this process for later).

If you have never given up in your life, you are a coward who has not challenged yourself enough to test your limits. In fact, passionately setting stretch goals but being willing to give up when it makes sense is wise. As Tacitus said, "He who fights and runs away, May turn and fight another day; But he who is in battle slain, Will never rise to fight again."

Let us bring all this together. People who do extraordinary things are fueled by their passion that helps them blow obstacles out of their way... obstacles that would scare away anyone without the requisite passion. Paradoxically, strength like that, when unchecked, can transform into a weakness... Fortitude without wisdom becomes recklessness. So, follow your passions, but not always. Instead, occasionally unfollow your passions and learn to give up when the odds are stacked against you.

It is not possible to drive with one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake. So, the way to achieve balance one has to tenaciously chase ones passion but periodically step back and consider whether to persevere or pivot. Pivoting means modifying your goals. Pivoting doesn't mean never giving up. In fact, you can achieve much more by continually taking calculated risks than by accepting mediocrity.

Instead of thinking about giving up, or number of you failed, consider the total cost of your failures. I believe in failing early and often. Failing in a month and pivoting to something less is much better than losing five years of my life in a lost cause. I optimize the total benefit of my successes minus the total cost of my failures. Taking calculated risks early and often is better than not taking risks. In fact, often not taking risks is the biggest risk unless you want to leave a meaningless life.

So, next time, be willing to unfollow your passion and learn to give up when it makes sense. At other times, focus on being a superhero! Fail early and often but keep coming back and rising.