Follow Your Passion Is Terrible Advice

I commonly hear people telling others to "Follow Their Passion." I don't think this is good advice, and in this video, I explain exactly why.
Robert Greene is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War, The 50th Law, Mastery, The Laws of Human Nature, and most recently, The Daily Laws.
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[@richardsadventures4958]

Being honest with myself and looking back on my life, I must confess that many of my passions were actually just dreams of my ego.

[@anjou6497]

👍💙 very honest and well said.

[@thatsmywig3347]

​​@Adrian Garcia i think a dream of an ego means a fantasy, a "dream". For example, you want to become a singer, but all you do is daydreaming, thinking and talking about it, and not putting actual effort to make it happen. True passion, on the other hand, is a calling (like the video explained).

[@foxesintheattic]

What happens when all you have is your ego’s dreams, so you don’t really like anything? Apart from sitting and have your brain getting overstimulated with colourful images and videos on the internet. 🤷 Doomed!

[@downfall9439]

@@foxesintheattic been looking for an answer to this for a while. I don’t care about really anything or have passions for anything either

[@malayman80085]

@Adrian Garcia For me it was wanting to become a researcher not because I'd enjoy the process of getting into work each and everyday but because I wanted to make that one great discovery

[@riosaputra2979]

"Everyone must choose one of two pains. The pain of discipline or the pain of regret."

[@walkietalkietraveller2932]

wise words, Rio !

[@Juanpa_wn28]

I was following the path of regret, but now I decided to follow the path of discipline. I know I have lost many years regreting myself but now its time for a change.

[@mannegar7650]

The pain of taking risk and achieving great tomorrow, Or the pain of mediocrity from following ur passion

[@user-bd1cj8xs7c]

I get both lol

[@winnersachin588]

Eventually ur going to quit 👎 cuz u can't be disciplined without purpose.

[@user-qe7bt9dz1l]

The problem with “follow your passion” is it limits what you can become because you’ll always be like “Well if I don’t enjoy it, then I won’t do it.” And that thing you’re not passionate about that you’re avoiding because you’re not passionate about it, may evolve you as a person, make you a more well rounded and better person and it can add to your life!

[@michaelkabilov6030]

Well said

[@michaelkabilov6030]

To add on, the Philosopher Alan Watts implied and exemplified that, “as we go deep deep down far far in,” we discover more of ourselves because we become more connected… how do we learn ourselves if we do that same thing we like over and over again when we have this essence of a need of an adventure, or cycle of the hero we all have.

[@jeunedamo7]

Facts, that thing happened in my life

[@frankgradus9474]

a ruling passion might become a passing passion

[@TommyNicoletti]

No one is suggesting to just solely follow your passion and boom done you are good - no it means follow your passions to use them as tools of reservoirs of positive energy, follow your passions does not mean to exclude yourself from any and all other experiences, follow your passions doesn’t mean to cease exploring new activities it means START WITH your passions use it as a starting point

[@AparnaGurudiwan]

" It's going to take me 5 years, but the rewards are fantastic, I don't need to be passionate about it but I need to be consistent " 🙌👏

[@this_mfr]

See and I find this to be very dangerous advice. The world changes fast and sometimes the goal we chose to achieve isn't what we thought when we get there 5 or 10 years later. Instead we must have passion (yes passion is the right word) for the progress. Not the end goal. It is the journey we should love. Not the destination. You might die in 2 years. And you spent it miserable working towards a goal you don't even know you'll enjoy. Instead, enjoy the process and you'd die happy today, tomorrow, 10 years or 100 years from now.

[@Piusvxn]

Well said ​@@this_mfr

[@shernawazkhattak363]

Exactly 💯

[@dylanmason4620]

Im not sure this was his advice. He clearly mentioned "being drawn, love something, sense of destiny, not just discipline. At least that was what I got from it.

[@SHANONisRegenerate]

"I love this so much i am willing to put up with the pain involved", that line really resonates with me Robert. I am patiently suffering towards my Dreams.

[@AparnaGurudiwan]

" patiently suffering towards my dream " love it 👌

[@lilwilj]

So you must be really passionate about that something

[@recalex5192]

me too!

[@h1ghnezz]

Do you really need to suffer to reach a Goal?

[@SHANONisRegenerate]

@@h1ghnezz yea if its a decent goal suffering is probably inevitable. Anything ive ever done that was really worthwhile was hard and a struggle for me to overcome myself, mentally and physically. Right now im working 12 -14 hour days non stop without a day off in sight, getting up at 3-430am and my dreams are in sight. A new Chapter!

[@Ronald36]

I saw the heading of this video and became curious, thinking: "What is wrong with passion?" Then I click on the video to find out that there is nothing wrong with passion, it is just a matter of word choice. For me, passion is still part of the whole. Following your passion does not automatically mean that you give up when it is temporarily gone. How you label what you feel inside does not really matter to me. Call it passion, calling, whatever. I personally like the word passion.

[@Morbutt]

My understanding of "passion" is basically a life's calling that you feel intensely compelled to do. You can be passionate about something while still learning to embrace the suck of the hard work and focus it requires to get it done

[@conlawmeateater8792]

Same for myself. Passion comes from the heart. Follow your heart.

[@belogical3961]

This is the whole purpose of life. Working hard to get to a better place, the place that feels like home. That's what I'm passionate about. Where can I see myself settled in peace with my family? That my vision, that's my passion.

[@belogical3961]

@Frenzy What I need for you to do now is write down on a piece of paper your plans to do those things and put them up everywhere. So you are reminded everyday of your goals of where you want to go in life. That way you can keep feeding it positive energy everyday and never give up and soon you will be there!

[@belogical3961]

@Frenzy be patient with yourself sometimes you're playing can change and you have to make minor adjustments. You'll get there buddy.

[@ledaswan5990]

Passion will see you through. This guy needs a dictionary

[@et_bell]

Passion is what shows you the light, and Persistence is what makes you one.

[@Tatyana_Co]

That’s deep! 😊

[@nk9017]

😊

[@nk9017]

​@@Tatyana_Co 😊😊😊😊😊😊 😊

[@nk9017]

​@@Tatyana_Co 😊😊

[@nk9017]

​@@Tatyana_Co 😊 😊

[@sonicgems]

Robert Greene is definitely one of the most important public intellectuals today. His insight is so needed.

[@permissiontoshine]

I agree; Robert is truly a brilliant thinker.

[@JurijPopotnig]

I was a fan too and he's right about some things. But in the end he's really just another new age eat shit embrace the suck posterboy of a fascist system. Intellectual is right, he is one, but intellect is not intelligence.

[@JohnnyWalkerBlack142]

It’s because he sees through the bullshit of the world and gives us the truth

[@permissiontoshine]

@@JohnnyWalkerBlack142 good point. I hadn't thought about him in that way. We certainly need a whole lot more of Robert Greene.

[@bonquva]

Can you summarize what he said in this video

[@josefvostry7146]

Most helpful video I’ve seen in my life. Now I’m clear on what I should dedicate my life to. The one thing that I can do for hours, weeks, months, even years while enduring pain and frustration, because the fulfillment at the end is greater than any momentary pleasure that exists on this planet. Heck, I even spend money to continue working on this one thing when I’m abroad. And that is the piano 🎹 💙

[@winnersachin588]

Everyone not ment to find their passion and everyone not ment to be successful in life that's why only 2% are successful cuz they follow their passion.

[@humorustrout.]

I appreciate the break-down of this topic because when I usually hear the "don't follow your passion" advice, I would think of Roberts advice being the opposite, of needing to love what you're pursuing in life in order to make it through difficult times and move towards success over time. Maybe "chase your fulfillment" is a better way to define it. Thank you Robert

[@thomasgrabowski2202]

I believe Joseph Campbell said it best "follow your bliss"

[@YG1989Natty]

But he did say do something you love.

[@markmcgowan3692]

He literally said follow your love/meaning. That’s basically what passion is. He’s conflating passion and pleasure.

[@gunnasintern]

i wouldn’t say “Chase” either, because to chase something means it’s running away from you. you have everything you need within you, so the best word choice is “Attract”. once you start preparing, an opportunity will arise in your life that is attracted to your current position and state of mind. The Law of Attraction is real, and Robert’s videos are some of the best examples of it

[@winnersachin588]

Cuz he don't like the word passion so he replaced with love and bliss 💞

[@HeadsetHead]

I was told at age 10 that I couldn't do what I wanted to do for a living due to a medical condition. I've been wandering through life for the last 30 years trying to figure out what to do. When he said if he couldn't do what he wanted to do he would rather kill himself, I felt that.

[@anonygent]

Do something related. My aunt wanted to be an astronaut, but besides being female, she had a childhood injury that limited her mobility. So she became a chemical engineer at NASA. She got to be around astronauts and help them fly.

[@HeadsetHead]

I am in the same field and I have to watch people doing want to do everyday while they rub it it my face enjoying their careers and making good money. I wish I wasn't in the same field, that makes it even worse.

[@RogerioLupoArteCientifica]

As someone who pursued what I was passionate about, I can testify something. Indeed tedious tasks are part of the path. But actually our true passion permeates even these moments. Even when we have to go through tough times, figure out some technique, some procedure, or fix some issue, there's excitement and trust in our own capacity of doing it. We're standing on a ground that brings to the surface an inner character in us that feels inspired and confident. This is because the process engages and excites us just like the achievement of the final result, or eventually even more than that. If one feels like replacing the word passion, I propose the word 'curiosity'. Although subtle and "humble", this sense of curiosity is definitely something that moves me with unavoidable and consistent power. Even when there are painful or boring moments along the path, there's still something exciting and full of hope and eagerness. Because among all the potentially boring and painful tasks in the world, at the very least I'm hurting and getting bored about my deepest calling, my highest value, my true vocation and love. The solid ground for that to happen is following this deep inner calling.

[@reefatbakht]

Fantastic comment and I feel similar.

[@siggeek503]

Well Said sir.

[@dwaejishan]

How did you figure out your passion?

[@RogerioLupoArteCientifica]

@@dwaejishan well, it may be totally different for each of us. My path started early during my adolescence, when I was definitely convinced that I was a lazybones and would never tolerate working for money. So I started wanting to figure it all out and find out what would make me feel motivated every day, regardless of weekends or weekdays. Soon I started to have dreams related to my vocation (drawing, which I exercised since childhood), but I didn't even realize that those dreams were the answer at that time. I realized it only later on, after I actually found out my talent. Eventually, of course, I needed to find a regular job, work only for money, get depressed, drunk etc. But I was all the time aware that it was just a temporary situation, and I would not be able to go too far with that. Out of this stance, I was determined, almost obsessed, with finding my true passion. So there are some tricky aspects to this quest. First, we tend to expect fireworks and huge missions in life, whereas our passion may be related to something way simpler than we expect. I always have been talented in playing instruments too, so for a while, I thought music was my path. But soon I noticed that I wasn't able to play the same piece or song multiple times without getting weary of playing it. So I decided it wasn't possible to follow that path. Then the obviousness was perceived. I had always been drawing and appreciating nature since my earliest days in childhood. And art and illustration started to show up in my life more frequently, triggering the hidden passion. I wanted to learn and perfect my skills for drawing, and nature and biology were tightly related to all of that. It's important to pay attention to our first aims that come from childhood, I think. But as I said, it may be the simpler way, not the fancier. During childhood, we want to be astronauts, soccer players, famous musicians or singers, but actually we spend our whole day sculpting miniatures in wood or rock, and not studying astrophysics, training soccer or whatever. So it's all about that simplicity- the kind of engagement that makes you lose your sense of time, that you just cannot get weary of. Usually, all of us have it all figured right away since childhood and even now, but we resist accepting it because it looks so unimportant, simple, even childish... but as we become masters in it, people will come from all over the world to learn from us or have a piece of our creation.

[@DanSung2021]

Hey @RogérioLupoArteCientífica I really liked your comment, and I was wondeirng if maybe we could actually talk about passion, as i'm facing a hard decision, and would love your opinion in 1 area regarding if if i do my passion for money, will it "hurt" my passion. Maybe we could tlak on here, but if not, then maybe i could exchange some sort of contact details with you and we could talk more, if you were open to it. What do you think from what I've said? Have a great day :)

[@larrypedringer6352]

Thanks for your valuable perspective. These concepts remind me something offered up by David Goggins: “Motivation is crap. Motivation comes and goes. When you are driven, whatever is in front of you will get destroyed.” Motivation is akin to passion. Being driven is akin to connecting a deeper meaning.

[@tamdjomoyopo1168]

Can't hurt me !

[@winnersachin588]

David goggins has so much passion in what he do, but he don't admit it and everyone can't be like him, his advice is terrible and not healthy.

[@odysseynoone3831]

I think Hollywood movies programmed us to imagine that the path to success is supposed to be something dramatic, filled with passion and big actions, and that through a few weeks or months of work we will transform into success stories who then become the center of everyone's attention.

[@Kal-El207]

Couldn’t agree more.

[@tcrijwanachoudhury]

It also makes us deify our suffering

[@reggiebuttsmash2321]

Dang this hit hard…

[@hason302]

It’s also social media’s fault for programming young minds to think this way

[@ideapage]

Actually follow your passion is excellent advice. My mother gave me a camera when I was 5-years old. There was a photo darkroom in our house. My father started teaching me to pay guitar when I was age 6. Photography and playing music were my two passions. As things turned out,... ...I made a decent living as a musician for about 15 years, and about halfway through those years, I started a photography business. Within a couple years I had two other photographers working for me, and that eventually grew to 5 others. Next came a large studio with 3 camera rooms, and early adoption of digital photography in the mid 1990s. Today, I’m age 75, been retired for 15 years, and my wife is retired from her law profession. We still go to Utah to snow ski during the winter. We’ve had a wonderful time together, and continue to do so. Yes, follow your passion.

[@SHANONisRegenerate]

Yes i see your point. Perhaps it is better said, Follow your passion but do not rely on passion to do the work.

[@Pepperoni-Tony]

I think the liability is on the word "passion", and I think that is what Robert is trying to get at. I think that for some people all of their preferences and feelings and perceptions align so closely (namely what they find fulfilling and interesting is so clear) that when they report these things back to us, they do not think the distiction is important and they confuse the rest of us. Ultimately, we use the word 'passion' to refer to something as if we had a strong crush on that thing not realising the word hijacks and obscures what we actually find fulfilling. When you say the word 'passion', we infer you are to some extent or another emotional about the activity. One would not find anything wrong upon hearing Bezos or Musk say they are passionate about their business. Yet, I would venture to say that when you see them or picture them making a business call, you don't picture them frolicking and smelling the roses along the way. You'd picture them being clinical, almost robotic. It is going from A to B to C. Again, you know this, whilst you also know that if NBC did a piece on them and they said the word "passion" you wouldn't bat an eye. The problem is that people are conflating terms: the curiosity or the stir or pulling of your intentions and actions towards an activity, and then in turn, there's your cognition on those things happening. When you look at it this way, it makes sense. Bezos and Musks are not robots or zombies. They put up with 80 hour weeks 50 weeks a year because there is a pull that makes them pick a phone and make the call, but the have done away with the idea that there is something else at play. There is nothing to romanticise. They just do it, they don't rely on feeling connected. They haven't mistaken the idea for the thing. Now, this doesn't mean I don't believe you when you say photography and music have been your passion/calling/vocation. I really do. I do think you must've felt something when taking pictures or playing music. I do not doubt it for a second. As you look back, you probably see yourself practising your scales trying to get them right, or you probably remember peeople's faces when you started playing their favourite song, or those days you planned to practice with friends and ended up having a great time. In order to tie it all up nicely you may use a catch-all term, and 'passion' seems to do the job after all you have emotions, and good ones at that, about all of those things. But actually that's only hindsight. You sat down to practice to get better not because you romanticised it, but because you felt a 'pull' to do it; and then again, and then again. And as you got better, you likely eyed up other instruments you wanted to learn. And then again with photograhy, and framing, and different cameras. You moved across a discipline, but I would argue that it was never about how you fixated on it. It caught your attention and then something else about it caught your attention, and then something else... You could say "well, that whole thing happening is what I refer to as 'passion'". And I would say that is my point exactly because if you say that, if you fail to make the distiction, that is when someone else will end up confused. You feel a pull, but then it becomes something else, and then you get annoyed or fustrated, and you quit, and you realise you were just fustrated and try again, or quit entirely... but to call it 'passion' as if it was just this homogenous thing is just confused and you confuse other. People that refer to it as 'passion' will almost exclusively refer to it in positive terms as if it admitted none of these which we all know must come with feeling passionate (e.g. fustration or annoyance). You have done it yourself in your comment: you call it 'passion', you make declarative statements that read like "there's that". Again, why be confused? Why refer to something so vivid like a desire to learn to do a drum roll with a vague word like 'passion'? Especially when we know that it will then be something else, and then something else, and then something else. For a process so profound and constantly-unfolding, 'passion' feels incredibly hollow. Fulfillment seems more fitting, it just doesn't have the romatic ring of 'passion' - and there in lies perhaps the whole argument.

[@RealSurfStories]

Perhaps the definition of the word has some grey area, but I wanted to reply to what you said as I too am a photographer and musician! I shoot surfing, have since childhood. I stayed on course, sacrificing so much to follow what I knew (and still know) is my true calling. Now I am 58 years old, and it is common for people to walk up to me on the beach and comment on how lucky I am to live doing my passion. Although I do feel SO fortunate, and thankful, it always makes me cringe. A few times I have been perfectly honest and explained that standing on the beach with a camera is not my passion. Surfing is my passion...and playing music..and getting on the pottery wheel. I would not want to do any of those things for my job...I love my job. If I didn't do it it would make me miserable. Robert hit the nail so squarely on the head here, I have never heard that perspective explained but for me it is spot on.

[@AwakenbyLightCreations]

Totally agree! Thank you for that clarification. It actually helps me clarify for myself that I don’t need to desire to work on my art everyday in order to create

[@adamblade2]

I like to define passion as "something I strive for despite obstacles and painful moments."

[@winnersachin588]

U don't feel pain instead u enjoy pain and suffering when u follow ur passion, u put hours and hours without even realising it, but hey everyone not ment to be passionate and everyone not ment to be successful in life that's why only 2% succeed in life..

[@P_K_V]

Painful in the sense of finances

[@rdean150]

"I hate the word passion..." Goes on to describe passion for one's craft and its importance. I guess it's just how one defines the word. I consider passion for one's craft to be exactly the driving force that pushes someone to keep plugging away, even through the pain, tedium, and frustration.

[@francescaerreia8859]

This is exactly what I was thinking watching this

[@Bahamut3525]

Yeah I think he was defining it as "pleasure" and "things you enjoy doing". When viewed like that, indeed, it's a bad thing to pursue because most people only enjoy easy and shallow activities (ie: Watching youtube videos or playing videogames).

[@cletusjones9411]

Doesn’t passion actually mean, or imply, suffering? As a passion is something you’re willing to sacrifice and suffer for? I could be wrong.

[@ledaswan5990]

Pretty much. A click bait title then goes on to explain we should follow our “passion”. “You feel love and connections “with something. Um most people I think would call that a passion in one’s life. This is ridiculous.

[@Bahamut3525]

@@ledaswan5990 He got caught in semantics about the word "passion". But you and people are fully right. At the core following your dream, your passion is a fcking solid path for life. Maybe he should have worded it as "dont pursue pleasure".

[@salamaissam7325]

Listen to you and reading your books makes me to see the biggest image, to change my conscious completely and to update my mind . So thanks for showing us the true side of the others & the world.

[@RealSurfStories]

Robert!! You hit the nail on the head. I have struggled with the term "passion" in this context for decades, and you described it perfectly. I started my career as a child, have never done anything else, and it was a long, often painful struggle. You described every step of my journey to a tee. The rewards have been immense, and if I don't do it I am miserable...but when people say "you are so lucky to live doing your passion" it always makes me cringe. Thank you for laying this out, it is so satisfying to hear.

[@nitirajdaby2554]

What a generous spirit this man Robert Greene has for showing us light at the end of the tunnel !

[@abesapien9930]

Following your passion is not terrible advice--but thinking it will be easy or without great risks, is. I speak from experience: following my passions and hobbies is all I have ever done, and it makes for such a rich, exciting, and worthwhile life. But you better believe there were many, many days, and many, many months--even YEARS when I wished I would have never followed my passion and worked a sensible 9-5 office job! But the pain is worth it, once you find something that inspires you like nothing else.

[@mylesanthony8672]

I'm sat here in the students union study rooms, doing my accounting exam prep, the company I work for gave me time off. I'm an apprentice for Deloitte. I had a wobble day 3 of revision. "I like music, philosophy, art - not number" I thought - But upon reflection as to why I'm here, coupled with your wisdom, I now understand I feel connected to order and the power of money, invisioning a high score in my test makes me feel driven to study and get things wrong and start again and again.

[@jekopp6280]

Hey Robert, I love the way you explain things and also the fact that you hate the word passion in life, a few years ago when i happened to understand a little bit of how self-esteem and its fears and insecurities is a pivotal factor in what we decide to do ,I figured out that my "passions in life" were simply escapes to facing my own self. Now, instead of feeling passionate, i fill myself with enthusiasm and purposefulness before doing something that is really going to take me to a higher level despite of the task being unconfortable, frightening or boring, and the satisfaction, the sense of pride, the sense of progress, the self confidence i get when suceeding or completing the task is extremely rewarding.

[@markmcgowan3692]

I mean, life calling, deep meaning and destiny are literally the same thing as “passion”. It’s what really matters to you in life. When people say passion, this is what they are talking about.

[@yoyo-jc5qg]

very nice i love the intro quote "what will see you through is not passion but a sense of destiny in life" purpose > passion purpose is not just something you like doing, it's what you're built for ... accomplishing that task brings the ultimate fulfillment

[@rogerredford4010]

There are people, and I am one, that do not have a calling. My interests come and go. Many things which I once enthusiastically embraced at some point fade into the background to be replaced by a new interest or hobby. Sometimes these are revisited if interest is peaked again, and at other times they disappear for ever. A bit like a bee visiting flower to flower, never really settling on one for a very long time. And that is alright.. don't let people tell you that you are any less of a person because you have no calling or passion. I have experience gained in a hundred different things, and while I can say I never really 'mastered' any, I have gathered a broad range of diverse knowledge. I feel this makes me a more rounded human being than if I had spent my life in a single pursuit. I'm 60 this year, and while I admire the dedication of those who have worked a lifetime on their singular calling, I have no regrets..

[@StumbIingforward]

Thank you for this. I needed to hear this just as much as I did the advice in the video. I’ve been placing so much importance on finding what I’m passionate about that it’s probably not good or healthy for me. I think the ultimate goal is to not have regrets, or to make the choices you can best live with. The “answer” to life will be different for different people. Mr Greene felt he couldn’t live without going after his calling, you on the other hand excelled without making one specific thing your life. I think it’s just that people are different, and their wants and needs are different. I have a lot to figure out. Thank you for this perspective stranger

[@nickunderwood5354]

So I knew what my “life task” (or purpose, or whatever you want to call what Robert is describing here) was, and I put in the work over the years to achieve it. But only weeks before I “made it”, something out of my control has closed that path off to me forever. I’m now completely lost, trying to do other things but feeling a profound emptiness that was never there before. I’m trying to see if there’s a way to get back that feeling of purpose, but I really have no idea if I can. It’s torturous knowing exactly what I’m meant to do, and that I was capable of it, but that it’ll never happen, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Has anyone experienced something like this before?

[@elodinglasan2283]

I have. Took me years to find it again, albeit in a different form, through a different opportunity. Now the task is to unlearn all the bad habits and plug at the thing I know I'm destined for every day. It sucks, but it can't be worse than where I was.

[@anonygent]

Not personally, but I have met several people who experienced it. Surprisingly, it was often a knee blowing out, for one person on his way to a tennis career, for one woman who wanted to be a ballerina, for one girl who was a track star. One knee injury later, poof. The shock to the system is of the same magnitude as losing a loved one.

[@sononi4798]

This is great advice! I don't feel passionate about my job but I feel interested in the field I'm working in. The passion I'm feeling is in my ability to navigate relationships to get to where I want to be which the laws of power have helped me so much with.

[@Kal-El207]

That’s really what it’s all about tbh. Even people that do something they considered their dream end up calling it work anyway. Just gotta do what you know you can do and appreciate it really. I feel that passion is the same as motivation. Motivation is temporary, but it’s the discipline that gets you to the end point. Passion is like love, you feel it in the moment then it subsides. But working at it with discipline will grow that love and continue it.

[@dave_di]

I really needed to hear this right now! Excellent message!❤

[@donnajustbeingreal6607]

This was a eye opening video. Thank you. 💜

[@janebishop5885]

An excellent presentation that thoroughly crushes the silliness of follow your passion. Any accomplishment contains a lot of effort, sometimes drudgery. And, most important is to understand that some don't have any calling and want just to have a decent job that let's them have the necessities and the time to enjoy the small things. Thanks so much.

[@majooortom4254]

you pushing through boredom or pain in order to come up with such amazing books and video content is giving me hope. it must be working :D thanks a lot, Robert

[@1051_fam]

Really appreciate your take on these topics, causes me to think through things thoroughly and research subjects rather than rely on cliche slogans, thanks again

[@martinbooks5122]

Hello Robert, thank you very much for your message, I discovered my task life analyzing my past and my childhood, the high school class that I remember the most with strength and emotion was a technology class where they taught us what Steve Jobs and Bill Gates had created. Today I am studying business and systems, it is difficult but I feel very happy and eager to move forward. Thanks for everything!

[@LiINammmm]

Just Listened to you on diary of a CEO, absolutely phenomenal. Keep on moving RG

[@cgspirit17]

well, good point, but I think Passion also means a long term goal, something you wanna get but needs to go thru alot.

[@lazarosanchez5314]

My callings' foundation is based on "consistency and a connection" to it. Thank you Robert. You have taken for me what is abstract, then fundamentally simplified at which I can apply

[@MelonMan666]

It's such a simple thing, yet listening to this helped a lot. Thank You!

[@ChristianSasso]

Following one's passion doesn't preclude working hard on it, but the discipline required to master your passion, may reveal how much passionate you really are about something :) All in all, following your passion is a very good thing, but it is not enough, because to reach real mastery takes a lot of effort, no matter how much you love a subject. Michelangelo - arguably the greatest artist of all time - said "If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn't seem so wonderful at all."

[@ConstanceCFriday]

Thanks so much Sir. Your lectures on Mastery and Self Maximization are very informative and educative.

[@support_system24_7]

I think it's amazing that you have a channel. Purchased your book in 2004 just as I was getting my undergrad.

[@RobertGreeneOfficial]

Thank you for listening, watching, and reading.

[@Kal-El207]

@@RobertGreeneOfficial No. Thank you Robert. You have taught us all so much. I love your work. What you say and how you say it, truly gets to the heart of the matter. I’ve learned so much from you, and continue to learn so much. Thank you for everything.

[@fabiancurto6484]

Love you man ! Thank you , thank you 🙏🏻 . God bless you

[@luckyfox5627]

Thank you for sharing this amazing perspective. It took me a long time to realize the difference between passion and what I know now as vocation. Where it's not just what I want to do, but more a sense of what I should do, or am even being called to do. I think it's easy to get caught up in passions as they are more fun, especially short-term, but tend to be short-lived and in the end rather meaningless.

[@taewookrho9487]

I love this video. Thank you so much!❤

[@musicnotes4755]

So insightful (as always!). Thank you.

[@naadirsoeker2504]

Thank you for this 🙌

[@daphnen5296]

I like the fact that your speaking directly to us looking straight at the camera. I feel like you are speaking directly to me. I realize hundreds of people will see this video. It still feel’s personal. Thank you.

[@mhamadsajd2281]

Best mentor without any doubt ❤

[@FromTheHipp]

love doesnt just enter into the picture a bit. it becomes a large motivating force. also when he says that when he discovered that he loved writing so much that he felt that if he couldnt somehow do it that he may as well just kill himself, this is real. ive felt this deeply. this path ive been on has been tough but im still on this path. its taken years to create a breakthrough moment but ive learned a ton.

[@karatjuicepodcast]

This was a refreshing take on the phrase that I've heard so many times about 'passion'. Thanks for the wisdom and life lessons Mr. Greene.. your messages are very appreciated. Take Care,

[@anewbeggin]

They way I see it, passion helps me push through the monotony, constant failure, and challenges. You’re just describing passion in a deeper sense.

[@gerardbeekman]

Great speech. My personal completion. Vigor, willpower and Self discipline, Selfknowledge and Time get me to my destination. My destination is interest in the human being. I worked more than 20 years with disabled people (autisme). Is not Passion its Love.

[@niceprincesslucky]

I believe your passions followed through are then able to turn into deep love which you see through the end no matter what, the ride or die kind of connection.

[@heisenberg_fisher2890]

Thank you very much for your advice and wisdom. Your remarks are words to live by.

[@catalhuyuk7]

So happy for you Robert, regarding the better use of your left arm. Progress! ❤🇨🇦

[@CharysseSepiaBlackman11]

Thanku ☀️🍃

[@Daniela.777]

This is such realistic advice. So true. Had to make mistakes to actually learn this. Passion/pleasure/motivation is temporary, Purpose isn't.

[@sheyme8225]

Well said, thank you!

[@yuriyseliuk4120]

Very good and needed video nowadays, well articulated! Thanks a lot!

[@fox_trot]

Only God knows how much I love you Robert, I will always be thanking you from the bottom of my heart. May you live a thousand years

[@huntsail3727]

Sound advise and reasoning. There is a lot of Biblical wisdom, or if you are not religious, cultural support across many cultures for what you are saying. Having a purpose, knowing why you are doing what you are doing makes the how and the what to do much easier to discern and execute. And, as you pointed out, gives you the grit to keep going in the face of difficulties, obstacles and setbacks which are all inevitable. Great job!

[@lennyjensen9796]

Thank you for your very good advice. Sometimes our projects turn into a "shit" experience. That is the way it goes for long term projects. You are absolutely correct about the fact that our projects are not always fun all the time. The final result is what we need to concentrate on.

[@ebarling4730]

Hmmm. Great video! I got something a little different out of it, I think. I never thought that following my passions didn't involve hard work, personally. But this made me realise that the love of it usually needs to exceed the effort, or else we'll deem it to be not worth it. I used to love my profession (engineering). But, after numerous toxic workplaces (bullying and harassment), for me, the value was no longer there. It just wasn't worth what I had to go through (which was literally criminal, in case you're wondering as to the severity). So, I'm redirecting. 😊 We'll always have passions. Sometimes, they find different outlets, or some give way to other ones. I think the key is to notice where you're at and not stick with it if you're miserable. But yes, I hadn't appreciated the "passion + effort = reward" equation before. Good to be aware of! 🙌🙏💫

[@thegiftedone]

Thank you Robert Green🙏🏻 there's a smile on my face, For everyone... There's a golden coin, That reflects the sun... There's a lonely place, That's always cold... There's a place in the stars, For when you get old....

[@Katie_Frances]

I NEED to be a writer. Man, I wish Robert Greene himself could be my mentor! Brilliant man!

[@rob_wade]

This spoke to me. Thank you!

[@ManlyHK1]

Absolutely. Success is a mixture of hard and tedious work, courage to choose what you believe is right and act on it consistently, get out of your comfort zone, and a bit of luck. None of this is fun therefore hard to be passionate about it! Hear the call from deep inside, and you will know where to go!

[@alexstelmach4281]

Thanks Robert big fan love listening to your advice and reading your books. Big fan from the UK 👋

[@TDskirvin]

I felt this deep connection with my vocation in college, but I've sort of wavered from it after just how difficult it was to cross the finish line. Going to try to get that back

[@alexanderortensjo387]

This is so valuble advice Robert. Thank you 🙏🌈

[@rubenmedina9156]

Every time i hear people say that they work on their passion and i view their life i have come to understand that they seem to have burdensome life... i choose to have a purpose, and it has had its hard moments, not going to lie, but it has been lovely, i love each single detail of my purpose, and the best part is that it does not consume me, i just do it, its like i don´t have a choice, also each thing i do is filled with awesome learning. I learned my purpose late in life, and it has take a little bit of time to develop it, but men, it has been a total adventure, so if somebody sees this video, allow me to say... this Robert Green guy, is right!

[@Kal-El207]

I love how you said that. What is your purpose if you don’t mind me asking?

[@rubenmedina9156]

​@@Kal-El207 My purpuse is simple, take care of people, and that is probably your purpose too

[@jojothetasmaniansassmonkey8866]

personally, I think that if you are truly passionate about something, then you must be able to find joy in the monotony....as pianist Bill Evans once said "you have to enjoy the process"

[@voineaadi]

Helloo Mr. Greene! Thank you very much for your huge heart and generosity. Thank you so much, your explanations are so clear and useful. Thank you and I wish you the greatest of success from now on as well. In my eyes, you are a legend! 🥰❤💯

[@luismendez3090]

Robert I want to give you credit for your new approach to accomplish these short specific videos that are great to explain some of the more complex themes you have written about. thanks . keep this up.

[@icysurfer1]

Thank you RG

[@kozubart]

I love what I do so much i do it all the time. “Passion” ended years ago. I am tapped into a very deep drive and desire to master my craft and be the best I can be every single day. Sacrifice is necessary to be the best

[@ritz6982]

Passion means suffering for what fulfills you.

[@InsaneSnipez12]

Hey Robert! Picked up one of your books recently. I thank you a lot, from New Zealand.

[@fluxin9467]

To my understanding passion and purpose are two completely different things. Passion has intense enthusiasm behind it where as purpose requires resolve and determination. Enthusiasm lacks persistence and comes in waves. Purpose is persistent and formidable. It does not waver. It is important to recognize the things in life that fall into each category to determine what you deem necessary and for for exploration. Is this correct?

[@AparnaGurudiwan]

MJ De Marco states the same in millionaire fast lane, you two are my fav authors 🙌

[@msizikhanyile3667]

Thank you, @Robert Greene !

[@madhvishukla4332]

Thank you sir 🙏

[@rayenayat6175]

i think that this video opened my eyes to a new dimension that i didn't even know existed, even tho i knew that discipline is key and that motivation is just the starting point. At first you like the thought of doing or maybe accomplishing something and that gives you the motivation to start, then discipline takes places to keep you on the right path and you go through the suffering. And finally, that feeling of fulfillment, what a feeling! Thank dear sir for this video

[@MrNYaksich]

Great message!

[@jordynbabywoods]

Well sure, blindly following passion alone doesn’t necessarily lead to a life of ease, but if you add following your mind, heart and common sense to that then you might actually wind up happy. I think when people say this they don’t literally mean follow your every feeling on a whim. This will lead to a disorganized life. But they mean don’t just let life pass you by. Form a plan and go after what you want in life because if you don’t you may die unfulfilled and regretful. It’s less complicated than you think.

[@CreativeSoul333]

This was very valuable advice, thank you!

[@tinalizzio8089]

Thank you Robert!

[@Gt3ch]

A nice explanation of what people actually mean when they say to “follow your passion.”

[@captinbdran20]

thank you Robert , your advices and mastery book makes me build my KZbin channel

[@ec1222]

Great commentary, great mind on this professor.

[@TrietLyCuocSongGSH]

When listening to the story shared by the channel, I feel very excited, the shared story is very meaningful to listen to.

[@rubenjimenez7036]

Robert. I see where you are coming from. I think the root meaning of passion (to suffer) speaks to passion being an entry point often to calling/vocation. Our culture, I believe is making it seem like passion is a toy to play with. My suggestion is passion can be the door to meaning. Sometimes a wound can call, but often desire is a more opportune door to open to one’s meaning. Discernment of anything whether it be passion, desire of one’s deepest longing, a wound, etc. all seem important.

[@StumbIingforward]

I like this perspective, because it shows that the passions are still extremely important even if they aren’t your one true calling. I have a handful of things that I’m somewhat passionate about, but I know they aren’t my calling. However, those things give me that feeling of “meaning” even without them being my career or what I dedicate my life to. Thank you for this

[@antoniodossantos5960]

Dedication and effort...enjoy the journey 🌎

[@damianlopez7630]

Thank You. 🙏💪🙂

[@MagickMulatta]

Love this type of honesty

[@josallins1]

People sometimes get caught up on words. According to the dictionary, which is agreed upon definitions by most of our society, following your passion is exactly what one should or will do. If it's music, great, if it's eating a Whopper everyday, then not so great. Choose & follow wisely.

[@carolsakai-artist]

Achieving a deep sense of fulfillment and accomplishment of doing/learning/creating something that is truly yours cannot compare to "time killing pleasures". .. .pursuing light pleasures (like watching movies) does not give you anything, also, light pleasures are not only fleeting but leave you empty because you haven't learned anything, with no skills to go on to the next level. The deep fulfillment of accomplishing something. . . this is the first step towards mastery.

[@charlie5thumbs351]

"...and if I couldn't become a writer, I might as well just kill myself. It meant that much to me." Sounds like passion to me.

[@Kal-El207]

Yes that sounds like passion. But if you listen closely. It’s PURPOSE. He had a PURPOSE for it.